Citalopram is used to treat depression. It works by increasing the amount of serotonin, a natural substance in the brain that helps maintain mental balance.

Citalopram is also sometimes used to treat eating disorders, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, panic disorder, alcoholism, and social phobia. Talk to your doctor about the possible risks of using this medication for your condition.

Special precautions

Before taking citalopram,

• You should know that your mental health may change in unexpected ways, especially at the beginning of your treatment and at any time your dose is increased or decreased.
• Remember that alcohol can add to the drowsiness caused by this medication.
• you should know that citalopram may make you drowsy. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you.
• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking citalopram, call your doctor.
• tell your doctor if you have or have ever had, or anyone in your family has or has ever had, depression, bipolar disorder (mood that changes from depressed to abnormally excited), or mania (frenzied, abnormally excited mood), or if you have, or anyone in your family has, thought about or attempted suicide. Also tell your doctor if you have recently had a heart attack and if you have or have ever had seizures; or liver, kidney, or heart disease.
• You should know that citalopram is very similar to another SSRI, escitalopram (Lexapro). You should not take these two medications together.
• Do not take citalopram if you are taking monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors, including phenelzine (Nardil) and tranylcypromine (Parnate), or have stopped taking them within the past two weeks.
• Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to citalopram or any other medications.

Side effects

Citalopram may cause side effects:

• loss of appetite
• changes in sex drive or ability
• excessive sweating
• dry mouth
• muscle or joint pain
• difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
• nervousness
• excitement
• tremor
• excessive tiredness
• drowsiness
• stomach pain
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• upset stomach

Some side effects can be serious:

• seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist (hallucinating)

• seizure

Keep all appointments with your doctor.