MEDICATION GUIDE
CITALOPRAM TABLETS, USP

Read the Medication Guide that comes with citalopram tablets before you start taking it and each time you get a refill. There may be new information. This Medication Guide does not take the place of talking to your healthcare provider about your medical condition or treatment. Talk with your healthcare provider if there is something you do not understand or want to learn more about:  

What is the most important information I should know about citalopram tablets?  

Citalopram and other antidepressant medicines may cause serious side effects, including:

1. Suicidal thoughts or actions:

• Citalopram and other antidepressant medicines may increase suicidal thoughts or actions in some children, teenagers, or young adults within the first few months of treatment or when the dose is changed.
• Depression or other serious mental illnesses are the most important causes of suicidal thoughts or actions.
• Watch for these changes and call your healthcare provider right away if you notice:
  • New or sudden changes, in mood, behavior, actions, thoughts, or feelings, especially if severe.
  • Pay particular attention to such changes when citalopram is started or when the dose is changed.  

Keep all follow-up visits with your healthcare provider and call between visits if you are worried about symptoms.

Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms, or call 911 if an emergency, especially if they are new, worse, or worry you:

• attempts to commit suicide
• acting on dangerous impulses
• acting aggressive or violent
• thoughts about suicide or dying
• new or worse depression
• new or worse anxiety or panic attacks 
• feeling agitated, restless, angry or irritable
• trouble sleeping
• an increase in activity or talking more than what is normal for you.
• other unusual changes in behavior or mood

Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms, or call 911 if an emergency. Citalopram may be associated with these serious side effects:

2. Changes in the electrical activity of your heart (QT prolongation and Torsade de Pointes). This condition can be life threatening. The symptoms may include:

• chest pain
• fast or slow heartbeat
• shortness of breath
• dizziness or fainting

3. Serotonin Syndrome This condition can be life-threatening and may include:

• agitation, hallucinations, coma or other changes in mental status
• coordination problems or muscle twitching (overactive reflexes)
• racing heartbeat, high or low blood pressure
• sweating or fever
• nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
• muscle rigidity

4. Severe allergic reactions: 

• trouble breathing
• swelling of the face, tongue, eyes or mouth
• rash, itchy welts (hives) or blisters, alone or with fever or joint pain

5. Abnormal bleeding: Citalopram and other antidepressant medicines may increase your risk of bleeding or bruising, especially if you take the blood thinner warfarin (Coumadin®, Jantoven®), a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAIDs, like ibuprofen or naproxen), or aspirin.

6. Seizures or convulsions

7. Manic episodes:

• greatly increased energy
• severe trouble sleeping
• racing thoughts
• reckless behavior
• unusually grand ideas
• excessive happiness or irritability
• talking more or faster than usual

8. Changes in appetite or weight.  Children and adolescents should have height and weight monitored during treatment.

9. Low salt (sodium) levels in the blood. Elderly people may be at greater risk for this. Symptoms may include:

• headache
• weakness or feeling unsteady
• confusion, problems concentrating or thinking or memory problems

Do not stop citalopram without first talking to your healthcare provider. Stopping citalopram too quickly may cause serious symptoms including:

• anxiety, irritability, high or low mood, feeling restless or changes in sleep habits
• headache, sweating, nausea, dizziness
• electric shock-like sensations, shaking, confusion

What is Citalopram?

Citalopram is a prescription medicine used to treat depression. It is important to talk with your healthcare provider about the risks of treating depression and also the risks of not treating it. You should discuss all treatment choices with your healthcare provider. Citalopram is also used to treat:

• Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

Talk to your healthcare provider if you do not think that your condition is getting better with citalopram treatment.  

Who should not take citalopram?  

Do not take citalopram if you:

• are allergic to citalopram hydrobromide or escitalopram oxalate or any of the ingredients in citalopram. See the end of this Medication Guide for a complete list of ingredients in citalopram.
• If you take a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI). Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you are not sure if you take an MAOI, including the antibiotic linezolid.
• Do not take an MAOI within 2 weeks of stopping citalopram unless directed to do so by your physician.
• Do not start citalopram if you stopped taking an MAOI in the last 2 weeks unless directed to do so by your physician. People who take citalopram close in time to an MAOI may have serious or even life-threatening side effects. Get medical help right away if you have any of these symptoms:
  • high fever
  • uncontrolled muscle spasms
  • stiff muscles
  • rapid changes in heart rate or blood pressure
  • confusion
  • loss of consciousness (pass out)

• take the antipsychotic medicine pimozide (Orap®) because this can cause serious heart problems.
• have a heart problem including congenital long QT syndrome

What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking citalopram? Ask if you are not sure.  

