How Celexa Offers Assistance in Depression

The generic name of Celexa is Citalopram which is a very commonly used antidepressant for the treatment of depression. Though Celexa has been found to be quite useful in treating depression, it can also be used in case of other disorder as well. Some of them are:

• Eating disorders
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Anxiety disorders
• Premenstrual dysphoric syndrome (PMDD)
• Panic disorder
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

Celexa is a part of the group of antidepressant medications called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) which act on the neurotransmitter level, particularly serotonin, to bring out a balance in the emotions and feelings experienced by the client. Neurotransmitters are chemicals present in the brain that help neurons communicate with one another.

When there is an imbalance in level of neurotransmitters in the body, especially serotonin, it can result in depression and other depressive symptoms. Many research studies have found out that depressed people have lower levels of serotonin in their brains. Celexa aims to increase the amount of serotonin in the body by letting it remain in the synaptic cleft of the neurons for a longer duration. As neurons use serotonin for communication from one to the other, there is a significant change in the affect of the person.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had approved the use of Celexa in the year 1998. It is now manufactured by the Teva Pharmaceuticals.

Warning Associated to Celexa Us

The FDA has ordered a black-box warming in case of Celexa as many reports of young adults, teenagers, and children have come up which show that the use of Celexa can enhance suicidal behaviour and thoughts. This has been found in many clinical studies as well.

The National Institutes of Health recommends that children who are below the age of 18 years should not be prescribed Celexa as it is not the best course of treatment plan for them.

The FDA had also issued a Safety Announcement in the year 2012 which said that a prescription that going above 40 milligrams every day can increase the possibility of developing abnormalities in the normal functioning of the heart and its electrical activity (heart rhythm abnormalities).

Children who are prescribed Celexa are more prone to the side effects such as weight loss and decrease in appetite. If it is prescribed, the doctor must monitor the patient very closely for the occurrence of any of the side effects.

Celexa can result in several types of problems after the delivery if the mother engaged in the consumption of Celexa in the later months of pregnancy. There have been reports of breathing and feeding difficulties, constant crying, muscle stiffness, and seizures as withdrawal symptoms in infants. If your baby experiences any of these, you must consult your doctor immediately.

This drug is also known to make the patient drowsy. Hence, it is important to not take part in activities that require constant attention from the part of the patient.

Some of the other concerns would include bleeding problems, intestinal ulcers, low blood sodium, seizures, etc.