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Citalopram Hydrobromide, Oral sigh-TAL-oh-ppram hy-droh-BROH-myd

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI); antidepressant

Generic and brand names: citalopram hydrobromide, oral; Celexa

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is taken by mouth to treat depression.

It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

  • an allergic reaction to any medicine
  • heart disease
  • liver or kidney disease
  • long QT syndrome (problems with electrical activity in the heart muscle)
  • low levels of magnesium, potassium, or sodium in the blood
  • other mood disorders such as bipolar disorder
  • seizures
  • thoughts of suicide

Do not take this medicine if you have taken an MAO inhibitor antidepressant in the last 2 weeks. Serious side effects can occur. Talk with your healthcare provider about this.

Do not take escitalopram (Lexapro) while taking this medicine.

Do not take pimozide (Orap) while taking this medicine.

Females of childbearing age: Talk with your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

How do I take it?

Read the Medication Guide that comes in the medicine package when you start taking this medicine and each time you get a refill.

Check the label on the medicine for directions about your specific dose. Take this medicine exactly as your healthcare provider prescribes. Do not take more of it or take it longer than prescribed. Taking too much can increase the risk of side effects. Do not stop taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval. You may need to reduce your dosage slowly to avoid withdrawal symptoms.

An adult should supervise the use of this medicine by a child.

This medicine comes in the form of tablets and liquid. You may take this medicine with or without food. Take it at the same time each day.

If you have the liquid form of this medicine, use a special measuring device rather than a common kitchen spoon to make sure you are getting the right dose.

Your healthcare provider will want to see you regularly to check your response to this medicine and to see if your dosage needs to be changed. It may take some time for you to feel better. Do not stop taking the medicine until your healthcare provider tells you to do so. You may have to take this medicine for 4 weeks or more to feel its full effects.

What if I miss a dose?

Do not miss a dose. If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for the next scheduled dose. In that case, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take double doses. If you are not sure of what to do if you miss a dose, or if you miss more than one dose, contact your healthcare provider.

What if I overdose?

If you or anyone else has intentionally taken too much of this medicine, call 911 or go to the emergency room right away. If you pass out, have seizures, weakness or confusion, or have trouble breathing, call 911. If you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much of this medicine, call the poison control center. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. The poison control center number is 800-222-1222.

Symptoms of an acute overdose may include: nausea, vomiting, tremors, sweating, fast or irregular heartbeat, confusion, dizziness, drowsiness, seizures, decreased urination, coma.

What should I watch out for?

Antidepressant medicines may increase suicidal thoughts or actions in some children, teenagers, and young adults within the first few months of treatment. Call your child's healthcare provider right away if you notice:

  • new or increased thoughts of suicide
  • changes in mood or behavior such as becoming irritable or anxious

This medicine may cause serotonin syndrome, which can be life-threatening. It may be caused by taking this medicine with other medicines. These medicines include other antidepressants, medicines to treat migraines, pain medicines, some cough medicines, St. John’s wort, and others. Make sure that your providers know ALL of the medicines that you take.

Contact your healthcare provider right away if you have:

  • restlessness
  • hallucinations
  • loss of coordination
  • fast heart beat
  • rapid changes in blood pressure
  • increased body temperature
  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • diarrhea

This medicine may make you dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are fully alert.

This medicine may increase the effects of alcohol and interact with many other medicines. Do not drink alcohol or take any other medicine, including nonprescription products or natural remedies, unless your healthcare provider approves.

Occasionally, this medicine can cause some sexual problems. Ask your healthcare provider about this.

Adults over the age of 65 may be more sensitive to this medicine and may require a different dosage.

If you need emergency care, surgery, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you are taking this medicine.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you are unable to reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat)

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Thoughts of suicide; worsening depression; seizures; severe nervousness; rash; fainting; severe headache; hallucinations; slurred speech; severe confusion; fast heartbeat; unusual bleeding or bruising; black or tarry stools.

