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What is the most important information I should know about
citalopram?
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You may have an increased risk of suicidal thoughts or
behavior at the start of treatment with an antidepressant medication,
especially if you are under 18 years old. Talk with your doctor about
this risk. While you are taking citalopram you will need to be monitored
for worsening symptoms of depression and/ or suicidal thoughts during
the first weeks of treatment, or whenever your dose is changed. In
addition to you watching for changes in your own symptoms, your family
or other caregivers should be alert to changes in your mood or symptoms.
Your doctor will need to check you at regular visits for at least the
first 12 weeks of treatment. |
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Contact your doctor promptly if you have any of the following
side effects, especially if they are new symptoms or if they get worse:
mood changes, anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, irritability,
agitation, aggressiveness, severe restlessness, mania (mental and/ or
physical hyperactivity), thoughts of suicide or hurting yourself. |
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Do not take citalopram together with a monoamine oxidase
inhibitor (MAOI) such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil),
selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or tranylcypromine (Parnate). You must
wait at least 14 days after stopping an MAOI before you can take
citalopram. |
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Citalopram is an antidepressant in a group of drugs called
selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Citalopram affects
chemicals in the brain that may become unbalanced and cause depression. |
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Citalopram is used to treat depression. |
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Citalopram may also be used for purposes other than those
listed in this medication guide. |
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What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking
citalopram?
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• |
You may have an increased risk of suicidal thoughts or
behavior at the start of treatment with an antidepressant medication,
especially if you are under 18 years old. Talk with your doctor about
this risk. While you are taking citalopram you will need to be monitored
for worsening symptoms of depression and/ or suicidal thoughts during
the first weeks of treatment, or whenever your dose is changed. In
addition to you watching for changes in your own symptoms, your family
or other caregivers should be alert to changes in your mood or symptoms.
Your doctor will need to check you at regular visits for at least the
first 12 weeks of treatment. |
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Do not use citalopram if you are using an MAO inhibitor such
as isocarboxazid (Marplan), tranylcypromine (Parnate), phenelzine (Nardil),
or selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam). Serious and sometimes fatal reactions
can occur when these medicines are taken with citalopram. You must wait
at least 14 days after stopping an MAO inhibitor before you can take
citalopram. |
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Before taking citalopram, tell your doctor if you have: |
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liver or kidney disease; |
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bipolar disorder (manic depression); or |
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a history of drug abuse or suicidal thoughts. |
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If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to
use citalopram, or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests
during treatment. |
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FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to
an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become
pregnant during treatment. |
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Citalopram can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing
baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are
breast-feeding a baby. |
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How should I take citalopram?
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Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you.
Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than
recommended by your doctor. Your doctor may occasionally change your
dose to make sure you get the best results from the medication. |
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Try to take the medicine at the same time each day. |
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To be sure you get the correct dose of liquid citalopram,
measure the liquid with a marked measuring spoon or medicine cup, not
with a regular table spoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring device,
ask your pharmacist for one. |
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It may take 4 weeks or more for you to start feeling better.
Do not stop using citalopram without first talking to your doctor. You
may have unpleasant side effects if you stop taking this medication
suddenly. |
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Store citalopram at room temperature away from moisture and
heat. |
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What happens if I miss a dose?
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Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it
is almost time for the next regularly scheduled dose, skip the missed
dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take extra
medicine to make up the missed dose. |
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What happens if I overdose?
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Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have taken
too much of this medication. Symptoms of a citalopram overdose may
include nausea, vomiting, tremor, sweating, rapid heartbeat, confusion,
dizziness, seizures, and coma. |
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What should I avoid while taking citalopram?
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Do not take citalopram together with isocarboxazid (Marplan),
phenelzine (Nardil), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or tranylcypromine (Parnate). |
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Avoid drinking alcohol, which can increase some of the side
effects of citalopram. |
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Avoid using other medicines that make you sleepy (such as
cold medicine, other pain medication, muscle relaxants). They can add to
sleepiness caused by citalopram. |
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Citalopram can cause side effects that may impair your
thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that
requires you to be awake and alert. |
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What are the possible side effects of citalopram?
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Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs
of an allergic reaction: skin rash or hives; difficulty breathing;
swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. |
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Contact your doctor promptly if you have any of the
following side effects, especially if they are new symptoms or if they
get worse: mood changes, anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping,
irritability, agitation, aggressiveness, severe restlessness, mania (mental
and/ or physical hyperactivity), thoughts of suicide or hurting yourself.
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Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious
side effects: |
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tremors, shivering, muscle stiffness or twitching; |
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problems with balance or coordination; or |
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agitation, confusion, sweating, fast heartbeat. |
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Other less serious side effects are more likely to occur,
such as: |
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feeling nervous, restless, or unable to sit still; |
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drowsiness, dizziness, trouble concentrating; |
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sleep problems (insomnia); |
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nausea, gas, upset stomach, loss of appetite; |
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urinating more than usual; |
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decreased sex drive, impotence, or difficulty having an orgasm; or |
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dry or watery mouth, yawning, or ringing in your ears. |
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Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to
your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is
especially bothersome. |
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What other drugs will affect citalopram?
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Talk to your doctor before taking any medicine for pain, arthritis,
fever, or swelling. This includes aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin),
naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), diclofenac (Voltaren), indomethacin,
piroxicam (Feldene), nabumetone (Relafen), etodolac (Lodine), and others.
Taking any of these drugs with citalopram may cause you to bruise or
bleed easily. |
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Before taking citalopram, tell your doctor if you are using any of
the following medicines: |
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carbamazepine (Tegretol); |
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lithium (Lithobid, Eskalith); |
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a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin); |
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any other antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil),
escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem), fluvoxamine (Luvox),
imipramine (Tofranil), nortriptyline (Pamelor), paroxetine (Paxil), or
sertraline (Zoloft); or |
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almotriptan (Axert), frovatriptan (Frova), sumatriptan (Imitrex),
naratriptan (Amerge), rizatriptan (Maxalt), or zolmitriptan (Zomig). |
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If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to use
citalopram, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during
treatment. |
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There may be other drugs not listed that can affect citalopram. Tell
your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications
you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs
prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without
telling your doctor. |
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Where can I get more information?
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Your pharmacist has additional information about citalopram written
for health professionals that you may read. |
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Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of
children, never share your medicines with others, and only use this
medication for the indication prescribed. |
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Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided
by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete,
but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained
herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for
use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and
therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States
are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug
information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend
therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed
to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients
and/ or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and
not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of
healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or
drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug
or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given
patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of
healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The
information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses,
directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions,
or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking,
check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist. |
Copyright 1996-2006 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 8.01. Revision date: 5/
15/ 06. |
