Citalopram 20mg

Citalopram general information

What is Citalopram used for?

Citalopram tablets 20mg are used to treat major depression in the initial phase to relieve symptoms of depressive illness, including anxiety, loss of interest in usual activities, disturbed sleep, change in appetite, fatigue, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, difficulty thinking or concentrating, and recurrent thoughts of suicide.  Citalopram tablets 20mg are also used as maintenance against relapse or recurrence of depressive episodes. 

How does Citalopram work?

Citalopram tablets 20mg contain citalopram which is an antidepressant belonging to the class of drugs known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI).  Citalopram is one of the most selective SSRIs yet described, which means that it does not affect noradrenaline, dopamine or gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) uptake.  Citalopram tablets 20mg act in the brain to correct the chemical imbalance that is thought to be one of the major causes of depression and other mood disorders, particularly a lack of serotonin (a neurotransmitter or brain chemical that allows nerve cells to communicate), which controls many body activities, including regulating mood.  Citalopram in Citalopram tablets blocks the reuptake of serotonin from the synapse, which is the gap between nerve cells across which chemical messages are sent from one nerve cell to another.  If the re-uptake of serotonin by the first nerve cell (pre-synaptic) is blocked, this means that there is more serotonin remaining for the receiving nerve cell (post-synaptic), which allows nerve cells to communicate with each other for longer.  The action of Citalopram tablets 20mg helps relieve symptoms of depression and other mood disorders by increasing the amount of serotonin in the brain, which in turn increases stimulation of nerve pathways that control mood.

What does Citalopram contain?

Citalopram tablets contain the active ingredient citalopram 20mg, an antidepressant belonging to the class of drugs known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), used to treat major depression.  They also contain: lactose monohydrate, maize starch, microcrystalline cellulose, croscarmellose sodium, magnesium stearate, hypromellose, titanium dioxide, purified talc, macrogol 400 and purified water

Treating depression with Citalopram

Citalopram tablets 20mg contain citalopram, an antidepressant belonging to the class of drugs known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), used to treat major depression in the initial phase, to relieve symptoms of depression, including anxiety, loss of interest in usual activities, disturbed sleep, change in appetite, fatigue, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, difficulty thinking or concentrating and recurrent thoughts of suicide.  Citalopram tablets 20mg are also used as maintenance against relapse or recurrence of depressive episodes.  One of the major causes of depression is thought to be a lack of serotonin a neurotransmitter (brain chemical that allows nerve cells to communicate) that regulates mood.  Citalopram in Citalopram tablets 20mg blocks the reuptake of serotonin from the synapse, which is the gap between nerve cells across which chemical messages are sent from one nerve cell to another.  This means that there is more serotonin to allow nerve cells to communicate with each other for longer, and increasing the amount of serotonin in the brain in turn increases stimulation of nerve pathways that control mood. 

What are the side effects of Citalopram?

The most commonly reported side effects when taking Citalopram are generally mild and transient and usually disappear with continued treatment. They include: nausea, diarrhoea, drowsiness, dry mouth, increased sweating, tremor, sexual problems.

Why you should not suddenly stop taking Citalopram

If you stop taking your Citalopram tablets 20mg suddenly you may experience withdrawal symptoms, including: dizziness, tingling or pricking sensations (paraesthesia), headache, anxiety and nausea.  If your doctor has suggested reducing your dose of Citalopram tablets 20mg, this should be done gradually over a period of at least 1 to 2 weeks.

When should Citalopram not be used?

You should not use Citalopram tablets 20mg if you:

• are allergic to citalopram or any ingredients in Citalopram tablets
• are pregnant or are breastfeeding, without discussion with your doctor
• have kidney or liver disease
• taking any monoamine oxidase inhibitor medications as these can cause serious reactions if taken with Citalopram or within 14 days
• are taking medicines that interact with Citalopram, including, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) for depression, the analgesic tramadol, tryptophan, or phentermine (weight-reducing medicines), migraine medicines like sumatriptan, the antipsychotic pimozide, herbal remedies containing St. John´s Wort, bupropion, for nicotine dependence, cimetidine for reflux and ulcers, the sedative diazepam, tolbutamide for diabetes, methadone for drug addiction

What medications interact with Citalopram?

Several medications interact with Citalopram tablets 20mg and should either not be taken while you are taking Citalopram or only after discussion and instruction from your doctor:

• Drugs that cause a serious reaction with Citalopram: monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) for depression; medication that affects blood clotting like warfarin, as these may increase risk of bleeding if taken with Citalopram
• Drugs that affect Citalopram: tramadol (analgesic), tryptophan or lithium (mood alteration), phentermine (weight-reducing medicines), medicines used to treat migraine, eg sumatriptan, St John's Wort, a herbal remedy used to treat mood disorders, cimetidine for reflux and ulcers
• Drugs that are affected by Citalopram: the antipsychotic pimozide, clozapine for schizophrenia, the anticoagulant warfarin, phenytoin for epilepsy, the sedative diazepam, tolbutamide for diabetes methadone for drug addiction, bupropion for nicotine dependence

How should Citalopram be taken?

You should take your Citalopram tablets 20mg with a glass of water with or without food usually once a day, at the same time each day, for several weeks or months, depending on your condition and your doctor’s recommendations.  Your doctor may increase your dose, depending on the severity of your depression and how you are responding to treatment.  You should take your Citalopram tablets 20mg regularly for as long as recommended by your doctor, usually at least 6 months even if you feel better, to ensure that you are free of symptoms.

How long should you take Citalopram?

You should take your Citalopram tablets 20mg regularly for as long as recommended by your doctor, usually at least 6 months even if you feel better, to ensure that you are free of symptoms.

Missed dose of Citalopram

If you miss a dose of Citalopram tablets 20mg take it as soon as you remember, unless it is time to take the next dose, then skip the missed dose.  Do not take a double dose.

How should Citalopram be stored?

You should store your Citalopram tablets 20mg below 25°C in a cool dry place.