Citalopram what is the maximum dose

Citalopram can make you feel less hungry, so you may lose weight when you first start taking it. If you start to have problems with your weight while taking citalopram, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. Some people cannot concentrate properly while they're taking citalopram. It might be best to stop driving and cycling for the first few days of treatment until you know how this medicine makes you feel.

There's some evidence that citalopram can reduce the quality of sperm, but it's not known whether this reduces male fertility. The effect should reverse once you stop taking the medicine.

Speak to your doctor if you're concerned. For women, there's no firm evidence to suggest that taking citalopram will reduce your fertility. But speak to a pharmacist or your doctor if you're trying to get pregnant.

They may want to review your treatment. Citalopram will not affect any type of contraception, including the combined pill or emergency contraception. The good effects of citalopram may, after a while, improve your sex life as your mood lifts and you become interested in life and relationships again.

Sexual side effects usually pass after the first couple of weeks. However, very rarely, they can be long lasting and may not get better even after stopping the medicine. If these happen and are a problem for you, go back to your doctor to see if there's another treatment you can try.

You can drink alcohol while taking citalopram, but it may make you feel sleepy. It might be best to stop drinking alcohol until you see how the medicine makes you feel. Antidepressants, including citalopram, are just one of several approaches to treating depression. Choosing a treatment that's most suitable for you depends on how long you have had depression, your symptoms, whether you have had any previous bouts of depression, whether previous treatment has worked, how likely you are to stick with your treatment, the potential side effects, and your preferences and priorities.

Citalopram and escitalopram are both medicines used to treat depression. Cannabis can also make drowsiness worse with citalopram, especially in people who have just started taking it. Methadone can increase the risk of side effects in people taking citalopram. Talk to your doctor if you think you might use recreational drugs while taking citalopram. Page last reviewed: 10 December Next review due: 10 December Citalopram - Brand name: Cipramil On this page About citalopram Key facts Who can and cannot take citalopram How and when to take citalopram Side effects How to cope with side effects of citalopram Pregnancy and breastfeeding Cautions with other medicines Common questions about citalopram.

About citalopram Citalopram is a type of antidepressant known as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor SSRI. Help us improve our website Can you answer a quick question about your visit today? It usually takes 4 to 6 weeks for citalopram to work. Side effects such as tiredness, dry mouth and sweating are common. They're usually mild and go away after a couple of weeks. If you and your doctor decide to take you off citalopram, your doctor may recommend reducing your dose gradually to help prevent extra side effects.

Do not take St John's wort while you're taking citalopram. It will increase your risk of side effects. Citalopram can be taken by adults and children over the age of 12 years.

Check with your doctor before starting citalopram if you: have had an allergic reaction to citalopram or any other medicines in the past have a heart problem — citalopram can speed up or change your heartbeat have ever taken any other medicines for depression — some rarely used antidepressants can interact with citalopram to cause very high blood pressure , even when they have been stopped for a few weeks are trying to become pregnant, already pregnant or breastfeeding have an eye condition called glaucoma — citalopram can increase the pressure in your eye have epilepsy or are having electroconvulsive treatment — citalopram may increase your risk of having a seizure If you have diabetes , citalopram can make it more difficult to keep your blood sugar stable.

Take citalopram once a day. You can take it with or without food. If you have trouble sleeping, it's best to take it in the morning. Dosage Citalopram tablets come in different strengths ranging from 10mg to 40mg.

With liquid drops of citalopram, 4 drops is equivalent to a 10mg tablet. What if I forget to take it? If you forget doses often, it may help to set an alarm to remind you. What if I take too much? Urgent advice: Call your doctor straight away if:. You have taken too much citalopram and have symptoms such as: being sick vomiting shaking feeling sleepy fast heart rate fits or seizures.

Common side effects Common side effects happen in more than 1 in people. Keep taking the medicine, but talk to your doctor or pharmacist if these side effects bother you or do not go away: dry mouth sweating a lot being unable to sleep feeling sleepy feeling tired or weak Serious side effects Serious side effects are rare and happen in less than 1 in 1, people.

Information: You can report any suspected side effect using the Yellow Card safety scheme. Visit Yellow Card for further information.

What to do about: dry mouth — chew sugar-free gum or sugar-free sweets sweating a lot — try wearing loose clothing, use a strong anti-perspirant and keep cool using a fan if possible. If this does not help, you may need to try a different type of antidepressant. Do not drive or use tools or machinery if you're feeling sleepy.

If this does not help, talk to your doctor. Food and Drug Administration FDA is clarifying dosing and warning recommendations for the drug Celexa citalopram hydrobromide. There is the possibility that high doses of the antidepressant can cause dangerous abnormalities in the electrical activity of the heart.

The drug label has been changed to describe the caution that needs to be taken when citalopram is used in patients with certain underlying heart conditions, and those who are predisposed to having low levels of potassium and magnesium in the blood. The revised drug label also describes lower doses that should be used in patients over the age of Changes in the electrical activity of the heart can lead to the risk of fatal abnormal heart rhythm; because of this risk in certain circumstances described below , health care providers may need to regularly monitor the heart — or check blood levels of potassium and magnesium -- in patients that must use Celexa.

The maximum recommended dose of Celexa is 20 mg per day for patients older than 60 years of age. Additional Information for Patients Do not stop taking Celexa or change your dose without talking to your healthcare professional. Susceptibility to QT-interval prolongation. Acute angle closure glaucoma ; apathy ; flatulence ; hypersalivation ; migraine ; rhinitis. Cough ; generalised tonic-clonic seizure.

See Prescribing in renal impairment. The dose should preferably be reduced gradually over about 4 weeks, or longer if withdrawal symptoms emerge 6 months in patients who have been on long-term maintenance treatment.

Other drugs classified as selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors.