Citalopram (>20 mg)/CYP2C19 Inhibitors
This information is generalized and not intended as specific medical advice. Consult your healthcare professional before taking or discontinuing any drug or commencing any course of treatment.
Medical warning:
Serious. These medicines may interact and cause very harmful effects. Contact your healthcare professional (e.g. doctor or pharmacist) for more information.
How the interaction occurs:
Some medicines may slow down how quickly your body processes citalopram.
What might happen:
The amount of citalopram in your blood may increase and cause an irregular heartbeat, which may be life-threatening.
What you should do about this interaction:
Let your healthcare professionals (e.g. doctor or pharmacist) know right away that you are taking these medicines together. Your doctor may want to change your medicine or the dose of your citalopram. Let your doctor know right away if you notice an irregular heartbeat (palpitations) or have any dizziness, fainting episodes, or seizures.Your healthcare professionals may already be aware of this interaction and may be monitoring you for it. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with them first.
References:
1.Celexa (citalopram hydrobromide) US prescribing information. Forest Laboratories Inc. December, 2012.
2.Gagne M. Dear Canadian Healthcare Professional: Subject: Association of CELEXA (citalopram hydrobromide) with Dose - Dependent QT Prolongation. Lundbeck Canada January 25, 2012.
3.Drew BJ, Ackerman MJ, Funk M, Gibler WB, Kligfield P, Menon V, Philippides GJ, Roden DM, Zareba W. Prevention of torsade de pointes in hospital settings: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology Foundation. J Am Coll Cardiol 2010 Mar 2;55(9):934-47.
4.FDA. FDA Drug Safety Communication: Revised recommendations for Celexa (citalopram hydrobromide) related to a potential risk of abnormal heart rhythms with high doses. available at: http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm297391.htm March 28, 2012.
5.US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Drug Development and Drug Interactions: Table of Substrates, Inhibitors and Inducers. Available at: http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DevelopmentApprovalProcess/DevelopmentResources/D rugInteractionsLabeling/ucm093664.htm. Updated 08/05/2011.
6.Flockhart DA. Drug Interactions: Cytochrome P450 Drug Interaction Table. Indiana University School of Medicine. Available at: http://medicine.iupui.edu/clinpharm/ddis/table.aspx August 18, 2011.
7.Nuvigil (armodafinil) US prescribing information. Cephalon, Inc. October, 2010.
