When do i take citalopram

Accept all cookie usage. Update cookie preferences. Open guide menu Skip to guide menu. I am a young person I am a parent I work with young people. Open site search Open main navigation. View shareable links View Basket : 0 items. Guide Menu for Citalopram. Hide Show guide menu. Guide contents jump to section About citalopram Citalopram and everyday life Uses, warnings, safety and side effects About this information More information and advice.

My experience taking fluoxetine and citalopram for PTSD. Taking citalopram for agoraphobia and depression. About citalopram. Please note. Always talk to your doctor about your situation and whether this medication is for you.

Thinking about trying medication? Read our guide. How citalopram works. Citalopram is a type of antidepressant called a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor SSRI.

Citalopram is often prescribed alongside a talking therapy. Citalopram and everyday life. Frequently asked questions. How long does it take to start working? What effects will it have on my body? Citalopram can cause people to lose weight when they first start talking it. Should I tell my family and friends I am taking it? Will it affect my sleep? Can I drink alcohol and take street drugs while taking it? Alcohol You can continue to drink alcohol in moderation while taking citalopram.

Street drugs Citalopram does not mix well with street drugs or legal highs. Cannabis can make drowsiness worse with citalopram and give you a fast heartbeat.

Can I take it with other medications? Citalopram can interact with some other medicines and drugs. I have allergies and food intolerances. Is there anything I need to know? The drops contain a small amount of alcohol, but not enough to affect your blood alcohol level. Can I drive while taking it? Do not drive or ride a bike just after you start taking citalopram. Don't worry - most people drive as normal while taking citalopram. Can I take it if I am pregnant or breastfeeding?

Pregnancy If you become pregnant while you are on citalopram, you should carry on taking it and go back to your doctor as soon as possible to see if you should change or stop your medicine. Post-natal If citalopram is taken in the last five months of a pregnancy, it can cause a serious condition called persistent pulmonary hypertension of the new-born PPHN.

There are some other symptoms that can occur in newborn babies if citalopram is taken in the last three months of pregnancy, so do look out for these and get help if they happen: seizures fits or shaking being too hot or cold feeding difficulties or being sick Breastfeeding Breastfeeding may help offset any withdrawal symptoms. Will it affect my sex life or fertility? Sex Citalopram can have side effects that might affect your sex life.

These include: painful erections, problems with getting an erection getting hard and ejaculating coming bleeding from the vagina and difficulty reaching orgasm coming the same way as before lower sex drive These effects should pass after the first couple of weeks.

Fertility Citalopram is unlikely to affect your chances of having children. Will it affect my ability to play sports? Citalopram is not a banned substance in sport. It might be best to stop such sports for the first few days, until you know how it affects you. Don't worry - most people play sports as normal while taking citalopram. Will it affect my ability to take exams? Try not to take citalopram for the first time just before your exams. Don't worry - most people take exams as normal while taking citalopram.

I started feeling like I could be around people and could enjoy things again. Taking citalopram to treat depression: Rachel's story. Your doctor should know. You need to talk to your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment with citalopram if you have or have ever had any of the following: liver disease kidney disease diabetes you may need an adjustment of your antidiabetic therapy epilepsy or a history of seizures or fits a bleeding problem, or bleeding in the stomach or gut mania or bipolar disorder low blood levels of sodium problems with your eyes, such as glaucoma increased pressure in the eye heart problems, or a heart attack a low heart rate or long-lasting diarrhoea loose poo , vomiting being sick or using diuretics water tablets a fast or irregular heartbeat, fainting, collapsing or dizziness when you stand up.

Uses, warnings, safety and side effects. Taking citalopram Warnings and safety Side effects Taking citalopram How long will I need to take citalopram for? Never stop the tablets suddenly because this may make you more at risk of experiencing low mood. Speak to your doctor if you want to stop taking citalopram. You should only take citalopram as agreed with your doctor. Try to get into a routine, like taking it when you have breakfast or brush your teeth.

If you find that it makes you sleepy, you can take it at nighttime instead. Citalopram can be taken before or after food. Swallow the tablet with a drink of water or liquid - if you chew it, it tastes bitter. What if I miss a dose? If you forget to take a dose, then just take it as soon as possible. If you forget to take it by bedtime, just start again on the next day.

Do not take a double dose. What will happen if I forget to take my citalopram? Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions. Citalopram may be taken with or without food. If your doctor tells you to take it at a specific time, follow your doctor's instructions. If you are using the oral liquid, shake the bottle well before measuring each dose. Use a marked measuring spoon, oral syringe or medicine cup to measure each dose. The average household teaspoon may not hold the right amount of liquid.

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses. Citalopram is in a class of antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors SSRIs. It is thought to work by increasing the amount of serotonin, a natural substance in the brain that helps maintain mental balance.

Citalopram comes as a tablet and a solution liquid to take by mouth. It is usually taken once a day, in the morning or in the evening, with or without food.

Take citalopram at around the same time every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take citalopram exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor. Your doctor may start you on a low dose of citalopram and gradually increase your dose, not more often than once a week. It may take 1 to 4 weeks before you notice the full benefit of citalopram.

Continue to take citalopram even if you feel well. If you suddenly stop taking citalopram, you may experience withdrawal symptoms such as mood changes, irritability, agitation, dizziness, numbness, tingling or electric shock-like sensations in the hands or feet, anxiety, confusion, headache, tiredness, nausea, sweating, shaking, and difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep.

Do not stop taking citalopram without talking to your doctor. Your doctor will probably decrease your dose gradually. Citalopram is also sometimes used to treat eating disorders, alcoholism, panic disorder condition that causes sudden attacks of extreme fear with no apparent cause , premenstrual dysphoric disorder a group of physical and emotional symptoms that occur before the menstrual period each month , and social phobia excessive anxiety about interacting with others.

Talk to your doctor about the possible risks of using this medication for your condition. This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information. Take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule.

Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one. Citalopram may decrease appetite and cause weight loss in children. Your child's doctor will watch his or her growth carefully. Talk to your child's doctor if you have concerns about your child's growth or weight while he or she is taking this medication. Talk to your child's doctor about the risks of giving citalopram to your child.

Citalopram may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication. Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture not in the bathroom. It is important to keep all medication out of sight and reach of children as many containers such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers are not child-resistant and young children can open them easily.

To protect young children from poisoning, always lock safety caps and immediately place the medication in a safe location — one that is up and away and out of their sight and reach.

Unneeded medications should be disposed of in special ways to ensure that pets, children, and other people cannot consume them.