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Celexa / Citalopram Side Effects

Bipolar Medications Library

By Kimberly Read & Marcia Purse, About.com

Updated: June 19, 2006

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by Steven Gans, MD

Catalogue of side effects for the medication Celexa / Citalopram, an antidepressant sometimes prescribed in the treatment of bipolar disorder and other mood disorders.

Common Side Effects:

Check with your doctor if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome:

Drowsiness; dryness of mouth; nausea; trouble in sleeping;

Less Common Side Effects:

Check with your doctor if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome:

Abdominal pain; anxiety; change in sense of taste; diarrhea; gas; headache; heartburn; increased sweating; increased yawning; loss of appetite; pain in muscles or joints; stuffy or runny nose; tingling, burning, or prickly feelings on skin; tooth grinding; trembling or shaking; unusual increase or decrease in weight; unusual tiredness or weakness; vomiting; watering of mouth;

Always Notify Doctor:

More Common: Decrease in sexual desire or ability;

Less Common: Agitation; blurred vision; confusion; fever; increase in frequency of urination or amount of urine produced; lack of emotion; loss of memory; menstrual changes; skin rash or itching; trouble in breathing;

Rare: Bleeding gums; breast tenderness or enlargement or unusual secretion of milk (in females); dizziness or fainting; irregular heartbeat; low blood sodium (confusion, convulsions [seizures], drowsiness, dryness of mouth, increased thirst, lack of energy); mood or mental changes; nose bleed; painful urination; purple or red spots on skin; sore throat, fever, and chills; red or irritated eyes; redness, tenderness, itching, burning, or peeling of skin; serotonin syndrome (agitation, confusion, diarrhea, fever, overactive reflexes, poor coordination, restlessness, shivering, sweating, talking or acting with excitement you cannot control, trembling or shaking, twitching); trouble in holding or releasing urine; unusual or sudden body or facial movements or postures;

Withdrawal Side Effects - Notify Doctor:

Anxiety; dizziness; nervousness; trembling or shaking;

Overdose Effects - Notify Doctor:

More Common: Dizziness; drowsiness; fast heartbeat; nausea; sweating; trembling or shaking; vomiting;

Rare: Bluish colored skin or lips; confusion; convulsions (seizures); coma; deep or fast breathing with dizziness; fainting; general feeling of discomfort or illness; loss of memory; muscle pain; slow or irregular heartbeat; weakness;

Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor.

Further Reading

Explore Bipolar Disorder

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