Celexa is a widely prescribed antidepressant that has helped millions of people manage depression and anxiety disorders. This selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) works by balancing brain chemicals to improve mood and emotional well-being. With its proven effectiveness and relatively manageable side effect profile, Celexa has become a trusted first-line treatment for various mental health conditions.
What is Celexa Tablet?
Celexa (citalopram hydrobromide) is an oral antidepressant medication belonging to the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) class. The FDA has approved Celexa primarily for treating major depressive disorder in adults, though healthcare providers may prescribe it off-label for other mental health conditions.
Celexa is available as oral tablets in three strengths: 10mg, 20mg, and 40mg, making it easy for doctors to adjust dosages based on individual patient needs.
What is Celexa used for?
Celexa offers significant therapeutic benefits for people struggling with depression and related mental health conditions. This medication helps restore emotional balance and improve quality of life for many patients.
Conditions Celexa Treats
Depression: Celexa increases serotonin levels in the brain, improving mood and reducing feelings of sadness and hopelessness. It typically takes 4-6 weeks to experience the full therapeutic effects, and patients should not stop taking it without medical supervision.
Anxiety Disorders: Celexa for anxiety has shown effectiveness in managing various anxiety conditions by boosting serotonin levels in the brain. The medication helps patients feel calmer and more in control of their anxiety symptoms.
Panic Disorder: This medication can significantly reduce the frequency and intensity of panic attacks by calming the nervous system and stabilizing mood.
Secondary Uses of Celexa
Healthcare providers may prescribe Celexa off-label for several other conditions, including:
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder
Alcohol use disorder
Postmenopausal hot flashes
How Does Celexa Work (mechanism of action)?
Celexa works by blocking serotonin reuptake transporters in the brain, which increases the amount of available serotonin in neural pathways. Serotonin is a crucial neurotransmitter that regulates mood, emotions, sleep, and behavior.
When someone has depression or anxiety, their brain may not produce enough serotonin or may reabsorb it too quickly. Celexa prevents this rapid reabsorption, allowing serotonin to remain active longer in the brain's synapses. This enhanced serotonin activity helps improve mood, reduce anxiety, and restore emotional balance.
Unlike some other antidepressants, Celexa has minimal effects on norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake, making it highly selective for serotonin pathways.
Celexa Dosage
Proper dosing is crucial for the effectiveness and safety of Celexa. Healthcare providers carefully determine the appropriate dose based on individual patient factors and their response to treatment.
The typical starting dosage of Celexa for adults is 20mg, taken once daily, with or without food. After at least one week, doctors may adjust the dose based on patient response and tolerability. The maximum recommended dose is 40mg per day for most adults, though patients over 60 years old should not exceed 20mg daily due to the increased risk of heart rhythm problems.
For Celexa 20mg, this represents the standard therapeutic dose that many patients find effective for managing their symptoms.
What Should I Do If I Miss a Dose?
If you forget to take your Celexa tablet, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it's almost time for your next scheduled dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular dosing schedule. Never double up on doses to make up for a missed one, as this can increase the risk of side effects.
What Happens if an Overdose?
Taking more Celexa tab than prescribed can be dangerous and potentially life-threatening. Overdose symptoms may include severe drowsiness, confusion, rapid heartbeat, seizures, or difficulty breathing.
Symptoms of Overdose:
Severe dizziness or fainting
Irregular or rapid heartbeat
Seizures
Severe nausea and vomiting
Extreme drowsiness or loss of consciousness
What to Avoid:
Never take more than your prescribed dose
Don't combine with alcohol or other depressants
Avoid taking extra doses if you feel the medication isn't working
If you suspect an overdose, seek immediate medical attention or call emergency services.
Get a second opinion from trusted experts and makeconfident, informed decisions.
Like all medications, Celexa tablets can cause side effects, though not everyone experiences them. Most side effects are mild and tend to improve as your body adjusts to the medication.
Common Side Effects
The most frequently reported Celexa side effects include:
Suicidal thoughts or behaviors (especially in young adults under 25, with a boxed warning)
Users should consult a doctor if any side effects worsen or become concerning, particularly new or worsening symptoms like mood changes, anxiety, or thoughts of self-harm.
Precautions and Warnings
Understanding who should avoid Celexa tab and when extra caution is needed helps ensure safe and effective treatment.
Who Should Avoid This Medicine
Certain individuals should not take Celexa or should use it only under close medical supervision:
People taking MAO inhibitors or who have used them within 14 days
Individuals with known allergies to citalopram
Patients with certain heart rhythm disorders
Those taking pimozide
Conditions Where Caution is Needed
Extra monitoring may be necessary for patients with:
Heart disease or rhythm problems
Liver or kidney disease
History of seizures
Bipolar disorder
Bleeding disorders
Low sodium levels
Are There Any Age Restrictions for Using Celexa?
