citalopram vs sertraline
Side-by-side comparison of citalopram and sertraline 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
If concomitant treatment with sumatriptan and an SSRI (e.g., citalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, sertraline) is clinically warranted, appropriate observation of the patient is advised.
Recommendation: If your provider decides you need both, they should observe you carefully for side effects.
Celexa
Zoloft
Citalopram is a medicine used to treat depression in adults. It belongs to a class of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
Sertraline is a medicine used to treat depression and other mental health conditions. It helps balance chemicals in your brain to improve your mood and reduce anxiety.
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.
Sertraline is used to treat major depressive disorder in adults. This means it can help with ongoing sadness or loss of interest in things. It also treats obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), where you have unwanted thoughts or behaviors that you can't control. Sertraline can also treat panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), and social anxiety disorder.
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.
Sertraline is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). It works by increasing the amount of serotonin in your brain. Serotonin is a chemical that helps regulate mood, and by blocking its reabsorption, sertraline helps improve mood and reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety.
- • Ejaculation disorder (mostly delayed ejaculation)
- • Nausea
- • Diarrhea
- • Headache
- • Insomnia
- • Dizziness
- Tiredness 8,930
- Feeling sick to your stomach 8,204
- Medicine not working 7,287
- Head pain 6,654
- Loose stools 6,214
- Feeling sick to your stomach 5,757
- Medicine not working 5,403
- Feeling very tired 5,244
- Loose, watery stools 4,654
- Pain in your head 4,407
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.
Antidepressants may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or actions in children, teens, and young adults. Watch closely for worsening depression, unusual behavior, or thoughts of suicide. Sertraline is not approved for treating depression in children.
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.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Sertraline may affect your baby. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking sertraline during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Also Compare — Nearby Drugs
Compare citalopram with
Compare sertraline with
How to Read This citalopram vs sertraline Comparison
citalopram is classified in the Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) drug class, while sertraline sits within the Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) class. Because both drugs share the same classification, they are often considered interchangeable in theory — but clinical outcomes rarely track that cleanly. 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 37,289 submissions while sertraline has 25,465. 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 these two drugs belong to the same class and both raise serotonin, which can cause levels to become higher than intended.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between citalopram and sertraline — always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.