Citalopram is a medication prescribed by your healthcare provider, selected based on current evidence-based guidelines to best address specific mental health conditions. While effective, it's important to understand that all medications come with potential side effects. As a patient or caregiver, being informed about these risks and benefits is crucial. Equally essential is knowing how to monitor for side effects, and understanding the strategies to reduce their occurrence or manage them effectively. This guide aims to empower you with this knowledge, ensuring a well-informed approach to your or your child's treatment.
Citalopram belongs to a group of medicines known as Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs). Citalopram works by increasing the levels of serotonin in the brain.
Your doctor may prescribe Citalopram for
Take your medication consistently every day as directed by your healthcare provider, rather than using it only when you feel you need it.
While some patients may notice improvement within the first two weeks of starting treatment, it may take up to eight weeks to experience the medication's full benefits.
Abruptly stopping SSRIs can lead to a discontinuation syndrome, which may cause symptoms like dizziness, chills, lightheadedness, fatigue, headache, muscle aches, nausea, diarrhea, tremors, shock-like sensations, and tingling.
After the first episode of depression is resolved, staying on the effective dosage for at least one year is needed to minimize the risk of symptom recurrence. Following this period, your healthcare provider will guide you through a gradual tapering-off process and stop the medication entirely. This approach ensures a smoother transition and reduces the likelihood of relapse. For second and subsequent episodes of depression and for other mental health disorders, treatment may need to be indefinite.
QT interval prolongation: Doses higher than 60mg can cause increase in the QT interval, a measure of time in the heart's electrical cycle. This prolongation can potentially lead to a life-threatening heart rhythm disorder known as torsade de pointes. While the increase in QT interval with citalopram is typically minor and not a concern on its own, it can be significant if you have other heart-related risks. Due to this risk, the FDA advises against using doses of citalopram greater than 40 mg per day and recommends caution in patients with conditions such as inherited long QT syndrome, prolonged QT intervals, a very slow heart rate, low potassium or magnesium levels, recent heart attack, or heart failure. Additionally, it should not be used with other drugs that prolong the QT interval.
Switching into Mania (An extreme increase in activity and talking): Antidepressants, when used independently, can induce manic episodes in individuals with bipolar disorder. Furthermore, some instances of bipolar disorder manifest initially as major depressive episodes. It's crucial to communicate your child's psychiatric history and any family history of bipolar disorder to your provider. This information ensures that the provider is vigilant about the potential risk of this side effect.
Increased Bruising & Bleeding Risk: Citalopram may slightly elevate the risk of bleeding, though severe clinical incidents are uncommon. However, this risk increases when Escitalopram is taken alongside medications such as antiplatelet agents, anticoagulants, and NSAIDs, all of which also carry bleeding risks. To mitigate potential interactions between medications, ensure that all healthcare providers are aware of your medication list. This promotes your safety and well-being.
To learn more about this medication please visit MedlinePlus, an official US government website, part of the National Library of Medicine and managed by the National Institute of Health by clicking HERE