Drug name
Celexa (Citalopram)
Drug Uses
Celexa is used for treating depression and similar mental disorders determined by doctor.
How Taken
Celexa is taken by mouth with or without food. The dosage is defined by doctor.
Make sure you’ve take the full course of Celexa, do not interrupt the treating even if you feel better (the improvement is usually comes from the 1st to 4th week after the start of treatment). Before completion of the treatment it’s necessary to decrease the dosage over a few days to a week.
Please read carefully a Medication Guide which comes with the drug and contains the additional information.
Drug Class and Mechanism
Celexa belongs to a class of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). SSRIs increase the extracellular level of the neurotransmitter serotonin which leads to improvement of mood condition.
Missed Dose
In case of missing the dose it is recommended to miss taking the dose this time and then return to the usual dosing schedule. Taking 2 doses at once is prohibited.
Storage
Celexa must be stored at room temperature (between 20 and 25 degrees Celsius or 68 and 77 degrees Fahrenheit) away from heat, light, moisture and their sources. Children and pets must not have an access to Celexa.
Warnings Precautions
The use of Celexa is prohibited to the patients who:
- have an allergy to any Celexa components;
- during the previous two weeks have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI, hydrazine, phenelzine, etc.) or St. John's wort;
- take astemizole, pimozide, dexfenfluramine, fenfluramine, phenothiazines (thioridazine), sibutramine, or terfenadine.
Please take into the consideration that some medicines and medical conditions may interact with Celexa, causing different side effects and altering effect of the drugs. The lists of such conditions and medicines are given below.
MEDICAL CONDITIONS that may hamper taking Celexa:
- pregnancy, breast-feeding or planning to become pregnant;
- allergy to ANY substances (medicines, foods, etc);
- taking ANY drugs or food supplements;
- if you or anyone of your relatives suffer or suffered from alcohol or drug misuse, mental or mood disorders of any kind (depression, suicidal thoughts, etc);
- dehydration, low sodium levels in the blood;
- drinking alcohol;
- passing of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT);
- suffering (in the past or in the present) from severe kidney, liver or metabolism disorders;
- stomach or bowel bleeding;
- a history of seizures.
Pleas consult with your doctor if anything of listed above applies to you.
MEDICINES that may hamper taking Celexa:
- The medicines which, if taken along with Celexa, may cause severe side effects: trazodone, St. John's wort, linezolid, lithium, MAOIs (eg, phenelzine), metoclopramide, nefazodone, selegiline, serotonin 5-HT1 receptor agonists (eg, sumatriptan), sibutramine and the derivatives of fenfluramine (eg, dexfenfluramine).
- The medicines which, if taken along with Celexa, may cause different bleedings, including stomach bleeding. This group of drugs includes nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs, like ibuprofen), anticoagulants (e.g. warfarin) and aspirin.
- The medicines which, if taken along with Celexa, may cause the low sodium levels in the blood: diuretics (e.g. furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide, etc.).
- The medicines which, if taken along with Celexa, may cause heart rhythm disorders: H1 antagonists (eg, astemizole, terfenadine) and phenothiazines (eg, chlorpromazine, thioridazine).
- The medicines which, if taken along with Celexa, may cause seizures: tramadol.
- The medicines which may reduce the effect of Celexa: carbamazepine and cyproheptadine.
- The medicines which side effects may be increased by Celexa: clozapine, pimozide, risperidone, or tricyclic antidepressants (e.g. amitriptyline).
Possible Side Effects
Please tell your doctor if you are bothered with the following common side effects of Celexa: taste and appetite disorders, weight changes; sexual disorders (impotence, problems with ejaculation, etc.); menstrual disorders (menstrual shifts, pains, etc.); digestive system disorders (nausea, diarrhea, upset stomach, etc.); sinus inflammation; coryza; weariness; unusual sweating; tremor.
Immediately seek for medical assistance if you are feeling the following serious side effects: severe allergic reactions (swelling, difficult breath, rash, itc.); mental or mood disorders (panic attacks, anxiety, manias, suicidal thoughts, etc.); insomnia; fever; sore throat; vision changes; fits of giddiness.
More Information
Use Celexa only if it is prescribed for you. Do not advice to use it to other people and do not share it with other people even if their symptoms resemble to yours. If the drug does not help, the symptoms do not decrease or even are getting worse, consult your doctor.