Citalopram Drug Interactions
Always inform your doctor about any drugs you are taking before starting treatment with Citalopram (Celexa) so as to avoid any potentially harmful drug interactions. Drug interactions with Citalopram typically occur with other antidepressants (such as SSRIs or SNRIs), NSAIDs (such as aspirin) and various MAOIs.
Here is a list of some of drugs that may produce severe interactions if combined with Citalopram:
- NSAIDs such as Aspirin, Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), Aleve (Naproxen), and Celebrex
- SSRI and SNRIs such as Pristiq, Cymbalta, Lexapro, Prozac, Savella, Paxil, Zoloft, Effexor
- Other antidepressants such as Wellbutrin, Trazoldone, Viibryd, and Amitriptyline
- Pain Medications such as Actiq, Codeine, Tylenol and Tramadol
- Adderall & Adderall XR
- Femara, Tamoxifen
- Nyquil
- Omeprazole (Prilosec), Nexium, Prevacid
- Antibiotics such as Bactrim, Cipro, Levaquin
- Vyvanse
This is not an exhaustive list of drugs which can interaction with Citalopram. You should consult with your doctor, before taking any new medications while on Citalopram (Celexa).
Citalopram and Other Antidepressants
Combining two anti-depressants is not recommended. You may believe that by combining two drugs of the same category would increase its effects. Wrong! First and foremost this will only lead to toxicity. Keep in mind that each drug classification has a specific site of action. This is the main reason why physician do laboratory tests, to determine which specific location is causing the abnormality. Citalopram affect brain chemicals namely serotonin, nor-epinephrine and dopamine. Administration of the same drug that alters these brain chemicals would only aggravate your symptoms. Remember the law of equilibrium, this is strongly implied in any use of pharmaceutical products.
Citalopram and Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors
Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors and monoamine oxidase inhibitors can adversely interact with each other. This can result in psychosis, serotonin syndrome and hypersensitivity because of the increase in serotonin, nor-epinephrine and dopamine activity.
In certain cases where MAOIs are used as an alternative drug, there should be a 14 days gap before administration from the last intake of citalopram to MOIs. This is also is applicable if shifting is from a MAOI to SSRI.
