Celexa

Celexa (Citalopram) is included in the class of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). This class of drugs is used to treat depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is clarifying dosing and warning recommendations for the antidepressant Celexa (citalopram hydrobromide; also available in generic form). In August 2011, FDA issued a Drug Safety Communication (DSC) stating that citalopram should no longer be used at doses greater than 40 mg per day because it could cause potentially dangerous abnormalities in the electrical activity of the heart.

Citalopram use at any dose is discouraged in patients with certain conditions because of the risk of QT prolongation, but because it may be important for some of those patients to use citalopram, the drug label has been changed to describe the particular caution that needs to be taken when citalopram is used in such patients. The revised drug label also describes lower doses that should be used in patients over 60 years of age.

Changes in the electrical activity of the heart (specifically, prolongation of the QT interval of the electrocardiogram [ECG]) can lead to a risk of an abnormal heart rhythm called Torsade de Pointes, which can be fatal. Patients at particular risk for developing prolongation of the QT interval include those with underlying heart conditions and those who are predisposed to having low levels of potassium and magnesium in the blood.

The citalopram drug label was revised on August 12, 2011, and again on March 27, 2012, to include new warnings about the potential for QT interval prolongation and Torsade de Pointes, as well as new drug dosage and usage recommendations. (See Additional Information for Healthcare Professionals).

Other Sources;

Citalopram

Citalopram is used to treat depression. Citalopram is in a class of antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). It is thought to work by increasing the amount of …

https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo – Drugs and Supplements

Citalopram/Escitalopram (Lexapro) and Pregnancy(Organization of Teratology Information Specialists) – PDF
Citalopram/Escitalopram (Celexa®/Lexapro®) and Pregnancy In every pregnancy, a woman starts out with a 3-5% chance of having a … risk. This sheet talks about whether exposure to citalopram/escitalopram may increase the risk of birth defects …
mothertobaby.org/…/pdf – External Health Links

Best Medications to Treat Fibromyalgia (Consumers Union of U.S.)
… stopped taking the drug due to side effects. Citalopram, fluoxetine, paroxetine These medications are not well studied … draw conclusions about the effectiveness of fluoxetine and citalopram for treating fibromyalgia symptoms due to the small …
www.consumerreports.org – External Health Links

NIH-Supported Clinical Trial Finds Antidepressant Reduces Alzheimer’s Agitation From the National Institutes of Health (National Institute on Aging)
… Medical Association reported results from the NIH-supported Citalopram for Agitation in Alzheimer’s Disease Study (CitAD) clinical trial of the antidepressant citalopram (Celexa, Cipramil) as a possible treatment for Alzheimer’s …