What is Celexa?

Celexa (citalopram) is in a class of medicines called Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs). Celexa is used to treat depression.

Celexa is made by Forest Laboratories, Inc., and was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1998.

Celexa FDA Alert - Serotonin Syndrome

In July 2006, the FDA issued an alert stating that a life-threatening condition called serotonin syndrome can occur when medicines called Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs, such as Celexa) and medicines used to treat migraine headaches known as 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor agonists (triptans), are taken together. Signs and symptoms of serotonin syndrome include:

• restlessness
• hallucinations
• loss of coordination
• fast heartbeat
• increased body temperature
• fast changes in blood pressure
• overactive reflexes
• diarrhea
• coma
• nausea
• vomiting

Serotonin syndrome may be more likely to occur when starting or increasing the dose of an SSRI or a triptan. If you take migraine headache medicines, ask your healthcare professional if your medicine is a triptan.

Celexa FDA Alert - Antidepressants and Pregnant Women

In July 2006, the FDA issued an alert announcing the results of a study looking at the use of antidepressant medicines during pregnancy by mothers of babies born with a serious condition called persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN).

Babies born with PPHN have abnormal blood flow through the heart and lungs, and do not get enough oxygen to their bodies. Babies born with PPHN can be very sick and may die. Results from the study also showed that babies born to mothers who took SSRIs 20 weeks or later into their pregnancies had a higher chance (were 6 times as likely) to have PPHN, when compared to babies born to mothers who did not take antidepressants during pregnancy.