Celexa is not approved for use in children under 18 years old due to increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Adults over 60 years should receive reduced doses (maximum 20mg daily) due to slower medication clearance and increased risk of heart problems.
Alcohol and Food Interactions
Avoid alcohol while taking Celexa, as it can worsen side effects like drowsiness and dizziness. The medication can be taken with or without food, though taking it with food may help reduce stomach upset.
Possible Interactions with Other Medications (Drug Interactions)
Celexa can interact with numerous medications, potentially causing dangerous side effects or reducing effectiveness. There are 726 known drug interactions with Celexa.
Major Interactions to Avoid:
MAO inhibitors (can cause life-threatening serotonin syndrome)
Blood thinners like warfarin (increased bleeding risk)
Other antidepressants (risk of serotonin syndrome)
Certain heart medications
Stimulant medications
Possible Impact When Combined with Supplements and Herbal Products
Natural supplements can also interact with Celexa:
St. John's Wort may increase the risk of serotonin syndrome.
Tryptophan supplements can enhance serotonin effects
NSAIDs like ibuprofen may increase bleeding risk
Always inform your healthcare provider about all medications, supplements, and herbal products you're taking.
How Should Celexa Be Stored?
Proper storage ensures your medication remains effective and safe throughout its shelf life. Store Celexa tablets at room temperature, away from moisture and direct sunlight.
Recommended Storage Temperature for Celexa
Keep Celexa at room temperature between 68°F and 77°F (20°C to 25°C). Avoid storing it in bathrooms or other humid areas, as moisture can cause the medication to degrade.
What Happens If Celexa Is Not Stored Properly?
Improper storage can reduce the medication's effectiveness or cause it to break down into potentially harmful compounds. Heat, moisture, and light can all compromise the stability of the medication.
Important Storage Guidelines:
Keep away from children and pets
Store in original container with lid tightly closed
Don't store in car glove compartments or other areas with temperature extremes
Never flush medications down the toilet or drain
Use pharmacy take-back programs for safe disposal
Celexa vs lexapro
Celexa
Lexapro
Celexa is an antidepressant known as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI).
Lexapro is an antidepressant of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor class.
Celexa is used for treating depression, anxiety, and panic disorder.
Lexapro is a prescription drug used to treat symptoms of major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder.
Celexa is a racemic mixture of the R-enantiomer and the S-enantiomer of citalopram.
Lexapro contains only the S-enantiomer, the more active isomer responsible for serotonergic effects.
Celexa is an inexpensive antidepressant medicine used to treat anxiety. While it may help with your anxiety, it may take a few weeks for your symptoms to get better, so try to be patient. You may have some side effects while taking Celexa, but they are generally mild.
Better appetite can cause you to eat more, leading to an increase in body weight. On the other hand, Celexa could also reduce your appetite, leading to a slight loss of weight. Studies have shown both effects. It's hard to tell whether you should expect weight gain or weight loss.
Take the citalopram once a day. It can be taken with or without food. You can take the citalopram at any time of the day, as long as you stay at the same time every day. If you're having trouble sleeping, it's best to take it in the morning.
At the end of the day, Celexa restores the balance of serotonin within the brain and body as a whole and gives the person taking the drug energy. Many people enjoy this medicine because it doesn't cause somnolence like other antidepressants.
Serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as escitalopram (Lexapro), citalopram (Celexa), paroxetine (Paxil), and fluoxetine (Prozac), taken for depression or anxiety, can make you feel sleepy.
The dose may be increased to 20 mg once a day after 1 week. The benefit cannot be seen until treatment has been given for up to 4 weeks. A daily dose of 20 mg may not be more effective than 10 mg daily in the treatment of depression. The dose for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder is 10 mg once daily.
Citalopram isn't going to work right away. You may feel worse before you feel better after starting the medicine. Your doctor should ask you to see you again 2 or 3 weeks after you start taking the medicine.
Findings show that potentially therapeutic effects begin as quickly as a few hours after the first dose of Celexa and by extension of any SSRI. Interestingly, none of the participants reported a change of mood or unusual side effects.
With a shorter half-life than Celexa, Zoloft may cause fewer side effects, such as somnolence. Like Celexa, consistent concentrations are reached in the body after approximately 1 week with a maximum therapeutic potential reached after several weeks.
Celexa and Lexapro are both antidepressants of the same class, but they are not the same. Celexa is a racemic mixture of the R-enantiomer and the S-enantiomer of the citalopram. Lexapro contains only the S-enantiomer, the more active isomer responsible for serotonergic effects.
Disclaimer: The information provided is accurate and up-to-date to the best of our knowledge. However, it should not be considered a substitute for medical advice or consultation. We do not guarantee its completeness or accuracy. The absence of specific warnings does not mean a medicine is safe for all users. We are not responsible for any outcomes based on this information and strongly recommend consulting a doctor for any medical concerns or questions.
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