From Citalopram Information

From Citalopram

Questions and Answers

What organic matter is Citalopram and its constituents derived from? I am curious as to what "rain forest plant" or organic material is the molecules that composes the Citalopram molecule/drug derived from? I know nearly all pharmaceuticals are at least original derived from preexisting sources(such as rare plants and similar materials). So I am wanting to know what Citalopram(a medication I am currently taking as well) comes from originally even though it is likely synthetically made now. Thanks For help

Dr OChem replied: "I don't know what you know about nearly all pharmaceuticals and their origin. In one manner of speaking, your assertion must be true on its face that to interfere with our biological machinery, drugs will perform as a mimic (agonist or antagonist) of a biochemical agent. However, that may or may not have been the path to their discovery. Pharmaceutical companies have many broad screening programs using natural products and various synthesized organic compounds. Certainly, we know that penicillins and various steroid drugs came from natural products. I believe benzodiazepines were discovered from entirely synthetic compounds. Looking at some of this history of Citalopram, it appears to follow a more synthetic route, though some natural product may have been modeled at several generations of drugs before it. If you look at wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citalopram), you can learn that it is an SSRI which is loosely related to Prozac and before it Benadryl and before it neoantergan. According to Wikipedia, Daniel Bovet was awarded a Nobel Prize for his work on neoantergan and George Rieveschl synthesized Benadryl to overcome side effects of neoantergan. Looking at the structure of neoantergan, it does not appear to have an obvious connection to any natural products as it origin, but that is only a guess on my part. However, even the leap across different modes of action for one class of drugs to another as an indication of a natural product origin is a huge leap."

Has anyone switched from Lexapro to Citalopram? From what I have been reading, most people seem to go from citalopram to lexapro. I am the other way around. Mostly because of financial reasons since I lost my health insurance. I'm worried that I will get the withdrawal symptoms from going off lexapro as well as the side effects for starting a new drug. Any thoughts or facts would be great. Thanks so much.

What is the equivalent dose from citalopram that subtitute 10mg escitalopram? I ask the question because the escitalopram is improper for me(exspensive and other considerations!!) so I want to switch to citalopram so what is the equivalent dose from citalopram that subtitute 10mg escitalopram?

vrybz replied: "was the brand name of escitalopram Lexipro? If yes you need 20 mg. of citalopram to equal that of escitalopram. You need to check with a Dr. however before you self medicate.. hope this helps."

Has anyone switched straight from Fluoxetine to Citalopram? I have been taking Fluoxetine for 4 months now but havent really had much success on it, I have been switched to take Citalopram straight away (with no tapering off period), I am wondering what to expect from this drug? How does it differ from the Fluoxetine side effects? Have you been on it and felt better? Thanks

J replied: "They are the same category of medication so if the doctor doesn't think you need to taper off first it probably shouldn't be a problem. Citalopram is newer so the side-effects will probably be less but they are similar. I have taken both in the past and Citalopram worked better and had fewer side-effects but it still had enough to make me switch to something else. My side-effects included lower sex-drive and restless legs. I think you should try it for a couple months and if it doesn't help much or has side-effects ask to try something that is not a SSRI like Wellbutrin or a SNRI like Cymbalta (that is assuming you are taking it for depression)."

angel_wings replied: "I have been on both.... i was on fluo first, it make me like a walking zombie, i didnt feel a thing, i really dont remember my 3months on it... it was terriable... But on citalo i have been on it for 3 years....its been awsum for me as far as taking anti depressants go lol.... Ive actually little no side effects from it.. only a bit of brain fog but thats about it.... i hope it works for you to"

Sylvia F replied: "Yes Fluoxetine was the first drug I was prescribed, helped for a while, then was prescribed Citalopram.. That also worked for a while, felt better for a while.. Not entirely sure of side effects of Citalopram, no one tells us that, we just read the information on the leaflets given with our medication. I am pleased to see that you have are now taking Citaopram, as I serious concerns about Fluoexetine (PROZAC). It was not something well publicised, unless your read medical journals. Fluoxetine Hydrochloride had been extremely controversial in USA, we were never informed of this fact here in the UK. It was something I was to find out about after my sons death.. Someone who was much more informed than myself, gave me that information.. I hope you continue to feel better by taking Citalopram.. If you need more advice then I can tell you what further anitdepressants I have had.. This one may be the one to help you..."

will the side effects from the first citalopram tablet i took get worse? I took my first 20mg tablet yesturday. I had a few side effects about 4 hours after i took it, racing heart beat, sweating, and tingling from head to toe. I also found it hard to sleep. Will the side effects be the same for each one i take until my body gets used the them?

What side effects come from quitting Citalopram (Celexa) cold turkey? I'm on day 6 with no meds (was taking 40mg Citalopram) and I'm wondering what effects this has had on other people. it was beginning to have a reverse effect on me - when I'd take it I'd become SO depressed. I skipped a day and I felt great the whole day. I haven't talked to my DR about it, but that's just me. Now I'm second guessing my decision to quit cold turkey!

