Citalopram

General English name: Citalopram

Brand: Cipramil®, Celexa

Application: Depression – Panic attack in adults

 

 

Pharmaceutical forms of citalopram

Tablets, drops, oral liquid medicine (in USA)

 

Citalopram Drug Information

Depression and anxiety disorders, such as panic, can be triggered for no apparent reason or by a tragic event in life or a specific illness. Brain cells (neurons) called neurons secrete chemicals that have a stimulating effect on other neurons. This process creates an electrical pulse through which many brain functions are performed. Serotonin is one of these substances secreted in the brain. When these chemicals are released, they stimulate other neurons and are then reabsorbed into the neurons. SSRI antidepressants such as citalopram increase the amount of serotonin in the brain. This mechanism reduces the symptoms of depression and anxiety disorders in some patients.

 

Dosage and method of taking citalopram

Read the package leaflet carefully before starting treatment with citalopram. This brochure will help you to get comprehensive information about the drug and its possible side effects.

The dose and amount of citalopram varies from person to person; Use the medicine exactly as your doctor advised.

If you are prescribed oral drops of citalopram, add the desired number of drops to a drink such as orange juice and eat.

You can take citalopram before and after meals.

If you forget to take your daily dose of citalopram at the right time but soon forget, take the medicine; But if you remember when the next dose is near the hour, do not take the missed dose. You should not take two doses of the medicine together because of the missed dose.

 

Contraindications to citalopram

Note the expiration date of citalopram and do not take it if it has expired.

Never give citalopram to another person, even if you have the same symptoms.

Check for drug interactions with citalopram, and if you are taking a drug that interacts with this drug, talk to your doctor about using your medications.

 

Citalopram during pregnancy and lactation

During pregnancy and lactation, you should not use the drug arbitrarily without consulting your doctor. Medications can have devastating effects on the fetus or on yourself.

 

The effect of citalopram on driving and working with machines

Citalopram can make you dizzy and drowsy, so make sure you are alert before driving or operating machinery.

 

Citalopram drug interactions

Drug interactions may alter drug performance and increase the risk of serious side effects. Make a list of all the medicines (including prescription / over-the-counter and herbal medicines) you use and share them with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not change the dose of your medicine without consulting your doctor or stop taking the medicine.

Some medications that may interact with this medication include: Drugs that can cause bleeding or bruising (including antiplatelet drugs such as clopidogrel, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, and blood thinners such as ibuprofen). (warfarin)).

Citalopram can cause serious drug interactions with MAO inhibitors, which can even lead to death. Do not use phenelzine, procarbazine, rasagiline, selegiline, tranylcypromine. Most MAO inhibitors should not be used until 2 weeks before and after starting sertraline.

Check the labels on all your medicines (such as allergies or cough and cold medicines) because some of them contain substances that cause drowsiness or increase the risk of bleeding. Ask your doctor about using them so you can use them safely.

Aspirin can increase the risk of bleeding if taken with citalopram. However, if your doctor prescribes low-dose aspirin (usually 325-81 mg per day) to prevent a stroke or heart attack, you should continue to take it unless your doctor tells you to stop taking it. Give aspirin. Consult your pharmacist for more details.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking medicines that cause drowsiness, including: alcohol, antihistamines (such as cetirizine, diphenhydramine), sleeping pills or anxiety medications (such as alprazolam), alprazolam (alprazolam) (diazepam), zolpidem, muscle relaxants, and analgesics and painkillers (such as codeine).

Many drugs in addition to citalopram may affect heart rhythm (prolongation of QT time), including: amiodarone, dofetilide, pimozide, procainamide, quinidine , Sotalol, macrolide antibiotics (such as erythromycin).

If you take serotonin-boosting drugs in combination with citalopram, your risk of serotonin toxicity increases. Tell your doctor if you are using these referees. These include: street medications such as MDMA / “ecstasy”, St. John’s wort, specific antidepressants (including SSRIs such as fluoxetine / paroxetine, SNRIs such as venlafaxine). Keep in mind that the risk of serotonin toxicity syndrome increases when you increase the dose of these drugs or start using these drugs.

Citalopram is very similar to Sitalopram, do not use this medicine with Sitalopram.

Citalopram may interfere with certain tests (including brain scans for Parkinson’s disease) and cause erroneous results. Talk to your lab staff about using this medicine before testing.

 

Special warnings and precautions while taking citalopram

Some medications may not be prescribed under certain conditions, and some medications may be prescribed if additional treatment is needed; Therefore, it is best for your doctor to know the following before taking citalopram:

• If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant or breast-feeding your baby.
• If your blood pressure is high.
• If you have diabetes.
• If you have a history of high mood (such as bipolar disorder mania).
• If you have any liver or kidney problems.
• If you have a heart problem.
• If you have glaucoma (increased eye pressure).
• If you have ever had a seizure.
• If you have a blood disorder or a history of bleeding.
• If you have ever had electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).
• If you have used an antidepressant such as a mono-oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) in the last two weeks.
• If you are taking certain medications. These medicines include all the medicines available, whether you are prescribed them or taking them without a doctor’s prescription, such as herbal medicines and complementary medicines.
• If you have a history of an allergic reaction to a drug.

 

Side effects of citalopram

All medications can cause side effects. But many consumers also do not experience any side effects. Some of the side effects go away after a short time of taking the medicine. In case of persistent side effects, the physician should be informed:

Nausea, indigestion, diarrhea and constipation: Eat simple foods and drink several glasses of water daily.

Feeling tired, dizzy, drowsy: Avoid driving and working with tools in these situations.

Dry mouth: Look for sugar-free gum.

Headache: Ask your doctor to prescribe a suitable painkiller.

Mood swings, anger, restlessness and tremors: These symptoms usually go away in the first few days of taking the medicine. But if any of these things bother you, talk to your doctor.

Sweating, sleep problems, lack of sleep, weight loss, decreased libido, anorexia, pain, tingling sensation, ringing in the ears, yawning, palpitations, runny nose, itching: if any are annoying Tell your doctor about these.

Important Note: Some people taking this medicine may be allergic to it. See your doctor as soon as possible if you notice any swelling around the mouth, breathing problems, or skin rashes.

Consult your doctor if you have any other symptoms that you feel are due to the use of citalopram.

 

Overdose of citalopram (drug poisoning)

Do not take more citalopram than your doctor prescribes.

If you feel that someone has been poisoned and you have symptoms such as shortness of breath, fainting and weakness (fainting), call the emergency room immediately.

 

Storage conditions of citalopram

Keep the medicine out of the reach of children.

Store the medicine in a cool, dry place away from heat and direct sunlight.