Patient/caregiver was educated on contraindications for using Citalopram as follows:
- Do not take citalopram, if you ever manifested any allergic responses to intake of citalopram or any other medications belonging to the same group as citalopram, such as, fluoxetine, paroxetine, and sertraline. In the event of an allergic response with any of these medications, check with your physician regarding your safety with intake of citalopram.
- Citalopram can interact with a number of other medications and can precipitate serious reactions. If you are being newly started on citalopram, discuss with your physician regarding all other medications you are currently taking and their safety with citalopram. Also, if you have been taking citalopram for long, discuss with your physician regarding your history of citalopram intake, when you are being started on any new medication.
- Alcohol, opioid pain medications, such as, hydrocodone and codeine, a number of OTC cough medications, antihistamines, and antianxiety medications can further add to the dizziness and confusion caused by citalopram. This can result in compromised safety, falls, and accidents and so, must be avoided taken together with citalopram.
- Citalopram carries significant risk for obstruction to the drainage of fluid (aqueous humor) inside the eye. This blockage of fluid in the eye can result in increase in the intraocular pressure, eye pain, headache, blurred vision with haloes around light, compromised vision, and glaucoma. So, citalopram is contraindicated or cautiously administered in glaucoma patients. Individuals with history of glaucoma must discuss with their physician on safety with citalopram intake.
