Citalopram

What it is used for

Citalopram tablets are indicated for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) in adults. Citalopram tablets are a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) indicated for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) in adults.

The most important thing to know

Citalopram tablets may cause serious side effects, including: Increased risk of suicidal thoughts and actions. Citalopram tablets and other antidepressant medicines may increase suicidal thoughts and actions in some children, adolescents, and young adults especially within the first few months of treatment or when the dose is changed.

Citalopram tablets are not for use in children. Depression and other mental illnesses are the most important causes of suicidal thoughts and actions. How can I watch for and try to prevent suicidal thoughts and actions in myself or a family member? Pay close attention to any changes, especially sudden changes in mood, behavior, thoughts, or feelings, or if you develop suicidal thoughts or actions.

This is very important when an antidepressant medicine is started or when the dose is changed. Call your healthcare provider right away to report new or sudden changes in mood, behavior, thoughts, or feelings. Keep all follow-up visits with your healthcare provider as scheduled. Call your healthcare provider between visits as needed, especially if you have concerns about symptoms.

Call your healthcare provider or get emergency medical help right away if you or your family member have any of the following symptoms, especially if they are new, worse, or worry you: thoughts about suicide or dying attempts to commit suicide new or worse depression new or worse anxiety feeling very agitated or restless acting on dangerous impulses trouble sleeping (insomnia) panic attacks acting aggressive, being angry, or violent new or worse irritability an extreme increase in activity or talking (mania) other unusual changes in behavior or mood What are citalopram tablets?

Citalopram tablets are a prescription medicine used to treat a certain type of depression called Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in adults. It is not known if citalopram tablets are safe and effective for use in children.

How to take it

Take citalopram tablets exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to take it. Do not change your dose or stop taking citalopram tablets without first talking to your healthcare provider. Your healthcare provider may need to change the dose of citalopram tablets until it is the right dose for you. Take citalopram tablets 1 time each day with or without food.

If you take too many citalopram tablets, call your healthcare provider or poison control center at 1-800-222-1222, or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away. What are the possible side effects of citalopram tablets? Citalopram tablets may cause serious side effects, including: See, “What is the most important information I should know about citalopram tablets?” Heart rhythm problems.

Citalopram tablets may cause a serious change in your heartbeat (a fast or irregular heartbeat) that may cause death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you feel faint or pass out, or if you have a change in your heart beat. Serotonin syndrome. Taking citalopram tablets can cause a potentially life-threatening problem called serotonin syndrome.

The risk of developing serotonin syndrome is increased when citalopram tablets are taken with certain other medicines. See, “Who should not take citalopram tablets?” Call your healthcare provider or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away if you have any of the following signs and symptoms of serotonin syndrome: o agitation o seeing or hearing things that are not real (hallucinations) o confusion o coma o fast heart beat o blood pressure changes o dizziness o sweating o flushing o high body temperature (hyperthermia) o tremors, stiff muscles, or muscle twitching o loss of coordination o seizures o nausea, vomiting, diarrhea Increased risk of bleeding.

Taking citalopram tablets with aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), warfarin or blood thinners may add to this risk. Tell your healthcare provider right away about any unusual bleeding or bruising. Manic episodes. Manic episodes may happen in people with bipolar disorder who take citalopram tablets. Symptoms may include: o greatly increased energy o severe trouble sleeping o racing thoughts o reckless behavior o unusually grand ideas o excessive happiness or irritability o talking more or faster than usual Discontinuation syndrome.

Suddenly stopping citalopram tablets may cause you to have serious side effects. Your healthcare provider may want to decrease your dose slowly. Symptoms may include: o nausea o sweating o changes in your mood o headache o irritability and agitation o tiredness o dizziness o problems sleeping o electric shock sensation (paresthesia) o hypomania o anxiety o ringing in your ears (tinnitus) o confusion o seizures Seizures (convulsions).

