Citalopram Side Effects – List of Common and Severe Side Effects of Citalopram
Citalopram is a prescription drug commonly known as Celexa. It’s widely used as an antidepressant to treat depression in patients. It is designed to help improve feelings of well-being and energy levels for individuals diagnosed with depression. Other illnesses it is used to treat include: dysthymia, dementia, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), and somatoform pain disorder, just to name a few.
Among the different classes of antidepressants, Citalopram falls under the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) category. SSRIs work by helping to increase the level of serotonin. Serotonin is the body’s natural substance in the brain used to provide mental balance.
When Citalopram is prescribed?
Citalopram is used by doctors to treat depression in patients who are diagnosed with depression and certain other mental illness/disorders mentioned above. Although there are a number of Citalopram side effects, doctors evaluate patients to prescribe Citalopram and confirm that the benefits of the medicine outweigh the side effects. Your doctor will continue to monitor your treatment as they increase or decrease the amount they prescribe. Before this SSRI is prescribed, a doctor will take a complete mental health history of both personal and family, as well as a history of suicide attempts.
When To Take Citalopram
Citalopram can be taken in the morning or at night, but should be taken at the same time every day. It’s important to take the medication exactly as prescribed. Increasing dosage or frequency without a doctor’s approval won’t improve your condition. It will likely increase your chance of experiencing Citalopram side effects. A doctor will slowly increase the dosage based on his assessment in his appointments with you. Starting at a low level will reduce the Citalopram side effects you may experience. It can take anywhere from 1-2 weeks for the drug to start to show any improvements in a patient. To feel the full benefit of Citalopram, it can take up to 4 weeks.
Common Citalopram Side Effects
As with all prescriptions, there are several Citalopram side effects. These should go away with time, and you should talk with your doctor if they continue or if they get worse. Below is a list of common Citalopram side effects:
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Abdominal pain
- Vomiting
- Extreme tiredness
- Loss of Appetite
- Dry mouth
- Excitement
- Uncontrollable shaking
- Nervousness
- Changes in sex drive or capability
- Muscle or joint pain
- Increased sweating
- Drowsiness
Severe and Rare Side Effects
Some severe Citalopram side effects that occur can be a serious cause for concern. Should you experience any of the symptom listed below, contact your doctor immediately:
- Fainting
- Difficulty urinating
- Change in the amount of urine
- Bloody stools
- Seizures
- Hallucinating (seeing things or hearing things)
- Severe muscle stiffness, fever, fast or irregular heartbeat, confusion ,and sweating
Should you be a male who experiences a prolonged or painful erection for more than 4 hours, it’s recommended to immediately stop use and get medical attention.
It is not common for Citalopram side effects to possibly include a serious allergic reaction, but should one occur, you should seek medical attention. Any of the following indicates a very serious allergic reaction:
- Itching/swelling
- Rash
- Trouble breathing
- Severe dizziness
Citalopram During pregnancy
Unless absolutely necessary, this medication should not be used during pregnancy as it may cause harm to the unborn baby. It can also cause some of the withdrawal symptoms in a baby if it is used during the last 3 months of the pregnancy. Some of the symptoms that may occur are listed here:
- Constant crying
- Feeding difficulties
- Breathing difficulties
- Muscle stiffness
- Seizures
A doctor should be contacted immediately should your newborn experience any of the above withdrawal symptoms. Although there are possible Citalopram side effects associated with having an individual on Citalopram during pregnancy, it is also a concern should the mother’s depression go untreated. If you plan on breastfeeding your newborn, you should contact a doctor. During breastfeeding, Citalopram will also be present in breast milk and can cause negative effects on infant.
Interactions with other supplements and drugs
Drugs that increase serotonin can cause issues. A few of these drugs include: lithium, buspirone, meperidine, ecstasy (street drug) ,tryptophan, dextromethorphan, propoxyphene, SNRIs, other SSRI’s, phentermine, and St. John’s wort. Certain combinations of these drugs mixed with Citalopram can cause any of the following Citalopram side effects: confusion, high blood pressure, tremors, headaches, nausea, and dizziness. Should you be taking any of these drugs listed here or other drugs than increase serotonin, you should let your doctor know and discuss the possible Citalopram side effects.
Some over the counter drugs can also cause negative reactions. Aspirin is one example of an OTCdrug that causes problems as it can increase the risk of bleeding. However, if a medical doctor has prescribed it to prevent strokes or heart attacks, you should continue to take it. But you should talk with your doctor to discuss the risks of Citalopram side effects.
Citalopram Withdrawals
It’s important to talk to your doctor before stopping the medication. You can experience a number of withdrawal symptoms as listed below:
- Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
- Agitation
- Numbness or tingling in the feet
- Anxiety
- Nightmares
- Mood changes
- Confusion
- Dizziness
- Irritability
- Tiredness
- Headaches
With all the above withdrawal symptoms, more than likely a doctor will want to gradually decrease the dosage to wean you off so as not to trigger any withdrawal symptoms.
Effects of use with alcohol
One of the Citalopram side effects is that it can cause drowsiness in some individuals. That, if compounded with alcohol can increase the level of drowsiness. Because of this, caution should be used when driving. Alcohol should be avoided when on this medication.
Citalopram is an effective antidepressant (SSRI) for treating depression and other mental illnesses/disorders. There are a number of Citalopram side effects, but when working with your doctor, you can determine whether this medication is appropriate for you. It is also very important to pay attention to possible withdrawal Citalopram side effects. Take your medication as prescribed and work with your doctor if any changes are needed.