Other: Headache, loss of appetite, weight loss or gain, drowsiness, stomach pain, weakness, nausea, vomiting, shaking, trouble sleeping, dizziness, dry mouth, cough, runny nose, constipation, sweating, diarrhea, restlessness, rash, itching, change in sex drive or ability, muscle or joint pain, fever, increased yawning.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

  • alcohol
  • anti-HIV medicines such as delavirdine (Rescriptor) and ritonavir (Norvir)
  • antipsychotics such as clozapine (Clozaril), haloperidol (Haldol), pimozide (Orap), and risperidone (Risperdal)
  • antiseizure medicines such as carbamazepine (Tegretol), phenytoin (Dilantin), and valproic acid (Depakote)
  • aspirin or other salicylates
  • atomoxetine (Strattera)
  • benzodiazepines such as alprazolam (Xanax), diazepam (Valium), and triazolam (Halcion)
  • beta blockers such as acebutolol (Sectral), atenolol (Tenormin), carvedilol (Coreg), labetalol (Trandate), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), nadolol (Corgard), pindolol, propranolol (Inderal LA), and sotalol (Betapace)
  • buspirone (BuSpar)
  • diuretics (water pills) such as amiloride, bumetanide, chlorothiazide (Diuril), furosemide (Lasix), hydrochlorothiazide (Microzide), spironolactone (Aldactone), torsemide (Demadex), and triamterene (Dyrenium)
  • heartburn medicines such as cimetidine (Tagamet) and omeprazole (Prilosec)
  • linezolid (Zyvox)
  • lithium (Lithobid)
  • MAO inhibitors such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), and tranylcypromine (Parnate) (Do not take this medicine and an MAO inhibitor within 14 days of each other.)
  • medicines to treat migraines such as almotriptan (Axert), eletriptan (Relpax), frovatriptan (Frova), naratriptan (Amerge), rizatriptan (Maxalt), sumatriptan succinate (Imitrex), and zolmitriptan (Zomig)
  • muscle relaxants such as baclofen (Lioresal), carisoprodol (Soma), cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril), dantrolene (Dantrium), methocarbamol (Robaxin), and tizanidine (Zanaflex)
  • natural remedies such as alfalfa, anise, bilberry, cat’s claw, garlic, ginger, ginkgo biloba, ginseng, gotu kola, kava, SAMe, St. John's wort, tryptophan, and valerian
  • nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs) such as diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam), ibuprofen (Motrin, Motrin IB, Advil), indomethacin (Indocin), ketoprofen, ketorolac (Toradol), nabumetone (Relafen), naproxen (Naprosyn, Anaprox, Aleve, Naprelan), oxaprozin (Daypro), piroxicam (Feldene), and sulindac (Clinoril)
  • other antidepressants such as amitriptyline, bupropion (Wellbutrin), doxepin, duloxetine (Cymbalta), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac), fluvoxamine (Luvox), imipramine (Tofranil), nefazodone, nortriptyline (Pamelor), paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft), trazodone, and venlafaxine (Effexor)
  • pain medicines such as codeine, fentanyl (Actiq, Duragesic), hydrocodone/acetaminophen (Vicodin, Lortab), meperidine (Demerol), methadone (Dolophine), morphine (Oramorph, MS Contin), oxycodone (OxyContin, Roxicodone), and tramadol (Ultram)
  • phenothiazines such as chlorpromazine, prochlorperazine, perphenazine, thioridazine, and trifluoperazine
  • procarbazine (Matulane)
  • products that contain methylene blue (Prosed DS, Utira-C, Urelle, Utrona-C)
  • rifampin (Rifadin)
  • sedatives such as butabarbital (Butisol), phenobarbital, ramelteon (Rozerem), triazolam (Halcion), zaleplon (Sonata), and zolpidem (Ambien)
  • stimulants and appetite suppressants such as dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine, Dextrostat), methamphetamine (Desoxyn), and methylphenidate (Ritalin)
  • warfarin (Coumadin)

Do not drink alcohol while you are taking this medicine.

If you are not sure if your medicines might interact, ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider. Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

How should I store this medicine?

Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect from heat, high humidity, and bright light.


This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.


Developed by RelayHealth.
Medication Advisor 2012.1 published by RelayHealth.
Last modified: 2011-10-31
Last reviewed: 2011-06-29
This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information is intended to inform and educate and is not a replacement for medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.
© 2012 RelayHealth and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
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