Medication Guide
Citalopram (Celexa) Side Effects and Uses
A plain-language guide to Citalopram, an SSRI antidepressant. Learn how it helps, what it treats, how to take it and which side effects to know about.
Quick answer. Citalopram (Celexa) is an SSRI antidepressant. Common citalopram side effects include nausea, dry mouth, sleepiness or tiredness and trouble sleeping. The rare but serious ones, and when to get help, are listed under citalopram side effects below. Never stop or change your dose on your own.
How Citalopram Can Help You
Citalopram (Celexa) is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, or SSRI. It has been used for depression for decades. It raises serotonin signaling in the brain. This helps restore mood, drive, sleep and appetite. It can also ease the anxious, circling thoughts that often come with depression.
It is taken once a day and has fairly few drug interactions. That makes it a practical choice for many people. This includes people who take other medicines.
Benefits build slowly. Sleep and appetite often improve first, within one to two weeks. Mood and interest usually recover over four to eight weeks of daily use. Your prescriber tracks your progress and may adjust the dose within safe limits.
Uses for Citalopram
- Major depressive disorder in adults
- Generalized anxiety disorder (off-label)
- Panic disorder (off-label)
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (off-label)
- Social anxiety disorder (off-label)
- Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (off-label)
How to Take Citalopram
Your prescriber decides your dose. Citalopram has a top dose limit. Higher amounts can affect heart rhythm. The limit is lower for adults over 60. It is also lower for some people with liver problems or other risks. You can take it in the morning or evening, with or without food.
Take it at the same time each day. Missed a dose? Take it when you remember, unless the next dose is close. Then skip it and do not double up. Do not stop citalopram suddenly. A planned taper helps you avoid dizziness, irritability and poor sleep.
Citalopram Side Effects
Common Side Effects
- Nausea
- Dry mouth
- Sleepiness or tiredness
- Trouble sleeping
- More sweating
- Headache
- Sexual side effects, such as lower desire or delayed orgasm
Serious: Get Medical Help Promptly
- New or worse suicidal thoughts, mostly in people under 25 (boxed warning)
- Heart rhythm changes (QT prolongation), with fainting, a pounding heartbeat or dizziness
- Serotonin syndrome, with agitation, fever, fast heartbeat or stiff muscles
- Low sodium (hyponatremia), mostly in older adults
- Unusual bleeding or bruising
- Mania, with a very high or irritable mood
Citalopram Generic Name, Brand Name and Forms
Citalopram is the generic name, and Celexa is the brand name. Some labels list it as citalopram hydrobromide. It comes as tablets and an oral liquid. Generic citalopram is widely available and usually costs less than the brand.
In the United States, citalopram is FDA approved for major depressive disorder in adults. Sometimes it is used off-label for anxiety when there is a good reason. Its half-life is about 35 hours. That is why once a day keeps levels steady.
When Should I Take My Citalopram?
The label lets you take citalopram morning or evening, with or without food. No time of day has been shown to work better for mood. The best time is the one you will stick with. It should fit how your body reacts.
Some people feel drowsy or tired on citalopram, mostly in the first weeks. For them, taking citalopram at night helps. The sleepiness falls while they sleep. Others feel more alert or cannot sleep. A morning dose may suit them better. Ask your prescriber before switching. Then keep the new time the same each day.
Interactions to Know About
Some drugs must never be taken with citalopram. They are MAOI antidepressants, linezolid, IV methylene blue and pimozide. Other drugs that raise serotonin add to the risk of serotonin syndrome. Examples are other antidepressants, triptans, tramadol and St. John's wort.
Citalopram can affect heart rhythm. So other drugs that affect the QT interval need care. Some medicines, such as cimetidine, raise citalopram levels. This is one reason the dose limit is lower for some people. Aspirin, NSAIDs and blood thinners raise bleeding risk, and alcohol is best avoided.
