Patient/caregiver was educated on precautions to be exercised while taking citalopram as follows:
- Citalopram intake carries the risk of causing seizures, especially in individuals with history of seizures. Individuals can present with sudden episodes of loss of consciousness, intense convulsions with muscle contractions, bowel and bladder incontinence. Do not ignore seizure episodes and report them to your physician promptly for any appropriate measures to be considered. Discuss with your physician regarding your history of seizures, if any, if you are newly started on citalopram. If you are newly diagnosed with seizure complaint, discuss with your physician regarding your safety with continuing on citalopram, if you have been using citalopram for long. Observe compliance with intake of anti-seizure medications prescribed, if any.
- Citalopram intake can thin the blood and increase risk for bleeding in the skin and mucus membranes. Patients can present with bleeding spots on the skin, internal abdominal bleeding with fresh blood or partially digested blood in the stool, and bleeding in the urine staining the urine brownish red. This risk is further more in individuals concurrently taking blood thinners and anticoagulants, such as, aspirin, warfarin, Xarelto, and Eliquis. Some other antidepressants and antipsychotic medications also contribute to thinning of blood and episodes of bleeding. Administration of citalopram along with these medications can also precipitate dangerous bleeding episodes. Check with your physician on the safety with citalopram use and the possibility for interaction with other medications on your list. While taking citalopram, keep a close watch on the stool and urine color for any red discoloration, indicating fresh bleeds. Report to your physician regarding any bleeding spots in the skin, episodes of fresh bleed with the stool and urine, after starting to take citalopram. Partially digested blood can stain the stool black and tarry, which also must be reported to the physician.
- Notify your doctor of any unresolved and worsening anxiety and depressive symptoms or continuing unpleasant side-effects, so that, your dosage on the medication could be revised.
