Prescription medication · Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI)
citalopram
Also sold as Celexa. Citalopram is used to treat major depressive disorder (MDD) in adults.
Data updated 2026-05-15
- 133,513
- FDA reportsHeavily reported
- 9
- InteractionsFew interactions
- 99% less
- Generic vs brandHuge savings
- $9.06
- Brand price (NADAC)
What the data shows
citalopram (Celexa) is a prescription Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI), more reported than roughly 9 in 10 tracked drugs (133,513 FDA reports), whose generic costs a fraction of the brand (about 99% less).
Reporting volume reflects how widely a drug is used and studied, not how dangerous it is, a FAERS report documents a temporal association, never proof of cause.
citalopram (Celexa) is a prescription Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI). Citalopram is used to treat major depressive disorder (MDD) in adults.
Citalopram is a medicine used to treat depression in adults. It belongs to a class of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
Verify with FDA → · CMS NADAC pricing →
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Brand Price
$9.06/unit
Generic Price
$0.02/unit
Generic Savings
99%
Generic Available
Yes (11 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
NADAC price trail: CITALOPRAM HBR 10 MG TABLET
Same CMS presentation as the headline generic unit price above (4 effective dates). Adjacent % compares consecutive NADAC releases for this description only, not a patient out-of-pocket quote. Latest step: -13.1% vs prior release.
| Effective | NADAC / unit | vs prior | NDCs |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 21, 2024 | $0.0261/EA | - | 1 |
| April 17, 2024 | $0.0213/EA | -18.7% | 1 |
| September 18, 2024 | $0.0258/EA | +21.5% | 3 |
| December 18, 2024 | $0.0224/EA | -13.1% | 16 |
What it does
Citalopram is used to treat major depressive disorder (MDD) in adults.
Common side effects
Ejaculation disorder (mostly delayed ejaculation)
Key warnings
Antidepressants may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in young adults.
The sections below are summarized in plain English from citalopram's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.
How It Works
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.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 133,513 FDA adverse event reports.
Most-reported reactions
Adverse reactions in FAERS for citalopram, by number of reports
- Fatigue
Fatigue
8,930 reports
- Nausea
Nausea
8,210 reports
- Headache
Headache
6,656 reports
- Diarrhoea
Diarrhoea
6,218 reports
- Pain
Pain
5,898 reports
- Dizziness
Dizziness
5,705 reports
- Fall
Fall
5,602 reports
- Anxiety
Anxiety
5,436 reports
- Dyspnoea
Dyspnoea
5,337 reports
- Depression
Depression
5,214 reports
What this shows Bars show how often each reaction was reported, not how likely it is to happen, a report records a temporal association, never proof that the drug caused it.
Reports over time
Adverse-event reports filed for citalopram each year to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).
Year-to-year volume tracks usage, prescribing, and scrutiny, not a change in per-patient risk. Source: FDA FAERS.
Where citalopram sits
citalopram has more FDA adverse-event reports than 90% of the drugs FAERS tracks. A high position reflects how widely a drug is used and watched, not how dangerous it is.
Percentile across all drugs PlainMeds tracks by FAERS report volume. The dot is citalopram; the line is the median (50th percentile).
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 133,513 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2002–2025.
Total Reports
133,513
Reports Mentioning Death
18,674
14.0% of reports — not proof of cause
Hospitalization Reports
45,226
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | FATIGUE | 8,930 |
| 2 | NAUSEA | 8,210 |
| 4 | HEADACHE | 6,656 |
| 5 | DIARRHOEA | 6,218 |
| 6 | PAIN | 5,898 |
| 7 | DIZZINESS | 5,705 |
| 8 | FALL | 5,602 |
| 9 | ANXIETY | 5,436 |
| 10 | DYSPNOEA | 5,337 |
| 11 | DEPRESSION | 5,214 |
| 13 | TOXICITY TO VARIOUS AGENTS | 5,061 |
| 14 | VOMITING | 4,951 |
| 15 | DRUG INTERACTION | 4,348 |
| 16 | COMPLETED SUICIDE | 4,338 |
| 17 | MALAISE | 4,245 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
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.
