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Before Using
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:
Allergies
Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.
Pediatric
Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated any benefit to using citalopram in children with depression. Studies have shown that some children, teenagers, and young adults think about suicide or attempt suicide when taking the medicine. Because of this toxicity, use in children is not recommended .
Geriatric
Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatrics-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of citalopram in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have age-related liver problems, which may require an adjustment in the dose for patients receiving citalopram .
Pregnancy
| Pregnancy Category | Explanation | |
|---|---|---|
| All Trimesters | C | Animal studies have shown an adverse effect and there are no adequate studies in pregnant women OR no animal studies have been conducted and there are no adequate studies in pregnant women. |
Breastfeeding
Studies in women breastfeeding have demonstrated harmful infant effects. An alternative to this medication should be prescribed or you should stop breastfeeding while using this medicine.
Drug Interactions
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.
- Clorgyline
- Furazolidone
- Iproniazid
- Isocarboxazid
- Levomethadyl
- Linezolid
- Metoclopramide
- Moclobemide
- Nialamide
- Pargyline
- Phenelzine
- Procarbazine
- Selegiline
- Toloxatone
- Tranylcypromine
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Abciximab
- Acenocoumarol
- Almotriptan
- Anagrelide
- Ancrod
- Anisindione
- Antithrombin III Human
- Ardeparin
- Aspirin
- Bivalirudin
- Certoparin
- Cilostazol
- Clopidogrel
- Dalteparin
- Danaparoid
- Defibrotide
- Dermatan Sulfate
- Desirudin
- Desvenlafaxine
- Dexfenfluramine
- Dextroamphetamine
- Dicumarol
- Dipyridamole
- Droperidol
- Duloxetine
- Eletriptan
- Enoxaparin
- Epoprostenol
- Eptifibatide
- Fenfluramine
- Fluconazole
- Fondaparinux
- Frovatriptan
- Heparin
- Iloprost
- Lamifiban
- Lexipafant
- Milnacipran
- Nadroparin
- Naratriptan
- Parnaparin
- Pentosan Polysulfate Sodium
- Phenindione
- Phenprocoumon
- Rasagiline
- Reviparin
- Rizatriptan
- Sibrafiban
- Sibutramine
- St John's Wort
- Sulfinpyrazone
- Sulodexide
- Sumatriptan
- Tapentadol
- Ticlopidine
- Tinzaparin
- Tirofiban
- Tramadol
- Warfarin
- Xemilofiban
- Zolmitriptan
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Aceclofenac
- Acemetacin
- Alclofenac
- Benoxaprofen
- Bromfenac
- Bufexamac
- Bupropion
- Carprofen
- Celecoxib
- Clonixin
- Clozapine
- Desipramine
- Dexketoprofen
- Diclofenac
- Diflunisal
- Dipyrone
- Droxicam
- Etodolac
- Etofenamate
- Etoricoxib
- Felbinac
- Fenbufen
- Fenoprofen
- Fentiazac
- Floctafenine
- Flufenamic Acid
- Flurbiprofen
- Ginkgo
- Ibuprofen
- Imipramine
- Indomethacin
- Indoprofen
- Irinotecan
- Isoxicam
- Ketoprofen
- Ketorolac
- Lithium
- Lornoxicam
- Meclofenamate
- Mefenamic Acid
- Meloxicam
- Metoprolol
- Morniflumate
- Nabumetone
- Naproxen
- Niflumic Acid
- Nimesulide
- Oxaprozin
- Parecoxib
- Phenylbutazone
- Pirazolac
- Piroxicam
- Pirprofen
- Propyphenazone
- Proquazone
- Rifampin
- Rofecoxib
- Sulindac
- Suprofen
- Tenidap
- Tenoxicam
- Tiaprofenic Acid
- Tolmetin
- Valdecoxib
- Zomepirac
Other Interactions
Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.
Other Medical Problems
The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
- Bipolar disorder (mental disease with cycles of elation and depression), history of, or
- Hyponatremia (low sodium in the blood) or
- Seizures (convulsions), history of—May make these conditions worse .
- Kidney disease, severe or
- Liver disease—Use with caution. The effects may be increased because of slower removal of the medicine from the body .