Before You Start Citalopram
Tell your prescriber about any heart rhythm problem, recent heart attack or heart failure. Also mention low potassium or magnesium, liver disease and glaucoma. Share seizures and any history of bipolar disorder too. People at risk may have potassium and magnesium checked, and sometimes an EKG.
Like all antidepressants, citalopram has a boxed warning. It covers suicidal thoughts and behavior in children, teens and young adults. If you are thinking about harming yourself, call or text 988, or call 911. If you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, talk it through with your prescriber. Learn about depression care by telehealth in California.
Is Citalopram Right for You?
Only a full evaluation with a prescriber can tell you if Citalopram fits your symptoms, history and goals. Harpal Singh, PMHNP-BC offers psychiatric evaluations and ongoing medication management by telehealth anywhere in California.
SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT CALL (888) 457-8124
Related Medication Guides
Other guides in the same group, written the same simple way. Being in one group does not mean you can swap one medicine for another.
- Paroxetine (Paxil), SSRI antidepressant
- Sertraline (Zoloft), SSRI antidepressant
- Trazodone (Desyrel), Serotonin modulator (SARI) antidepressant
- Venlafaxine (Effexor XR), SNRI antidepressant
- Vilazodone (Viibryd), SSRI and serotonin partial agonist antidepressant
- Vortioxetine (Trintellix), Serotonin modulator antidepressant
FAQ
Questions About Citalopram
What is the generic name for Celexa?
The generic name for Celexa is citalopram, sometimes listed as citalopram hydrobromide. Generic citalopram has the same active medicine as the brand. It is closely related to escitalopram (Lexapro), but they are not the same drug.
What is citalopram used for?
Citalopram is FDA approved for major depressive disorder in adults. Prescribers sometimes use it off-label for anxiety, panic or OCD when there is a good reason. Your prescriber explains why it is part of your plan.
Why is there a dose limit on citalopram?
At higher doses, citalopram can lengthen the QT interval, a measure of the heart's electrical rhythm. That raises the risk of a dangerous heart rhythm. The limit is lower for adults over 60 and some other groups, and your prescriber may check an EKG if you have heart risk factors.
How is citalopram related to escitalopram (Lexapro)?
Escitalopram is the active half of the citalopram molecule. They are closely related, and both are effective SSRIs. Some people respond better to one or tolerate it better, and your prescriber can help decide which fits.
How long before citalopram starts working?
Sleep and appetite may improve within one to two weeks. Mood benefits usually take four to six weeks, and sometimes eight. Keep taking it every day during this time, even if you do not feel different at first.
Will citalopram make me sleepy?
It can. Drowsiness and tiredness are common side effects, especially in the first weeks, while some people have trouble sleeping instead. Wait until you know how it affects you before driving, and tell your prescriber if sleepiness gets in the way.
Is it better to take citalopram at night?
Taking it at night does not make it work better for mood. It can help if citalopram makes you drowsy, because the sleepiness happens while you sleep. If it keeps you awake, a morning dose may be better, so ask your prescriber which fits you.
Can I take citalopram with other medications?
Citalopram has fairly few drug interactions. Still, it must never be combined with MAOIs. Other serotonin drugs and medicines that affect heart rhythm need care. Always give your prescriber a full, current list of your medicines and supplements.
How long does citalopram stay in your body?
Citalopram has a half-life of about 35 hours. After the last dose, most of it leaves the body over about a week. Even so, stopping should follow a taper planned with your prescriber.
Is citalopram used for anxiety?
Citalopram is FDA approved for depression, not for anxiety disorders. Prescribers sometimes use it off-label for anxiety when there is a good reason. Your prescriber can explain whether it or another option makes more sense for you.
What if I want to stop taking it?
Talk to your prescriber first. Stopping suddenly can cause dizziness, irritability, brain zaps and flu-like feelings. A slow taper over weeks, timed when life is stable, makes stopping much smoother.