This medication description is not meant for treatment prescription without the intervention of a specialist.

Common Uses

Citalopram is an antidepressant drug used to treat depression associated with mood disorders. It is also used on occasion in the treatment of body dysmorphic disorder and anxiety.

How to Take

The dose of Citalopram will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of Citalopram. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

Adults - To start, usually 20 mg once a day, taken either in the morning or evening. Your doctor may increase your dose gradually if needed. However, the dose usually is not more than 60 mg a day.

Children - Use and dose must be determined by the doctor.

Older adults - Usually 20 mg once a day, taken either in the morning or evening. Your doctor may increase your dose gradually if needed. However, the dose usually is not more than 40 mg a day.

Warning and Precautions

It is important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits, to allow for changes in your dose and to help reduce any side effects.

Do not take Citalopram with or within 14 days of taking an MAO inhibitor (furazolidone, isocarboxazid, phenelzine, procarbazine, selegiline, tranylcypromine). Do not take an MAO inhibitor within 14 days of taking Citalopram . If you do, you may develop extremely high blood pressure or convulsions (seizures).

Citalopram may cause some people to be agitated, irritable or display other abnormal behaviors. It may also cause some people to have suicidal thoughts and tendencies or to become more depressed. If you or your care giver notice any of these adverse effects, tell your doctor right away.

Avoid drinking alcoholic beverages while you are taking Citalopram.

This medicine may cause some people to become drowsy, to have trouble thinking, or to have problems with movement. Make sure you know how you react to Citalopram before you drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are not alert or well-coordinated.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once. If you take 1 dose daily at bedtime, do not take the missed dose the next morning.

Overdose

Symptoms have included core nausea, dizziness, tachycardia, tremor, drowsiness, convulsions, fast heartbeat; sleepiness; sweating; vomiting. Rare: Bluish colored skin or lips; confusion; convulsions (seizures); deep or fast breathing with dizziness; fainting; general feeling of discomfort or illness; loss of memory; muscle pain; slow or irregular heartbeat; weakness. Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.

Storage

Store Citalopram at room temperature, in a tightly sealed container. Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Citalopram out of the reach of children and away from pets.

Possible Side Effects

Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:

More common: Decrease in sexual desire or ability.

Less common: agitation, blurred vision, confusion, fever, increase in frequency of urination or amount of urine produced, lack of emotion, loss of memory, menstrual changes, skin rash or itching, trouble in breathing.

Rare: anxiety, behavior change similar to drunkenness, bleeding gums, breast tenderness or enlargement or unusual secretion of milk (in females), difficulty in concentrating, dizziness or fainting, increased hunger, irregular heartbeat, irritability; lethargy, low blood sodium (confusion, convulsions, drowsiness, dryness of mouth, increased thirst, lack of energy), mood or mental changes, nervousness, nose bleed, painful urination, purple or red spots on skin, sore throat, fever, chills, rapid weight gain, red or irritated eyes, redness, tenderness, itching, burning, or peeling of skin, unusual tiredness or weakness.

More Information

The information given above is a summary. Your pharmacist can provide more information about Citalopram. Do not share this medicine with others for whom it was not prescribed. Do not use this medicine for other health conditions. If using this medicine for an extended period of time, obtain refills before your supply runs out.