How do citalopram make you feel

All FDA black box warnings are at the end of this fact sheet. Please review before taking this medication. Citalopram is an antidepressant medication that works in the brain. It is approved for the treatment of major depressive disorder MDD. They should be clear about the limits of the research around that medication and if there are any other options.

Do not stop taking citalopram even when you feel better. With input from you, your health care provider will assess how long you will need to take the medicine. Depression is also a part of bipolar illness. People with bipolar disorder who take antidepressants may be at risk for "switching" from depression into mania. Symptoms of mania include "high" or irritable mood, very high self-esteem, decreased need for sleep, pressure to keep talking, racing thoughts, being easily distracted, frequently involved in activities with a large risk for bad consequences for example, excessive buying sprees.

Medical attention should be sought if serotonin syndrome is suspected. If you are planning on becoming pregnant, notify your health care provider to best manage your medications.

People living with MDD who wish to become pregnant face important decisions. Untreated MDD has risks to the fetus, as well as the mother. It is important to discuss the risks and benefits of treatment with your doctor and caregivers.

For women who take antidepressant medications during weeks 13 through the end of their pregnancy second and third trimesters , there is a risk that the baby can be born before it is fully developed before 37 weeks. This is a potentially fatal condition that is associated with use of the antidepressant in the second half of pregnancy. However, women who discontinued antidepressant therapy were five times more likely to have a depression relapse than those who continued their antidepressant.

If you are pregnant, please discuss the risks and benefits of antidepressant use with your health care provider. Typically patients begin at a low dose of medicine and the dose is increased slowly over several weeks.

The dose usually ranges from 20 mg to 40 mg once daily. For patients older than 60 years, the maximum recommended dose is 20 mg once daily. Only your health care provider can determine the correct dose for you. The liquid should be measured with a dosing spoon or oral syringe which you can get from your pharmacy.

Consider using a calendar, pillbox, alarm clock, or cell phone alert to help you remember to take your medication. You may also ask a family member or friend to remind you or check in with you to be sure you are taking your medication. If you miss a dose of citalopram, take it as soon as you remember, unless it is closer to the time of your next dose.

These effects should pass after the first couple of weeks. If they do not, and this is a problem for you, go back to the doctor and see what else you could try. The good effects of citalopram may, after a while, have a positive effect on your sex life as your mood lifts and you become interested in life and relationships again.

Risks with citalopram in pregnancy are low but, if you are trying to get pregnant, you should talk about it with your doctor. Taking citalopram may affect your concentration when doing things like riding a bike, competitive gymnastics, or anything else that needs a lot of focus. Taking citalopram may affect your concentration when doing things that need a lot of focus, like exams. You should talk to your doctor about any future exams if you are starting citalopram. You might decide together to delay starting it until you have done them.

If they are more than a month away, however, you might find that it is better to start citalopram to lift your mood and improve your motivation to study. You need to talk to your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment with citalopram if you have or have ever had any of the following:.

You and your doctor should talk about how long you need to take citalopram before you begin treatment with the medication. People who have had low mood or depression more than once may need to take citalopram for a couple of years or more.

This is to stop themselves experiencing depression or low mood again. You will get the best effect from citalopram if you take it regularly at the dose prescribed by your doctor. Make sure that you know your dose. If it's not written on the label, check with your pharmacist or doctor. You should start by taking it in the morning. This will lower the chance of it affecting your sleep. If you forget to take it for a few days, you may start getting withdrawal symptoms , which feel a bit like the flu.

If you get these symptoms, see your doctor as soon as possible. If you want to stop your tablets, please speak to your doctor first as it is better if they are stopped slowly over a few weeks rather than suddenly. When you start taking an SSRI, the brain adjusts to having a higher level of serotonin around. If you stop taking the SSRI suddenly, the levels of serotonin start to drop, and your brain can take a while to adapt to this change. You could get some symptoms from the change, which are called withdrawal symptoms.

This does not mean you are addicted to the medicine - just that your brain has become used to citalopram to control the serotonin levels. Withdrawal symptoms usually start a few days after stopping the medicine and might include:. You can stop taking citalopram safely with your doctor's help, who will show you how to reduce your dosage gradually.

If you have taken more citalopram than the dosage recommended by the doctor who prescribed it to you, you must get medical help immediately — even if you do not feel any different. As part of depression some people think about hurting themselves or taking their own lives. Taking an antidepressant may not stop this. You must get some urgent help if you are having these sorts of thoughts. Speak to someone who is looking after you or go straight to hospital with your tablets.

Citalopram can sometimes also cause other serious side effects, including: allergic reactions difficulty breathing, swelling of your face or throat, itching skin lumps , and other serious symptoms that you can find here. Go to a hospital if you get any of these symptoms, taking your medicine with you. Stopping citalopram suddenly can cause unpleasant withdrawal effects.

Go to your doctor if you are thinking of stopping. Use good contraception while you are taking citalopram. It can also cause symptoms in newborn babies if you take it at the end of pregnancy.

