Celexa (citalopram) Tablets

Celexa is a prescription antidepressant that contains citalopram, an SSRI used mainly for major depressive disorder. This page summarizes dosing basics, tablet strengths, key safety points, and practical handling details to review with a licensed clinician. Ships from Canada to US access is offered on a cash-pay basis, which can help when filling without insurance.

The information below focuses on what the product is, how it’s commonly used, and what to know about safety, interactions, and storage. It also explains how access works on this site, including prescription requirements and practical next steps. For broader browsing, the Mental Health collection groups related prescription options in one place.

What Celexa Is and How It Works

Citalopram is the generic ingredient in this medicine, supplied as citalopram hydrobromide (a salt form used for stable tablets). It belongs to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), a class that raises serotonin activity in the brain by reducing reuptake. Serotonin is a signaling chemical that influences mood, sleep, and appetite. Because symptoms can have many causes, response can vary across patients and across diagnoses.

Prescriptions are confirmed with the original prescriber before dispensing.

In practice, SSRIs are taken on a regular schedule and are not “as-needed” therapies. Symptom change may take several weeks, and early side effects can appear before mood improves. This treatment is not a sedative and should not be used to treat acute agitation unless a prescriber specifically directs it. When antidepressants are used for conditions beyond the labeled indication, the prescriber typically documents the rationale and monitoring plan.

Who It’s For

This medicine is indicated for major depressive disorder in adults. In real-world care, citalopram is also sometimes prescribed for anxiety-related conditions, depending on a clinician’s judgment and the patient’s history. A diagnosis review is especially important when symptoms overlap with bipolar disorder, substance use, thyroid disease, or sleep disorders, because treatment choices and monitoring may differ.

Celexa medication may not be appropriate for everyone, especially when certain cardiac risks or medication combinations are present. Common exclusions include use with MAO inhibitors (a drug class that can cause dangerous reactions), use with pimozide, or a known allergy to ingredients. Extra caution is often needed in people with a history of mania, seizures, bleeding disorders, or low sodium. For condition context and related support topics, the Depression Hub is a browsable collection of resources and products.

• Labeled use: Major depressive disorder
• Not for “as-needed” relief
• Review heart rhythm risks
• Discuss pregnancy and lactation
• Assess bipolar disorder history

Dosage and Usage

Antidepressants are typically taken once daily, with or without food, and at a consistent time. Clinicians often start with a lower daily dose and adjust based on response and tolerability. For citalopram, labeling commonly describes an adult starting dose of 20 mg daily with possible increase, while also setting a maximum daily dose because higher exposure can raise QT prolongation risk (a heart rhythm change seen on ECG). Some populations (including older adults) may have lower recommended maximum doses.

For Celexa, tablets are swallowed with water and should be taken exactly as prescribed. If a dose is missed, labeling guidance generally recommends taking it when remembered unless it is close to the next dose; doubling up is typically avoided. Stopping an SSRI suddenly can cause uncomfortable symptoms, so prescribers usually plan a gradual taper when discontinuation is needed. For an example of how clinicians think through SSRI dose adjustments over time, see Right Fluoxetine Dosage (a general guide for dosing discussions).

Why it matters: Consistent daily dosing helps interpret benefits and side effects accurately.

Strengths and Forms

Celexa is supplied as an oral tablet, and availability can vary by pharmacy and market. The active ingredient is citalopram, and the Celexa generic name is citalopram (often listed as citalopram hydrobromide on the package). Many people see both brand and generic listings; in general, the generic version uses the same active molecule and is dispensed based on prescriber direction and pharmacy substitution rules.

Commonly marketed strengths for citalopram tablets include 10 mg, 20 mg, and 40 mg. A prescriber chooses a strength to match the intended daily dose and to simplify the regimen. Tablets should not be split or altered unless the prescriber and pharmacist confirm it is appropriate for that specific product.

Storage and Travel Basics

Store tablets at room temperature in a dry place, away from heat and moisture. Bathrooms and kitchens can be humid, so a bedroom drawer or closet shelf is often a better option. Keep the medicine in its original container with the prescription label, and store it out of reach of children and pets. If a desiccant packet is included, it is typically left in the bottle to help control moisture.

For travel, carrying the labeled container helps with identification and reduces confusion if doses are taken across time zones. Avoid leaving the bottle in a hot car or in checked luggage that may be exposed to temperature extremes. If any tablets look discolored, crumbled, or different than expected, a pharmacist can help verify whether the change is normal for that manufacturer.

Quick tip: Keep a photo of the prescription label for reference.

