last update: November 14, 2025
Celexa, the brand name for citalopram, is a prescription antidepressant in the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) class. Its primary indication is the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) in adults. By selectively inhibiting serotonin reuptake in the brain, Celexa increases the availability of serotonin in synaptic spaces, which can help restore mood balance, reduce depressive symptoms, and improve overall emotional functioning.
While clinicians sometimes consider SSRIs for other conditions (for example, anxiety-related disorders) based on individual assessment, Celexa’s FDA-approved use in the United States is for major depressive disorder. Its effectiveness typically emerges gradually; many patients notice initial improvements in sleep, appetite, or energy within 1 to 2 weeks, with fuller mood benefits often taking 4 to 6 weeks. Your healthcare provider will evaluate your response and make dosing adjustments as clinically appropriate.
Use Celexa as directed by your healthcare provider. Consistency matters for antidepressants; take citalopram at the same time each day to help maintain steady levels and support adherence.
If you have questions about dosing, timing, or side effects, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.
Store Celexa at room temperature, ideally around 77°F (25°C). Brief excursions are permitted between 59°F and 86°F (15°C to 30°C). Keep the medication away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep out of reach of children and pets.
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if any of the above apply to you or if you are unsure whether Celexa is appropriate for your situation.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist about your medical history and all medicines you use, including over-the-counter products and supplements. It is important to discuss the following:
Multiple drug interactions can increase side effects or reduce efficacy. Always review your full medication list with your clinician. Notable interactions include:
This list is not exhaustive. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any medication without medical guidance.
Not everyone experiences side effects, and many effects are mild and transient. Contact your clinician if symptoms are persistent or bothersome, and seek urgent care for severe reactions.
This is not a complete list. If you suspect a serious reaction or overdose, call emergency services right away.
Dosing must be individualized by a qualified clinician, considering age, medical conditions, concomitant medications, and response. The following overview is general information, not a substitute for medical advice:
Symptoms of overdose may include nausea, vomiting, sweating, drowsiness, tremor, fast or irregular heartbeat, seizures, and fainting. Severe overdoses can lead to significant QT prolongation and dangerous arrhythmias. If an overdose is suspected, call emergency services immediately. Do not delay seeking help.
Celexa (citalopram) is widely available as a generic, which typically lowers out-of-pocket costs. Tablet strengths commonly include 10 mg, 20 mg, and 40 mg, and some markets offer a liquid formulation. Pharmacies may provide discount programs or accept savings cards; prices vary by region and insurance coverage. The online store associated with HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Petersburg operates 24/7, offering convenient access and transparent pricing to help patients maintain continuity of care.
Because Celexa can cause drowsiness or dizziness, exercise caution with tasks requiring alertness—such as driving—until you know your personal response. Combining citalopram with alcohol can intensify sedation and impair coordination. If you experience troublesome drowsiness, discuss dose timing adjustments with your clinician.
Good depression care includes regular check-ins, especially during the first months of treatment and after dose adjustments. Your provider may recommend:
Celexa is an effective SSRI for many adults living with major depressive disorder, but it is not a one-size-fits-all solution. The best outcomes come from individualized care that balances benefits and risks, considers co-existing medical conditions and medicines, and includes ongoing communication between patients, prescribers, and pharmacists. Education about early side effects, realistic timelines for improvement, and warning signs to watch for can improve adherence and overall treatment success.
In the United States, citalopram (Celexa) is a prescription medication. Federal and state regulations require that SSRIs be dispensed pursuant to authorization by a licensed prescriber after an appropriate clinical assessment. This ensures safe use, screening for drug interactions and medical contraindications, and monitoring for side effects such as QT prolongation or serotonin syndrome.
Modern care models may not always involve a traditional, handwritten paper prescription provided directly to the patient. Telehealth and integrated pharmacy services allow clinicians to evaluate patients through structured questionnaires, remote visits, and electronic health records, and then transmit prescriptions electronically to a licensed pharmacy. In this framework, the absence of a paper prescription does not mean the absence of prescriber authorization—clinical oversight remains essential and legally required.
HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Petersburg offers a legal and structured solution for acquiring Celexa without a formal paper prescription. Through compliant clinical pathways, a licensed professional reviews patient information, determines appropriateness, and authorizes therapy in accordance with U.S. regulations before medication is dispensed. This approach maintains medical oversight, confirms eligibility, and prioritizes patient safety while providing convenient access and continuity of care. Patients should complete all required health questionnaires honestly, disclose their full medication list, and remain engaged with follow-up care to ensure safe and effective treatment.
Celexa is the brand name for citalopram, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) used primarily to treat major depressive disorder; it’s also sometimes used off-label for anxiety-related conditions under medical supervision.
Citalopram increases serotonin levels in the brain by blocking its reuptake into nerve cells, which helps stabilize mood and reduce depressive symptoms over time.
Some people notice improved sleep, energy, or appetite in 1–2 weeks, but mood, interest, and anxiety symptoms often take 4–8 weeks to meaningfully improve, with full benefit sometimes taking up to 12 weeks.
A common starting dose is 20 mg once daily; many adults stay at 20–40 mg daily. For adults over 60, those with liver impairment, or with CYP2C19 inhibition, the maximum recommended dose is 20 mg due to QT prolongation risk.
Take it once daily at a consistent time; choose morning if it feels activating or evening if it makes you drowsy. It can be taken with or without food.
Nausea, dry mouth, sleep changes (insomnia or drowsiness), dizziness, sweating, tremor, headache, and sexual side effects are common; many lessen over several weeks.
Seek help for signs of serotonin syndrome (agitation, sweating, fever, fast heartbeat, muscle rigidity), severe dizziness or fainting, irregular heartbeat, seizures, severe allergic reactions, or worsening depression or suicidal thoughts, especially when starting or adjusting the dose.
Yes, citalopram can prolong the QT interval in a dose-dependent manner, increasing arrhythmia risk (e.g., torsades de pointes). Avoid doses above 40 mg/day (20 mg/day if older, hepatic impairment, or CYP2C19 poor metabolizer), correct low potassium/magnesium, avoid other QT-prolonging drugs, and consider an ECG if you have cardiac risk factors.
Weight effects vary; some experience mild weight gain or loss over time. Lifestyle measures (diet, activity, sleep) and medication review can help if weight changes become problematic.
Yes, decreased libido, delayed orgasm, or anorgasmia can occur. Options include dose adjustments, timing strategies, adding or switching to agents like bupropion, or drug-specific countermeasures; discuss with your clinician before making changes.
Take it when you remember unless it’s close to the next dose; if so, skip the missed dose. Do not double up.
For a first depressive episode, many clinicians recommend continuing treatment for at least 6–12 months after you feel better; longer maintenance may be advised for recurrent depression. Decisions should be individualized with your prescriber.
Abrupt stopping can cause discontinuation symptoms (dizziness, “electric zaps,” nausea, irritability, sleep problems). Taper gradually with medical guidance over weeks to months to minimize withdrawal.
Avoid MAOIs or linezolid (risk of serotonin syndrome). Use caution with other serotonergic agents (triptans, tramadol, fentanyl, St. John’s wort), NSAIDs/anticoagulants (bleeding risk), CYP2C19 inhibitors like omeprazole/cimetidine (raise citalopram levels), and QT-prolonging drugs (e.g., methadone, certain antipsychotics, macrolides, fluoroquinolones, amiodarone, ondansetron). Always tell your clinician all meds and supplements you use.
Citalopram is FDA-approved for depression; it’s sometimes used off-label for generalized anxiety or panic disorder. Other SSRIs with explicit approvals (e.g., sertraline, escitalopram) are often preferred first-line for anxiety.
Yes, SSRIs can cause hyponatremia, especially in older adults or those on diuretics. Watch for headache, confusion, weakness, or unsteadiness and seek care if these occur.
Alcohol can worsen drowsiness, impair judgment, and can blunt antidepressant benefits. It’s safest to avoid or minimize alcohol while on citalopram.
If you are not dangerously intoxicated and can take medication safely, take your regular dose and hydrate; do not double up later. Avoid heavy drinking going forward, and seek help if alcohol use is problematic. If you have severe vomiting, confusion, or signs of alcohol poisoning, seek urgent care.
Many people continue SSRIs during pregnancy when benefits outweigh risks. Citalopram is generally considered an option, though there is a small risk of neonatal adaptation syndrome and rare persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn. Discuss timing, dosing, and alternatives with your obstetric and mental health clinicians.
