Use in children and adolescents under 18 years of age
Antidepressants should not be given to children and adolescents under the age of 18 years. In clinical trials, among children and adolescents who took antidepressants, more often than inthe placebo group had cases of suicidal behavior (suicide attempts and suicidal thoughts) and hostility (with a predominance of aggressive behavior, a tendency to confrontation and irritation).
When using drugs belonging to the therapeutic group of SSRIs, including citalopram, the following should be considered.
Paradoxical anxiety
Some patients with panic disorder may experience anxiety at the onset of antidepressant therapy. Such a paradoxical reaction usually occurs within the first two weeks after the start of treatment. To reduce the likelihood of anxiogenic action, it is recommended to use low initial doses.
Hyponatremia
When SSRIs were used, there were reports of rare cases of hyponatremia, apparently due to inadequate secretion of antidiuretic hormone (ADH). This reaction was generally reversible in the event of discontinuation of drug treatment. The risk of occurrence was higher in elderly women.
Suicide / suicidal thoughts or clinical worsening
Depression is associated with an increased risk of suicidal thoughts, self-harm and suicide (suicidal events). This risk persists until the development of stable remission.Since there may be no improvement in the first few weeks of treatment or even a longer period of time, patients should be under constant surveillance to detect such an improvement in a timely manner. Clinical experience indicates that the risk of suicide is increased in the early stages of recovery.
Other mental disorders for which treatment is prescribed citalopram, may also be associated with an increased risk of suicidal events. In addition, these conditions can be a concomitant pathology in relation to a depressive episode. When treating patients with other mental disorders, the same precautions should be followed as in the treatment of patients with a depressive episode.
Patients who have a history of suicidal tendencies, or patients with a significant level of meditation on suicidal topics prior to initiation of treatment are more at risk of suicidal thoughts or suicide attempts, so they should be closely monitored during treatment. A meta-analysis of placebo-controlled clinical trials of antidepressants with the participation of adult patients with mental disorders showed,that when taking antidepressants in patients younger than 25 years there is an increased risk of suicidal behavior compared with taking placebo. Drug treatment of these patients, and in particular of patients with a high degree of suicidal risk should be accompanied by careful monitoring, especially at an early stage of treatment and with dose changes. Patients (and caregivers) should be warned about the need to monitor any manifestations of clinical impairment, suicidal behavior or thoughts, and unusual behavioral changes, and seek medical advice immediately if these symptoms appear.
Akathisia / psychomotor anxiety
The use of SSRI / SSRIs drugs is associated with the development of akathisia, characterized by a feeling of subjectively unpleasant or intolerable motor anxiety, restlessness and the need to move. Often patients in this state can not sit or stand still. Most often this condition occurs during the first weeks of treatment. In patients with such symptoms, increasing the dose can cause a sharp deterioration in the condition.
Mania
Patients with bipolar affective disorder may develop a manic phase. When developing a manic state, citalopram should be discontinued.
Convulsive seizures
When taking antidepressants, there is a risk of seizures. Any patient in the event of a convulsive seizure citalopram should be canceled. Citalopram Do not use in patients with unstable epilepsy; with controlled seizures careful monitoring is necessary. In case of an increase in the frequency of seizures citalopram should be canceled.
Diabetes
In patients with diabetes mellitus, the use of SSRIs can alter the concentration of glucose in the blood. In this case, you may need to adjust the dose of insulin and / or oral hypoglycemic drugs.
Serotonin syndrome
In rare cases, when SSRI was taken, the development of serotonin syndrome was reported. The combination of such symptoms as agitation, myoclonus and hyperthermia can indicate the development of this condition. When such phenomena occur citalopram should be immediately withdrawn and symptomatic treatment started.
Serotonergic drugs
Citalopram should not be used in conjunction with drugs that have a serotonergic effect, such as sumatriptan or other triptans, tramadol, oxytryptan and tryptophan.
Bleeding
There are reports of the development of skin hemorrhages, such as ecchymosis, gynecological, gastrointestinal bleeding and other hemorrhagic complications from the skin or mucous membranes on the background of the SSRI. Caution should be exercised when using SSRIs and drugs that affect the function of platelets or drugs that may increase the risk of bleeding and also in the treatment of patients with hemorrhagic disorders in history.
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
Because the clinical experience of the simultaneous use of SSRIs and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is limited, caution and caution should be exercised while using citalopram and ECT.
Reversible selective inhibitors of MAO A
Simultaneous administration of citalopram and MAO-A inhibitors is not recommended because of the risk of developing a serotonin syndrome.
St. John's wort perforated
Do not use citalopram and preparations containing St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum), since this can increase the risk of unwanted reactions.
Psychosis
Treatment of psychotic patients with a depressive episode can intensify the manifestations of psychotic symptoms.
Symptoms of withdrawal upon discontinuation of SSRI therapy
Symptoms of cancellation occur quite often, especially with a sharp cessation of therapy.
The likelihood of withdrawal symptoms may depend on a number of factors, including the duration of treatment, the dose of the drug and the rate of its reduction.
The most common reported development of the following manifestations: dizziness, sensitivity disorders (including paresthesia), sleep disorders (including insomnia and vivid dreams), agitation or anxiety, nausea and / or vomiting, tremor, confusion, sweating, headache, diarrhea, heart palpitations, emotional lability, irritability and visual impairment. Usually these manifestations are of mild or moderate severity, but in some patients they can be severe.
Usually such manifestations develop during the first days after drug withdrawal, but there are some reports of the development of such conditions in patients who accidentally missed the next dose.
In most cases, these complications stop within 2 weeks, although in some patients the symptomatology may persist for 2-3 months or longer. Therefore, before the end of the course of taking citalopram, it is recommended to gradually reduce the dose of the drug for a period of several weeks to several months, depending on the patient's condition (see "DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION").
Interval lengthening QT
It was found that citalopram causes dose-dependent lengthening of the interval QT. In the post-marketing period there were reported cases of lengthening the interval QT and ventricular arrhythmias, including torsade de pointes, predominantly in female patients, with hypokalemia or pre-existing interval lengthening QT or other heart diseases.
The drug is recommended for use with caution in patients with significant bradycardia, in patients who have recently had a myocardial infarction, or with decompensated heart failure.
Electrolyte disorders, such as hypokalemia and hypomagnesemia, increase the risk of malignant arrhythmias and should therefore be corrected before initiating citalopram therapy.
In patients with compensated heart disease, an ECG study is necessary before starting treatment.
In case of any signs of cardiac arrhythmias against the background of citalopram treatment, the latter should be abolished and an ECG study performed.
Excipients
Tablets contain lactose monohydrate. Patients with hereditary intolerance to galactose, a deficiency of lactase, or a violation of glucose-galactose absorption should not receive treatment with this drug.