Before starting citalopram, tell your healthcare provider if you

• Are taking certain drugs such as:
  • Medicines for heart problems
  • Medicines that lower your potassium or magnesium levels in your body
  • Cimetidine
  • Triptans used to treat migraine headache
  • Medicines used to treat mood, anxiety, psychotic or thought disorders, including tricyclics, lithium, SSRIs, SNRIs, or antipsychotics
  • Tramadol
  • Over-the-counter supplements such as tryptophan or St. John’s Wort
• have liver problems
• have kidney problems
• have heart problems
• have or had seizures or convulsions
• have bipolar disorder or mania
• have low sodium levels in your blood
• have a history of a stroke
• have high blood pressure
• have or had bleeding problems
• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if citalopram will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your healthcare provider about the benefits and risks of treating depression during pregnancy
• are breast-feeding or plan to breast-feed. Some citalopram may pass into your breast milk. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby while taking citalopram.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines that you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Citalopram and some medicines may interact with each other, may not work as well, or may cause serious side effects.

Your healthcare provider or pharmacist can tell you if it is safe to take citalopram with your other medicines. Do not start or stop any medicine while taking citalopram without talking to your healthcare provider first.

If you take citalopram, you should not take any other medicines that contain citalopram hydrobromide or escitalopram oxalate including: Lexapro.

How should I take citalopram?

• Take citalopram exactly as prescribed. Your healthcare provider may need to change the dose of citalopram until it is the right dose for you.
• Citalopram may be taken with or without food.
• If you miss a dose of citalopram, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time. Do not take two doses of citalopram at the same time.
• If you take too much citalopram, call your healthcare provider or poison control center right away, or get emergency treatment.

What should I avoid while taking citalopram?  

Citalopram can cause sleepiness or may affect your ability to make decisions, think clearly, or react quickly. You should not drive, operate heavy machinery, or do other dangerous activities until you know how citalopram affects you. Do not drink alcohol while using citalopram.

What are the possible side effects of citalopram?  

Citalopram may cause serious side effects, including:

See “What is the most important information I should know about citalopram?”   

Common possible side effects in people who take citalopram include:

• Nausea
• Sleepiness
• Weakness
• Dizziness
• Feeling anxious
• Trouble sleeping
• Sexual problems
• Sweating
• Shaking
• Not feeling hungry
• Dry mouth
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Respiratory Infections
• Yawning

  Other side effects in children and adolescents include:

• increased thirst
• abnormal increase in muscle movement or agitation
• nose bleed
• urinating more often
• heavy menstrual periods
• possible slowed growth rate and weight change. Your child’s height and weight should be monitored during treatment with citalopram.

Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away. These are not all the possible side effects of citalopram. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.  

CALL YOUR DOCTOR FOR MEDICAL ADVICE ABOUT SIDE EFFECTS. YOU MAY REPORT SIDE EFFECTS TO THE FDA AT 1800-FDA­-1088.  

How should I store citalopram?

• Store citalopram at 20° to 25°C (68° to 77°F), between 15°C to 30°C (59°F to 86°F).
• Keep citalopram bottle closed tightly.

Keep citalopram and all medicines out of the reach of children.  

General information about citalopram 

Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a Medication Guide. Do not use citalopram for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give citalopram to other people, even if they have the same condition. It may harm them.

This Medication Guide summarizes the most important information about citalopram. If you would like more information, talk with your healthcare provider. You may ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for information about citalopram that is written for healthcare professionals.

For more information about citalopram call Apotex drug information 1-­800-667-4708.  

What are the ingredients in citalopram?  

Active ingredient: citalopram hydrobromide

Inactive ingredients: croscarmellose sodium, lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, and microcrystalline cellulose. The film coating contains: hydroxyethyl cellulose, polyethylene glycol, red ferric oxide (10 mg, and 20 mg), titanium dioxide, and yellow ferric oxide (10 mg). 

This Medication Guide has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for all antidepressants.  

Revised:  January 2013