People under 18 who take citalopram can get serious side effects and have an increased risk of thinking about taking their own lives, trying to take their own lives, and hostility (mostly aggression, oppositional behaviour and anger). Therefore, it is not licensed for people under 18 years old.
If you are under 18, you and your doctor may decide that the benefits of taking citalopram outweigh the risks for you.
You should decide with your doctor what to do if you experience any side effects while taking citalopram. It’s a good idea to write these plans down and keep them somewhere safe.
If you are taking citalopram and have not talked about this with your doctor, go back to them and talk it through. You might also want to talk to your parents or carers about it.
SSRIs can, but not very often, increase your risk of bleeding, including intestinal (stomach or gut) bleeding. Let your doctor know if you vomit blood or develop black or blood-stained poo.
Do not stop taking the tablets until you talk to your doctor, or you may get withdrawal symptoms as well.
If you do get a side effect, please think about reporting it via the 'Yellow Card' scheme.
Very common side effects when taking citalopram (affecting more than one in ten people) include:
- insomnia (sleep problems) - try taking your dose first thing in the morning
- dry mouth (this can increase the risk of tooth decay, so clean your teeth more often than usual and avoid drinking sugary drinks)
- nausea (feeling sick) or vomiting - try taking your citalopram with or just after food. This tends to wear off after a few days
- headache
- lower sex drive, difficulty reaching orgasm, problems with ejaculation, or erection problems - talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you get this. This can be a symptom of depression itself
Common side effects (affecting up to one in ten people) include:
- sleepiness - try taking just before going to bed
- lower appetite, and loss of weight
- agitation, anxiety, trembling, confusion and nervousness
- diarrhoea (loose poo)
- itching or prickling of the skin
Citalopram can affect the way your heart works and should be used carefully with certain medications.
Citalopram and escitalopram (a very similar medicine) can change the way electricity goes through the heart (called the QT length). Escitalopram has less of this effect on the heart.
Before starting citalopram your doctor may check your heart using an electrocardiogram (ECG). If you're taking any other medicines that affect your heart, your doctor may decide to use a different medicine or check your heart on a regular basis.