Citalopram Vitabalans
Citalopram Vitabalans is a medicine used to treat depression, panic disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Form
tabletti, kalvopäällysteinen
Strength
20 mg
Active Ingredient
Citalopram hydrobromide
Manufacturer
Vitabalans Oy
How to Use
Dosage
The usual dose for adults is 20 mg per day. For elderly patients (over 65), the starting dose is half the recommended dose, usually 10-20 mg per day.
Method
Take once daily, in the morning or evening, with or without food, with liquid. The tablet can be divided into equal doses.
Important
The maximum daily dose is 40 mg for adults, but generally not more than 20 mg for elderly patients (over 65).
Possible Side Effects
COMMON
- •Drowsiness, sleep difficulties, headache
- •Dry mouth, nausea
- •Increased sweating
- •Loss of appetite, weight loss
- •Restlessness, decreased sexual desire
- •Anxiety, nervousness, confusion
- •Women: difficulty achieving orgasm, abnormal dreams
- •Tremor, tingling sensation in the skin, dizziness, attention disorder
- •Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
- •Yawning
- •Diarrhea, vomiting, constipation
- •Itching
- •Muscle and joint pain
- •Men: ejaculation and erection problems
RARE
- •Swelling of the skin, tongue, lips or face, and/or difficulty breathing or swallowing (allergic reaction)
- •Fever, muscle stiffness or tremor, and extreme agitation (may indicate serotonin syndrome)
- •Rapid, irregular heartbeat or fainting (may indicate Torsades de Pointes)
- •Fatigue, confusion, and muscle twitching (may indicate abnormally low blood sodium levels)
- •Increased appetite, weight gain
- •Aggression, feeling estranged from oneself, hallucinations, mania
- •Fainting
- •Dilated pupils
- •Rapid heartbeat, slow heartbeat
- •Hives, hair loss, rash, red or purple skin discoloration (purpura), photosensitivity
- •Difficulty urinating
- •Vaginal bleeding
- •Swelling of arms and legs
- •Grand mal seizures, involuntary movements, taste disturbance
- •Bleeding
- •Hepatitis (liver effects)
- •Fever
- •Increased bleeding or bruising due to reduced platelet count
- •Rash (hypersensitivity)
- •Inappropriate ADH secretion
- •Low potassium levels in blood (including swelling of skin and mucous membranes)
- •Panic attacks, teeth grinding, restlessness
- •Suicidal thoughts and related behavior
- •Specific movement disorders due to nerve pathway disturbances, involuntary muscle jerks (akathisia), dyskinesia
- •Visual disturbances
- •Changes in heart's electrical cycle (QT prolongation, ventricular arrhythmias)
- •Low blood pressure (e.g., when standing)
- •Nosebleed
- •Gastrointestinal bleeding (including rectal bleeding)
- •Abnormal liver function test results
- •Irregular menstruation (intermenstrual bleeding) in women, priapism (prolonged erection) in men, milk secretion in men
- •Increased prolactin levels in blood
- •Very heavy vaginal bleeding shortly after childbirth (postpartum haemorrhage)
- •Increased risk of bone fractures
Important Warnings
- If you are allergic to citalopram or any other ingredient in this medicine.
- If you are taking or have taken MAO inhibitor medicines within the last 2 weeks.
- If you are taking linezolid (an antibiotic) and your condition and blood pressure cannot be closely monitored.
- If you have a congenital or otherwise abnormal heart rhythm, or if you are taking medicines that affect heart rhythm.
- If you have thoughts of harming yourself or committing suicide, contact a doctor immediately or go to the nearest hospital.
Show 5 more warnings
- During the first weeks of treatment, you may experience restlessness or difficulty sitting or standing still; tell your doctor immediately if these symptoms occur.
- Do not stop taking this medicine abruptly without your doctor's guidance.
- This medicine may affect your ability to drive or operate machinery; avoid driving or using machines until you know how the medicine affects you.
- Do not drink alcohol with Citalopram Vitabalans, as it may change the medicine's effects.
- Consult your doctor or pharmacist before using this medicine if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to become pregnant.
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)