Patient/caregiver was educated on precautions to be exercised while taking citalopram as follows:
- Citalopram can induce some dizziness and make one drowsy. Starting the medication at a low dose, watching for the response, and gradually changing the dose, to help optimum control of your symptoms, can contribute to controlling/reducing the risk for drowsiness and dizziness due to the medication. If the dizziness becomes bothersome, report it to your physician and other health care personnel, for any change in plan of care to be considered. Stay away from activities, such as, driving and operating heavy machinery, until you are used to the side effects caused by citalopram intake. Also, avoid taking citalopram together with any other medications you may have on your list that also carry potential to cause dizziness, as both the medications could complement each other on causing dizziness, posing a severe threat. Observing a 1 – 2 hour interval between taking such medications can help prevent episodes of dizziness and risk.
- Alcohol, opioid pain medications, such as, hydrocodone and codeine, a number of OTC cough medications, antihistamines, muscle relaxant medications, 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 and observe extra caution in watching out for exacerbation of eye pain and deterioration of vision. Report any eye pain and changes with vision, while taking citalopram, to your physician immediately, so that, an alternative plan of care could be considered. Observe compliance with any periodical vision exams recommended.