Talk to your doctor or midwife about this. Get a friend or family member to go with you in case you feel ill on the way. If you take too much citalopram, you may be at risk of developing serotonin syndrome. Symptoms include a high fever, agitation, confusion, trembling, or weird movements of your muscles. This is rare, but you should watch out for it. While taking citalopram some people may think about hurting themselves or taking their own lives.

This can happen to anyone, including people who are under These thoughts may happen or get worse in the first few weeks of taking the tablets until the level of serotonin in the brain becomes stable. You must go straight to hospital if you have these thoughts, taking your tablets with you. Ask a friend or family member to go with you to keep you safe on the way.

Stop taking citalopram and go to a doctor or hospital straight away if you get any of the following symptoms:. Go to your doctor or the hospital straight away, but don't stop taking citalopram, if you get any of the following symptoms:.

People under 18 who take citalopram can get serious side effects and have an increased risk of thinking about taking their own lives, trying to take their own lives, and hostility mostly aggression, oppositional behaviour and anger.

Therefore, it is not licensed for people under 18 years old. If you are under 18, you and your doctor may decide that the benefits of taking citalopram outweigh the risks for you. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose.

Do not use this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Measure liquid medicine with the dosing syringe provided, or with a special dose-measuring spoon or medicine cup. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one. It may take up to 4 weeks before your symptoms improve. Keep using the medication as directed and tell your doctor if your symptoms do not improve. Do not stop using citalopram suddenly , or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms.

Ask your doctor how to safely stop using this medicine. Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose. Health Topics. Health Tools. Citalopram Celexa. Brand Names: CeleXA. Reviewed: June 23, Side effects such as tiredness, dry mouth and sweating are common. They're usually mild and go away after a couple of weeks.

If you and your doctor decide to take you off citalopram, your doctor may recommend reducing your dose gradually to help prevent extra side effects. Do not take St John's wort while you're taking citalopram. It will increase your risk of side effects. Citalopram can be taken by adults and children over the age of 12 years.

Check with your doctor before starting citalopram if you: have had an allergic reaction to citalopram or any other medicines in the past have a heart problem — citalopram can speed up or change your heartbeat have ever taken any other medicines for depression — some rarely used antidepressants can interact with citalopram to cause very high blood pressure , even when they have been stopped for a few weeks are trying to become pregnant, already pregnant or breastfeeding have an eye condition called glaucoma — citalopram can increase the pressure in your eye have epilepsy or are having electroconvulsive treatment — citalopram may increase your risk of having a seizure If you have diabetes , citalopram can make it more difficult to keep your blood sugar stable.

Take citalopram once a day. You can take it with or without food. If you have trouble sleeping, it's best to take it in the morning. Dosage Citalopram tablets come in different strengths ranging from 10mg to 40mg. With liquid drops of citalopram, 4 drops is equivalent to a 10mg tablet.

What if I forget to take it? If you forget doses often, it may help to set an alarm to remind you. What if I take too much? Urgent advice: Call your doctor straight away if:.

You have taken too much citalopram and have symptoms such as: being sick vomiting shaking feeling sleepy fast heart rate fits or seizures. Common side effects Common side effects happen in more than 1 in people.

Keep taking the medicine, but talk to your doctor or pharmacist if these side effects bother you or do not go away: dry mouth sweating a lot being unable to sleep feeling sleepy feeling tired or weak Serious side effects Serious side effects are rare and happen in less than 1 in 1, people. Information: You can report any suspected side effect using the Yellow Card safety scheme. Visit Yellow Card for further information. What to do about: dry mouth — chew sugar-free gum or sugar-free sweets sweating a lot — try wearing loose clothing, use a strong anti-perspirant and keep cool using a fan if possible.

If this does not help, you may need to try a different type of antidepressant. Do not drive or use tools or machinery if you're feeling sleepy. If this does not help, talk to your doctor. Cut down the amount of alcohol you drink as it can make you feel worse. Citalopram and pregnancy It's important for you and your baby that you stay well during your pregnancy. Citalopram and breastfeeding If your doctor or health visitor says your baby is healthy, citalopram can be used during breastfeeding.

Non-urgent advice: Tell your doctor if you're:. Tell your doctor if you're taking these medicines before you start citalopram : any medicines that affect your heartbeat — citalopram can speed up or change your heartbeat any other medicines for depression — some rarely used antidepressants can interact with citalopram to cause very high blood pressure even when they have been stopped for a few weeks Mixing citalopram with herbal remedies and supplements Do not take St John's wort, the herbal remedy for depression, while you're being treated with citalopram as this will increase your risk of side effects.

Important: Medicine safety Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal medicines, vitamins or supplements. How does citalopram work? When will I feel better? It usually takes between 4 and 6 weeks before you feel the full benefits.

Give the medicine at least 6 weeks to work. How will it make me feel? How long will I take it for? Is it safe to take it for a long time?

For most people, citalopram is safe to take for a long time. How do I come off citalopram?