Side Effects and Safety

Like other SSRIs, Celexa can cause side effects that are most noticeable early in therapy or after dose changes. Common effects can include nausea, dry mouth, sweating, sleep changes (insomnia or sleepiness), fatigue, and sexual side effects. Some people report headache or changes in appetite. Many effects lessen over time, but persistent symptoms should be reviewed with the prescriber, especially if they interfere with daily functioning.

Medications are dispensed by licensed Canadian partner pharmacies.

More serious risks are uncommon but important. These include serotonin syndrome (a potentially dangerous excess of serotonin activity), increased suicidal thoughts or behaviors in some children, adolescents, and young adults, abnormal bleeding (especially with NSAIDs or anticoagulants), low sodium (hyponatremia), and triggering of mania in people with bipolar disorder. QT prolongation is a key safety consideration for citalopram, particularly at higher doses or with other QT-prolonging drugs.

When to seek urgent help

Urgent evaluation is generally recommended for symptoms that suggest a severe reaction or dangerous mood change. Examples include chest pain, fainting, a very fast or irregular heartbeat, severe agitation, confusion, high fever, muscle stiffness, or uncontrolled shaking. New or rapidly worsening suicidal thoughts, intense restlessness, or risky behavior should also be treated as urgent. Because several medicines and supplements can raise serotonin levels, clinicians often ask for a complete list before starting an SSRI. For a sense of how side-effect counseling is discussed across SSRIs, the Zoloft Side Effects guide is a useful reference point.

Drug Interactions and Cautions

Celexa has clinically meaningful interactions that can affect safety. MAO inhibitors are a major concern and require washout periods to reduce the risk of serotonin syndrome. Other serotonergic agents—including certain migraine medicines (triptans), tramadol, lithium, and St. John’s wort—can also increase risk when combined. Some antibiotics and antipsychotics may add QT-related risk, so the prescriber may review ECG history and other risk factors before combining therapies.

Bleeding risk can be higher when SSRIs are taken with aspirin, NSAIDs, or anticoagulants. Certain medicines that affect metabolism (such as strong CYP2C19 inhibitors) may raise citalopram levels and influence dose limits. Alcohol does not have a direct contraindication on the label, but it can worsen sedation, sleep disruption, and mood symptoms, so clinicians commonly advise caution. A pharmacist can help screen for interactions when an updated medication list is provided.

Compare With Alternatives

Depression and anxiety treatment is individualized, and alternatives may be chosen based on prior response, side-effect profile, medical history, and interaction risk. Other SSRIs include sertraline and fluoxetine; both have different pharmacokinetics and interaction considerations. SNRIs (such as venlafaxine) and other antidepressant classes may be considered when symptoms include prominent fatigue, pain, or when SSRI response is limited.

On BorderFreeHealth, related prescription options may include Sertraline 100 Tablets and Fluoxetine Details. Each medicine has distinct warnings and taper considerations, so comparisons should focus on the official labeling and a clinician’s monitoring plan rather than general impressions.

For deeper reading that compares SSRI options in plain language, see Celexa Vs Zoloft, as well as condition-adjacent discussions like Escitalopram For Anxiety and Exploring Mirtazapine Uses.

Pricing and Access

Out-of-pocket expenses for antidepressants depend on whether brand or generic is dispensed, the tablet strength, and the days’ supply. People researching Celexa price without insurance often compare the brand name product to generic citalopram, which may have different cash-pay totals depending on the pharmacy partner and formulation. Even when the active ingredient is the same, packaging and manufacturer can differ, so it helps to confirm the exact product listed on the prescription.

Cash-pay access is available when insurance isn’t used.

To explore site-wide programs that may apply to eligible orders, visit Promotions. For additional education and support content that patients and caregivers often review alongside treatment, browse Mental Health Posts. Access requires a valid prescription, and the pharmacy team may contact the prescriber to confirm details if information is incomplete.

Authoritative Sources

For the most reliable details on indications, contraindications, dose limits, and boxed warnings, the official prescribing information is the primary reference. Patient Medication Guides can also be useful for understanding what symptoms should prompt urgent evaluation and what information to share with a clinician. When questions come up about interactions or dose limits, pharmacists often cross-check the label alongside a patient’s medication list and medical history.

The resources below provide regulator-reviewed or medically curated summaries of citalopram. They are helpful for confirming key warnings, interaction risks, and how the medicine is typically taken, but they do not replace individualized medical care.

• FDA application overview and labeling information
• MedlinePlus patient-friendly citalopram summary

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This content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.