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| Pronunciation |
|
 (sye
TAL oh
pram) |
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| Brand Names |
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| Celexa™ |
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| Therapeutic
Categories |
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Antidepressant, Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor |
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| Reasons not to take this
medicine |
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- If you have an allergy to citalopram or any other part of the
medicine.
- If you have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (isocarboxazid,
phenelzine, tranylcypromine) in the last 14
days.
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| What is this medicine used
for? |
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- This medicine is used for the treatment of
depression.
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| How does it work? |
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- Citalopram inhibits the reuptake of a chemical in the brain called
serotonin. Sleep and appetite may improve quickly. Other symptoms may take up to
4-6 weeks to improve.
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| How is it best taken? |
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- To gain the most benefit, do not miss doses.
- Take in the morning or follow healthcare provider's directions.
- Take with or without food. Take with food if this medicine causes an
upset stomach.
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| What do I do if I miss a
dose? |
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- Take a missed dose as soon as possible.
- If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed one. Return to
your regular schedule.
- Do not change dose or stop taking medicine without talking with
healthcare provider.
- Do not take a double dose or extra
doses.
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| What are the precautions when
taking this
medicine? |
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- Check medicines with healthcare provider. This medicine may not mix
well with other medicines.
- You may not be alert. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or activities
until you see how this medicine affects you.
- Make sure you have the right medicine. This medicine is a tablet, not
a capsule.
- Do not take with monoamine oxidase inhibitors. These include
isocarboxazid, phenelzine, and tranylcypromine. Separate by 2 weeks.
- Avoid alcohol (includes wine, beer, and liquor) and other medicines
and herbs that slow your actions and reactions. This includes sedatives,
tranquilizers, mood stabilizers, or pain medicine. Talk with healthcare
provider.
- You can get sunburned more easily. Avoid lots of sun. Use sunscreen;
wear protective clothing and eyewear.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are taking any herbal products.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make
sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling
about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of
face, lips, tongue, throat; or any other symptoms involved.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan on getting
pregnant.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are
breast-feeding.
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| What are the common side effects
of this
medicine? |
|
|
- Nausea. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care, sucking hard candy,
or chewing gum may help.
- Feeling tired. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or activities that
require you to be alert until you see how this medicine affects you.
- Inability to sleep. Take in the morning.
- Anxiety. Tolerance usually develops.
- Headache. Mild pain medicine may help.
- Change in sexual ability or desire. This can return to normal after
medicine is stopped. Talk with healthcare provider about other medicines without
this side effect.
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| What should I monitor? |
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- Routine follow-up with healthcare
provider.
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| Reasons to call healthcare
provider
immediately |
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- Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing;
tightness in the chest; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits;
swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
- Very nervous and excitable.
- No improvement in condition or feeling
worse.
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| How should I store this
medicine? |
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- Store tablets in a tight, light-resistant
container.
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| General statements |
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- Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's
medicine.
- Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
- Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, herbal/supplements,
vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider
(doctor, nurse, pharmacist, physician assistant).
- Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine,
including over-the-counter or natural products (herbs,
vitamins).
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