citalopram vs lithium
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Side-by-side comparison of citalopram and lithium. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
minor Known Drug Interaction
Other Serotonergic Drugs Clinical Impact: Concomitant use of citalopram and other serotonergic drugs (including other SSRIs, SNRIs, triptans, tricyclic antidepressants, opioids, lithium, buspirone, amphetamines, tryptophan, and St.
Celexa
Lithobid, Eskalith
Citalopram is a medicine used to treat depression in adults. It belongs to a class of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
Lithium is a mood stabilizer medicine. It helps to balance mood swings.
Citalopram is used to treat major depressive disorder (MDD) in adults. Depression can cause feelings of sadness, loss of interest, and difficulty functioning in daily life. This medicine can help improve your mood and overall well-being.
Lithium is used to treat bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, and concentration. Lithium helps to control the extreme highs (mania) and lows (depression) of this condition.
Citalopram works by increasing the amount of serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is a chemical messenger that helps regulate mood. By blocking the reabsorption of serotonin, citalopram helps to improve communication between nerve cells and stabilize mood.
Lithium affects the flow of sodium in nerve and muscle cells in the body. This helps to stabilize your mood. It may also affect other chemical messenger systems in the brain.
- • Ejaculation disorder (mostly delayed ejaculation)
- • Tremor (shaking)
- • Nausea
- • Increased weight
- • Fatigue (feeling tired)
- • Vomiting
- Fatigue 8,930
- Nausea 8,210
- Headache 6,656
- Diarrhoea 6,218
- Pain 5,898
- Toxicity To Various Agents 2,179
- Drug Interaction 1,526
- Tremor 1,462
- Nausea 1,344
- Weight Increased 1,153
Antidepressants may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in young adults. Your doctor will monitor you closely for worsening depression or suicidal thoughts. Citalopram is not approved for use in children.
Lithium levels in your blood need to be monitored closely by your doctor. Too much lithium can be toxic and cause serious side effects. Make sure to attend all scheduled blood tests.
Taking citalopram late in pregnancy may cause problems for the newborn. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking this medicine while pregnant. There is a pregnancy registry to monitor outcomes, call 1-844-405-6185 to register.
Lithium can harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Lithium can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing infant. Talk to your doctor about the best way to feed your baby if you are taking lithium.
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How to Read This citalopram vs lithium Comparison
citalopram is classified in the Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) drug class, while lithium sits within the Mood Stabilizer class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, citalopram has 35,912 submissions while lithium has 7,664. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to both drugs increase the amount of a chemical called serotonin in your brain. taking them together can cause serotonin levels to become dangerously high.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot represent individual circumstances. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This registry does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions for citalopram or lithium.
Registry boundary: This comparison displays source-record fields and does not provide individualized medical direction.