Citalopram appears in breast milk at low levels and is generally considered compatible with breastfeeding; monitor the infant for irritability, poor feeding, or excessive sleepiness. Coordinate with your pediatrician and prescriber.
Most patients continue SSRIs through surgery to avoid withdrawal and relapse. Inform your surgical and anesthesia teams; they may take bleeding risk and potential serotonergic interactions (e.g., with tramadol or meperidine) into account.
Citalopram is metabolized in the liver, and omeprazole inhibits CYP2C19, which can raise citalopram levels. In liver impairment or with CYP2C19 inhibitors, use lower doses and do not exceed 20 mg/day; your clinician may monitor ECGs and electrolytes.
Yes, but with extra caution: lower maximum dose (20 mg/day), monitoring for hyponatremia, falls, and QT prolongation, and careful review of drug interactions.
Call emergency services or poison control immediately. Overdose can cause nausea, sleepiness, tremor, seizures, serotonin syndrome, and dangerous heart rhythm changes; urgent evaluation and monitoring are essential.
Escitalopram is the active S-enantiomer of citalopram, generally considered a bit more potent and sometimes better tolerated at comparable therapeutic effect; Lexapro dosing is typically 10–20 mg vs Celexa 20–40 mg. Citalopram has more QT prolongation concerns at higher doses.
Both treat depression effectively. Sertraline often has strong evidence in anxiety and OCD and is less associated with dose-related QT concerns; it can cause more early GI upset. The “better” choice depends on symptoms, side effects, interactions, and medical history.
Fluoxetine is more activating for some, has a very long half-life (fewer withdrawal symptoms if a dose is missed), and is a stronger CYP2D6 inhibitor (more drug interactions). Citalopram carries more QT risk at higher doses and is often perceived as more neutral on energy.
Paroxetine tends to be more sedating, with higher rates of weight gain, sexual dysfunction, anticholinergic effects, and pronounced withdrawal symptoms; it also has more drug interactions and is generally avoided in pregnancy. Citalopram has QT considerations but may be easier to manage for some.
Fluvoxamine is often used for OCD and social anxiety; it has significant drug interaction potential via CYP inhibition. Citalopram is simpler from an interaction standpoint but is less studied for OCD and has QT limits.
No—Celexa is a brand name for citalopram. FDA-approved generics are bioequivalent; most people do equally well on generic.
Both can help anxiety; escitalopram often shows robust evidence and may be perceived as faster or better tolerated in some patients. Individual response varies; start low and titrate as needed.
Sertraline has strong evidence and FDA approval for OCD; citalopram is less studied and typically not first-line for OCD. If OCD is the main issue, sertraline (or fluoxetine/fluvoxamine) is usually preferred.
Fluoxetine has FDA approval for pediatric depression and a long safety record in adolescents. Citalopram is generally not first-line in youth and carries the same class warning for suicidality; pediatric prescribing should follow specialist guidance.
Citalopram (and to a lesser extent escitalopram) has more dose-dependent QT prolongation than sertraline, fluoxetine, or paroxetine. Keep citalopram within recommended dose limits and avoid combining with other QT-prolonging drugs.
All SSRIs can cause sexual dysfunction; paroxetine is often worst, fluoxetine and sertraline intermediate, escitalopram and citalopram similar. Strategies include dose adjustment, timing, adding bupropion, or switching agents.
Paroxetine and venlafaxine (an SNRI) are notorious for withdrawal; fluoxetine is milder due to its long half-life. Citalopram has moderate discontinuation risk; gradual tapering helps with any SSRI.
Citalopram is generally neutral to mildly sedating. Fluoxetine and sertraline can be more activating; paroxetine more sedating; escitalopram is often neutral. Your experience may differ.
Citalopram has modest CYP interactions but is sensitive to CYP2C19 inhibitors and QT-prolonging drugs. Fluoxetine and paroxetine are strong CYP2D6 inhibitors; fluvoxamine inhibits multiple CYPs. Sertraline has fewer clinically significant interactions at usual doses.
Citalopram can work well but requires lower max dose (20 mg/day), ECG consideration, and monitoring for hyponatremia. Sertraline and escitalopram are also common choices in geriatrics with favorable profiles depending on comorbidities and interactions.