Depression treatment, as well as for other conditions which aren't listed in the drug description.
As a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), Citalopram increases the supply of serotonin to the brain, resulting in chemical balance restoration. During this chemical process the patient's mood is gradually improving.
Do NOT use Citalopram if:
you have an allergy to its ingredients;
you have been taking any monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor, like phenelzine, or St. John's wort for 2 weeks;
you are currently taking phenothiazines (such as thioridazine), astemizole, dexfenfluramine, terfenadine, fenfluramine pimozide or sibutramine.
Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.
Before using Citalopram :
Keep in mind that Citalopram isn't recommended for people who are:
breastfeeding, pregnant or planning to become one;
taking any other medicine, both prescription and nonprescription, dietary supplement or herbal preparation;
allergic to some drugs, food etc;
predisposed to stomach bleeding, kidney or liver disease, seizures, mania or suicidal thoughts and had experience of suicide attempt.
There are drugs which may interact with Citalopram, so you shouldn't combine it with the following medications:
Cyproheptadine or risperidone, otherwise it decreases the Citalopram effect.
Anorexiants (such as phentermine), lithium, linezolid, sumatriptan, because they may aggravate side effects, like altered consciousness and irritability.
Metoclopramide, clozapine, risperidone, phenothiazines (like thioridazine), H1 antagonists (for instance, diphenhydramine) and trazodone, to prevent the negative impact of side effects on the body.
Sumatriptan, as it decreases the effectiveness of the medication.
Aspirin, anticoagulants (like warfarin) and anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (such as ibuprofen), otherwise the risk of bleeding of bowels and of the stomach may increase.
Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors (for example, phenelzine), sibutramine, tramadol, fenfluramine and its derivatives, selegiline and St. John's wort to prevent excessive irritablity and altered consciousness.
Pimozide, because it may affect the heart by changing its rhythm.
This list may not be complete, that is why before you start of stop taking Citalopram, or change the dosage, you should read the drug description very thoroughly and in some cases even consult with your health care provider.
How to use Citalopram :
Citalopram should be used as it was prescribed in the instructions placed on the drug label. Read them and adjust your dosage accordingly.
The drug comes with a Medication Guide – an additional patient information sheet meant to inform customers about drug effects and interaction. Read this guide very carefully and reread it every time you start Citalopram treatment.
Citalopram can be used either with or without food.
The improvement can be noticed within 1-4 weeks, however you should keep taking the medication until the end of treatment.
In case you have to stop taking Citalopram immediately, you should start reducing the dose over several days to one week.
Be careful not to miss a dose. If you occasionally did, skip it and return to your standard schedule. Never take 2 doses at one time.
Important safety information:
In some cases the medication causes drowsiness and dizziness, so keep away from driving, operating machinery or performing other tasks which require mental alertness, while you are under Citalopram. Using Citalopram while you perform such tasks, let alone combining it with alcohol or other drugs, is dangerous.
In case you detected a worsening of your health condition which results in such symptoms as agitation, irritability, anxiety, suicidal thinking, restlessness or insomnia, you should consult with your doctor.
Combining Citalopram with depressants (find out which medicines are depressants beforehand) or alcohol negatively influences its effectiveness, so avoid doing this.
Generally doctors recommend to monitor the patient's condition at the beginning of treatment or if the dosage is changed.
Lab tests can help to monitor the health condition, so make sure you have passed them, if necessary.
Citalopram isn't desirable for children, because its effectiveness, as well as safety, are still open to question.
To believe the studies, Citalopram is likely to have a negative impact on the fetus and nursing baby, so pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid taking the drug. If you are pregnant and need to use Citalopram, you should discuss all advantages and risks of such treatment with the doctor beforehand. If your pregnancy wasn't planned and you are currently taking Citalopram, you should gradually reduce the dosage during the last trimester of pregnancy. The medication also appears in breast milk, so don't breastfeed if you are under Citalopram.
Possible side effects of Citalopram :
Each drug may cause side effects, however there are many patients who don't experience any or have only minor ones. So, before taking any medication you should find out what potential side effects it may provoke. Consult with your doctor, if you noticed:
Diarrhea, weight loss or gain, ejaculation disorder, upset stomach, loss of appetite, sinus inflammation, tremor, runny nose, change in taste, dry mouth, nausea, impotence, tiredness, increased sweating and decreased menstrual flow or painful periods.
In case you detected the following symptoms while taking Citalopram, you should seek immediate medical assistance:
Dizziness, worsening of depression, anxiety, difficulty breathing, shakiness, vision changes, mental/mood changes, hostility, confusion, irritability, fatigue, sore throat or fever, panic attacks, seizures, lack of concern, cold sweat, mania, sleeplessness, restlessness, impulsiveness, suicidal thoughts or behavior and severe allergic reaction, such as tightness in the chess, hives, rash, swelling of the lips, mouth, tongue or face.
What is the shelf life of the pills?
The expiry date is mentioned on each blister. It is different for different batches. The shelf life is 2 years from the date of manufacture and would differ from batch to batch depending on when they were manufactured.
I already received my parcel, I had a problem as the courier wanted to deliver
to my home as they claim they cannot place the order into my postbox. This was
my preferred option.
There is not someone at home always, so we had to get the parcel to my office.
No problem with that.
