Citalopram-Ratiopharm
Citalopram-ratiopharm is a medicine for depression that helps ease symptoms of severe depression by increasing serotonin levels in the brain.
Form
tabletti, kalvopäällysteinen
Strength
10 mg
Active Ingredient
Citalopram hydrobromide
Manufacturer
ratiopharm GmbH
How to Use
Dosage
Adults usually take 20 mg daily. Those over 65 or with liver problems usually start with 10-20 mg. Your doctor will tell you the exact dose.
Method
Take one tablet once a day, either in the morning or evening. You can take it with water, with or without food.
Important
The maximum dose for adults is 40 mg daily. For those over 65 and with liver problems, the maximum is 20 mg daily.
Possible Side Effects
COMMON
- •Feeling sleepy or having trouble sleeping, strange dreams.
- •Headache, migraine.
- •Nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, stomach pain, indigestion, gas.
- •Dry mouth, increased saliva.
- •Increased sweating.
- •Feeling weak or tired.
- •Difficulty focusing eyes, vision problems.
- •Changes in appetite (increased or decreased), weight changes.
- •Feeling agitated, nervous, anxious, restless, or confused.
- •Tremors, dizziness, shaking.
- •Tingling or numbness in hands or feet.
- •Difficulty concentrating, memory loss.
- •Changes in taste.
- •Ringing in the ears (tinnitus).
- •Heart palpitations, changes in blood pressure.
- •Yawning, runny nose, sinus infection, cough.
- •Itching.
- •Muscle and joint pain.
- •Frequent or difficult urination.
- •Decreased sex drive, difficulty reaching orgasm (women), menstrual cramps, ejaculation and erection problems (men), impotence.
RARE
- •Aggression, seeing or hearing things that aren't there (hallucinations), overly active or elevated mood (mania), feeling detached from yourself (depersonalization), euphoria, panic attacks, thoughts of self-harm or suicide.
- •Sudden fainting spells.
- •Dilated pupils.
- •Fast or slow heart rate, irregular heartbeat.
- •Hives, hair loss, rash, bruising, sensitivity to light, sudden swelling of skin or mucous membranes due to fluid retention.
- •Heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding, irregular uterine bleeding, bleeding between periods, very heavy vaginal bleeding after childbirth.
- •Swelling in arms and legs.
- •Low sodium or potassium levels in the blood.
- •Increased sex drive.
- •Seizures, involuntary movements, unusual muscle movements or stiffness, restlessness, teeth grinding.
- •Bleeding, increased bleeding and bruising due to low platelet count, nosebleeds, bleeding disorders including gastrointestinal, rectal, skin and mucous membrane bleeding.
- •Liver inflammation (hepatitis), abnormal liver function tests.
- •Fever, general feeling of unwellness.
- •Drop in blood pressure when standing up (dizziness).
- •Painful erections in men.
- •Increased prolactin levels in blood, milk production in men or non-nursing women.
- •Increased risk of bone fractures.
Important Warnings
- Do not take if you are allergic to citalopram or any other ingredients in this medicine.
- Do not take if you are taking or have recently taken MAO inhibitors (another type of antidepressant). Wait at least 14 days after stopping MAO inhibitors before starting citalopram.
- Tell your doctor if you have a heart condition, an abnormal heart rhythm, or are taking medicines that affect your heart.
- Seek immediate medical help if you develop high fever, shaking, muscle twitching, or restlessness, as these could be signs of a serious condition called serotonin syndrome.
- If you have thoughts of harming yourself or suicide, contact a doctor or go to a hospital right away.
Show 4 more warnings
- Tell your doctor if you have epilepsy or if you start having seizures during treatment.
- Tell your doctor if you have bleeding problems or if you bruise easily, or if you take medicines that increase bleeding.
- Inform your doctor if you feel unwell, have muscle weakness, or confusion, as these could be signs of low sodium in the blood.
- Do not stop taking this medicine suddenly. Your doctor will help you reduce the dose slowly to avoid withdrawal symptoms.
Use in Elderly Patients
Category C
Suitable for older adults, with specific precautions. Serotonergic. Risk of QT prolongation. A significant adverse effect is low serum sodium level. Increases risk of falls. Consider potential interactions especially with preparations that increase risk of bleeding. (updated 12.2.2024)