Eye problems (angle-closure glaucoma). Many antidepressant medicines, including citalopram tablets, may cause a certain type of eye problem called angle-closure glaucoma. Call your healthcare provider if you have changes in your vision or eye pain. Low sodium levels in your blood (hyponatremia). Low sodium levels in your blood may be serious and may cause death.

Elderly people may be at greater risk for this. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop any signs or symptoms of low sodium levels in your blood during treatment with citalopram tablets. Signs and symptoms of low sodium levels in your blood may include: o headache o difficulty concentrating o memory changes o confusion o weakness and unsteadiness on your feet which can lead to falls In severe or more sudden cases, signs and symptoms include: o hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not real) o fainting o seizures o coma o stopping breathing o death Sexual problems (dysfunction).

Taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), including citalopram tablets, may cause sexual problems. Symptoms in males may include: o Delayed ejaculation or inability to have an ejaculation o Decrease

Side effects, and when to stop

” Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them to show to your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine.

Who should not take it

Do not take citalopram tablets if you: take a Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor (MAOI) have stopped taking an MAOI in the last 14 days are being treated with the antibiotic linezolid or intravenous methylene blue take pimozide are allergic to citalopram or any of the ingredients in citalopram tablets. See the end of this Medication Guide for a complete list of ingredients in citalopram tablets.

Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you are not sure if you take an MAOI, including MAOIs such as linezolid or intravenous methylene blue. Do not start taking an MAOI for at least 14 days after you stop treatment with citalopram tablets. Before taking citalopram tablets, tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions, including if you: have or have a family history of suicide, depression, bipolar disorder, mania or hypomania have an abnormal heart rhythm called QT prolongation have or had heart problems, including a heart attack, heart failure, abnormal heart rhythm, or long QT syndrome have low potassium, magnesium, or sodium levels in your blood have or had bleeding problems have or had seizures (convulsions) have high pressure in the eye (glaucoma) have or had kidney or liver problems are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

Citalopram tablets may harm your unborn baby. Taking citalopram tablets late in pregnancy may lead to an increased risk of certain problems in your newborn. Talk to your healthcare provider about the risks and benefits of treating depression during pregnancy. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant or think you may be pregnant during treatment with citalopram tablets.

There is a pregnancy registry for females who are exposed to citalopram during pregnancy. The purpose of the registry is to collect information about the health of females exposed to citalopram and their baby. If you become pregnant during treatment with citalopram tablets, talk to your healthcare provider about registering with the National Pregnancy Registry for Antidepressants.

You can register by calling 1-844-405-6185 or visiting online at https://womensmentalhealth.org/research/pregnancyregistry/antidepressants. are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if citalopram passes into your breast milk. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby during treatment with citalopram tablets.

If you breastfeed during treatment with citalopram tablets, call your healthcare provider right away if your baby develops sleepiness or fussiness, or is not feeding or gaining weight well. Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Citalopram tablets and other medicines may affect each other causing possible serious side effects. Citalopram tablets may affect the way other medicines work and other medicines may affect the way citalopram tablets work. Especially tell your healthcare provider if you take: medicines used to treat migraine headaches known as triptans tricyclic antidepressants lithium tramadol, fentanyl, meperidine, methadone, or other opioids tryptophan buspirone amphetamines St.

John’s Wort medicines that can affect blood clotting such as aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and warfarin diuretics methadone gatifloxacin or moxifloxacin medicines used to control your heart rate or rhythm (antiarrhythmics) medicines used to treat mood, anxiety, psychotic or thought disorders, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) Ask your healthcare provider if you are not sure if you are taking any of these medicines.

Your healthcare provider can tell you if it is safe to take citalopram tablets with your other medicines. Do not start or stop any other medicines during treatment with citalopram tablets without talking to your healthcare provider first. Stopping citalopram tablets sudd

Storing it

Store at 20° to 25°C (68° to 77°F); excursions permitted to 15° to 30°C (59° to 86°F). Keep citalopram tablets and all medicines out of the reach of children.