Common questions about citalopram

Citalopram is one of a group of antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs. These medicines are thought to work by increasing the levels of serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is thought to have a good effect on mood, emotion and sleep.

It may take 1 or 2 weeks before citalopram starts to work on your symptoms. It usually takes between 4 and 6 weeks before you feel the full benefits.

This is because it takes around a week for citalopram levels to build up in your body, and then a few weeks longer for your body to adapt and get used to it.

Do not stop taking citalopram after 1 or 2 weeks just because you feel it is not helping your symptoms. Give the medicine at least 6 weeks to work.

Antidepressants like citalopram help lift your mood so you feel better. You may notice that you sleep better and feel less anxious. You will hopefully be more relaxed about things that used to worry you.

Citalopram will not change your personality, it will simply help you feel like yourself again.

Do not expect to feel better overnight, though. Some people feel worse during the first few weeks of treatment before they begin to feel better.

Citalopram is not any better or worse than other antidepressants. But sometimes people respond better to one antidepressant than to another.

Talk to your doctor if you are not feeling any better after 6 weeks.

Citalopram and escitalopram are both medicines used to treat depression. They may sound similar, but they're different medicines.

Differences include:

• citalopram doses are twice as much as those of escitalopram – this is because more citalopram is needed to have the same effect
• the type and frequency of side effects you may get are different with each medicine
• citalopram is not used to treat as many health conditions – escitalopram is also used to treat generalised anxiety disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and social anxiety disorder

Antidepressants, including citalopram, are just one of several approaches to treating depression or anxiety.

Other treatments for depression and anxiety include:

• talking therapy (such as cognitive behavioural therapy)
• exercise programmes
• help to get a good night's sleep
• joining a self-help group
• using relaxation techniques

If you're interested in any of these treatments, talk to your doctor.

Citalopram can make you feel less hungry, so you may lose weight when you first start taking it. Later on, you may gain a little weight as your appetite returns.

If you start to have problems with your weight while taking citalopram, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Citalopram does not affect any type of contraception, including the combined pill or emergency contraception.

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.

It's an offence to drive a car if your ability to drive safely is affected. It's your responsibility to decide if it's safe to drive. If you're in any doubt, do not drive.

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you're unsure whether it's safe for you to drive while taking citalopram. GOV.UK has more information on the law on drugs and driving.

If you drink alcohol while taking citalopram, it may make you feel sleepy. It might be best to stop drinking alcohol until you see how the medicine makes you feel.

There are no food or drinks you need to avoid while taking citalopram.

Using cannabis with citalopram can give you a fast heartbeat and make drowsiness worse, especially in people who have just started taking the medicine.

It can be dangerous to take citalopram with:

• stimulants like MDMA (ecstasy) or cocaine
• hallucinogens like LSD
• novel psychoactive substances (which used to be known as legal highs) like mephedrone

Find out more about the side effects of some recreational drugs on the Frank website.