Citalopram Indication.
For the treatment of depression.
Citalopram Contraindications.
Concomitant use in patients taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) is contraindicated.
Concomitant use in patients taking pimozide is contraindicated.
Citalopram is contraindicated in patients with a hypersensitivity to citalopram or any of the inactive ingredients in Citalopram.
Citalopram Prescription.
Citalopram is prescribed to treat depression. Citalopram is in a class of antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). It works by increasing the amount of serotonin, a natural substance in the brain that helps maintain mental balance.
A furancarbonitrile that is one of the serotonin uptake inhibitors used as an antidepressant. The drug is also effective in reducing ethanol uptake in alcoholics and is used in depressed patients who also suffer from tardive dyskinesia in preference to tricyclic antidepressants, which aggravate this condition.
How should Citalopram be used?
Citalopram comes as a tablet and a solution (liquid) to take by mouth. It is usually taken once a day with or without food. Take citalopram at around the same time every day.
Your doctor may start you on a low dose of citalopram and gradually increase your dose, not more often than once a week.
It may take 1 to 4 weeks before you feel the full benefit of citalopram.
Citalopram is one of a class of antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). It is used to treat the depression associated with mood disorders. It is also used on occassion in the treatment of body dysmorphic disorder and anxiety. The antidepressant, antiobsessive-compulsive, and antibulimic actions of Citalopram are presumed to be linked to its inhibition of CNS neuronal uptake of serotonin. In vitro studies show that Citalopram is a potent and selective inhibitor of neuronal serotonin reuptake and has only very weak effects on norepinephrine and dopamine neuronal reuptake. Citalopram has no significant affinity for adrenergic (alpha1, alpha2, beta), cholinergic, GABA, dopaminergic, histaminergic, serotonergic (5HT1A, 5HT1B, 5HT2), or benzodiazepine receptors; antagonism of such receptors has been hypothesized to be associated with various anticholinergic, sedative, and cardiovascular effects for other psychotropic drugs. The chronic administration of Citalopram was found to downregulate brain norepinephrine receptors, as has been observed with other drugs effective in the treatment of major depressive disorder. Citalopram does not inhibit monoamine oxidase.
Citalopram side effects.
- changes in sex drive or ability;
- coma;
- confusion;
- diarrhea;
- dizziness;
- drowsiness;
- dry mouth;
- excessive sweating;
- excessive tiredness;
- excitement;
- loss of appetite;
- memory loss;
- muscle or joint pain;
- nausea;
- nervousness;
- rapid breathing;
- rapid, irregular, or pounding heartbeat;
- seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist (hallucinating);
- seizures;
- stomach pain;
- sweating;
- uncontrollable shaking of a part of the body;
- upset stomach;
- vomiting;