How can I get my doctor to switch me from 10 mg of citalopram to 40 mg? Cause 10 mg isn't doing anything and I'd rather just switch right to the 40 mg than screw around waiting another month to see if 20 mg will do the trick and then have to pay 70 for yet another doctor's appointment... plus, I could always just split the 40 mg tablets in half for the first couple of months and see if 20 mg was enough. Do you think if I told my doctor this they would switch me to 40 mg?

devil_queen_biatch14 replied: "have him move u to the 20 then in 2 weeks say its not workin n then he might up it . but he wont go from 10-40 or 70 thats too drastic"

doubtone2003 replied: "I very much doubt it.....you are going to have to change your behavior totally (to get 40mg right away). Just let him know that 10mg is not working and that you cannot afford to keep making doctors appt every month."

wickedchick353 replied: "You shouldn't necessarily have to make appointments to see your doctor. You could always just call your doctor and ask them to call in your new perscription to your pharmacy. You could explain to your doctor that you budget is a little tight right now. most of the time Drs work with you."

mj69catz replied: "I can call my Dr. and give them information. Frequently, they will either call in a prescription, or have a nurse call me back to let me know WHY I should wait. If you aren't a Dr., then you really should let the Dr. make the diagnosis. You may want to suggest to the nurse, however, that you would be willing to take 2 10 mg doses to see if that helps."

quiry to rights replied: "Be very careful what you asking for , cita is very powerful and try to change lifestyle. Seek medical advice also second opinion. I fear you may be dependant on this drug and worry for your future.. Sympathetic to your health, so be very careful. 20grams or 40 grams is extreme in my belief...."

Has anyone had any side effects from coming off of citalopram? i've been on antidepressents for 2 years, but reciently have wanted to come off them completely. i reduced my doseage from 30mg- 10mg over a couple of months. My doctor says i should just stop taking them now and i won't get any side effects, but i'm unsure whether this is acurate- please help.

Ally H replied: "I had suicidal thoughts whilst on citalopram, so I came off suddenly. This was against doctors advice, I went straight from 30mg to none. I had mild withdrawl symptoms, no physcological ones tho. Mainly sickenss, dizziness, tiredness. Nothing too bad, I had to have the time off work for a bout a week till they went away, but it was manageable. Hope this helps"

The Reaper replied: "My ex was on these for a while and she had some major emotional issues from coming off them. (she was a bit of a loon tho') so I'm not sure how much was the tablets and how much was her playing on it. I'd advise this,, if you expect to feel low when coming off them, you'll be able to deal with it a lot better because you know its coming."

johnboyhamill replied: "you will do, just take one now and then my daughter does."

Justine Time replied: "You've done really well. I came off them because they weren't compatible with some other meds I needed to take. There's no need to just STOP them completely. Have 10mg every OTHER day, and see how you feel. As long as you don't feel too ropey, cut it down to 10mg every three days and so on. Good luck. It can be done painlessly - but at your own pace!........x"

sky1978 replied: "i came off them suddenly and was fine. But my doc said i was lucky as its actually very dangerous to come off just like that, talk to your GP about your worries he should give you the best advise to how to come off safely"

Wyooo replied: "You probably wont get any (physical) side effects from coming off them, especially as you have reduced your dosage. I came straight off the 50 mg ones and i was ok, you get a bit depressed again but I have fould that the pills are worthless. The only reason you take them is because they are prescribed to you from an asshole who doesnt know a single thing about your life anyway - you can do it on your own, I did. Try the gym or a dance lesson or something."

salvationcity replied: "I had the same side effects as when I went onto Citalopram (muscle aches, metallic taste, urge to throw up, giddiness). But I came off cold turkey style. The side effects only lasted about 3 days anyway. If your GP says nows the time to come off them completely I'd trust him for the moment. That's the only way of finding out whether he's right!"

Can you die from a citalopram overdose? 10mg tablets. How many is too many?

Will i still get side effects from cipralex after coming off citalopram? i was on citalopram for 3 weeks 10mg every other night, i have recently gone back to the doctors who have now prescribed me cipralex 5mg a night. I started this last night and wondered if i will still get side effects ffrom this drug after being on citalopram? Many Thanks

Michael G replied: "I don't think you have anything to worry about. You were on a very low dose of citalopram for only a short time."

Geckoella replied: "Every medication carries side effects as you will know. You shouldn't get side effects from the citalopram as you have now come off it, and if you do get side effects from the cipralex it should only be for about a week. Just because you have switched from one to the other won't make you immune from the side effects of the new drug. If you still have unbearable side effects after 7 days, go back and see your doctor again. As you were on a low dose of Citalopram, you wouldn't have needed to be brought off it gradually to avoid side effects."

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