Known Drug Interactions
Intervention Citalopram is contraindicated in patients taking MAOIs, including MAOIs such as linezolid or intravenous methylene blue [see Dosage and Administration (2.5) , Contraindications (4) , Warnings and Precautions (5.3) ] .
Mechanism: Linezolid acts like a special type of medicine called an MAO inhibitor, which can cause a dangerous buildup of a brain chemical called serotonin when mixed with citalopram.
Pimozide Clinical Impact: Concomitant use of citalopram with pimozide increases plasma concentrations of pimozide, a drug with a narrow therapeutic index, and may increase the risk of QT prolongation and/or ventricular arrhythmias compared to use of citalopram alone [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.2) ]. Intervention: Citalopram is contraindicated in patients taking pimozide [see Contraindications (4) , Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ]. Intervention: Avoid concomitant use of citalopram with drugs that prolong the QT interval (citalopram is contraindicated in patients taking pimozide) [see...
Mechanism: Citalopram increases the amount of pimozide in your blood, which can lead to dangerous heart rhythm problems.
7 DRUG INTERACTIONS Table 6 presents clinically important drug interactions with escitalopram. TABLE 6 Clinically Important Drug Interactions with Escitalopram Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs) Clinical Impact: Concomitant use of SSRIs, including escitalopram, and MAOIs increases the risk of serotonin syndrome. Intervention: Escitalopram is contraindicated in patients taking MAOIs, including MAOIs such as linezolid or intravenous methylene blue [ see Dosage and Administration (2.7) , Contraindications (4) , and Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ] Pimozide Clinical Impact: Concomitant use...
Mechanism: These two drugs are nearly identical, so taking them together is like taking a double dose of the same medicine.
For patients taking warfarin, carefully monitor the international normalized ratio [see Warning and Precautions (5.4) ].
Mechanism: Citalopram can change how warfarin works in your body, which may affect how quickly your blood is able to clot.
Drug Interactions In patients receiving nonselective monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors in combination with serotoninergic agents (e.g., dexfenfluramine, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, sertraline, citalopram, venlafaxine) there have been reports of serious, sometimes fatal, reactions.
Mechanism: Combining these drugs can cause too much serotonin to build up in your system. This can lead to very serious side effects that may be fatal.
This is a plain-language summary of FDA-label interaction records and does not provide individual medication-combination directions.
Common Questions
Can I take citalopram with other medications?
How long does it take for citalopram to work?
Can I stop taking citalopram suddenly?
What should I do if I experience side effects?
Can citalopram cause weight gain?
Is it safe to drink alcohol while taking citalopram?
Can citalopram affect my sleep?
Will citalopram change my personality?
Can I drive while taking citalopram?
What if I still feel depressed after taking citalopram for a while?
What are the common side effects of citalopram?
Does citalopram interact with other medications?
What drug class is citalopram?
Is there a generic version of citalopram?
What pregnancy or breastfeeding source fields are listed for citalopram?
Related Medications in Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI)
Other drugs grouped near citalopram - same-class peers and common alternatives.
acamprosate
Campral
Acamprosate is a medicine that can help you stay away from alcohol if you are alcohol-dependent and have already stopped drinking.
Compare with citalopram →
alprazolam
Xanax
Alprazolam (Xanax) is a medication that can help you with anxiety and panic disorders.
Compare with citalopram →
amitriptyline
Elavil
Amitriptyline is a medicine used to treat depression.
Compare with citalopram →
amphetamine/dextroamphetamine
Adderall, Adderall XR
Adderall XR is a stimulant medicine.
Compare with citalopram →
aripiprazole
Abilify
Aripiprazole (Abilify) is a medicine used to treat certain mental disorders and mood problems.
Compare with citalopram →
Compare beyond drug class
Nationwide peers by FAERS volume & death-report share
Two PlainMeds-derived comparison paths for citalopram: nearest FDA FAERS report volume and nearest death-report share among drugs with at least 1,000 logged reports, excluding same-class neighbors listed above. Counts reflect reporting volume, not proven individual harm.
Similar FAERS report volume
Nearest drugs by total FAERS reports. This record: 133,513.
- abatacept Δ 286 reports · T-Cell Co-Stimulation Modulator 133,227reports
- spironolactone Δ 483 reports · Potassium-Sparing Diuretic / Aldosterone Antagonist 133,996reports
- insulin lispro Δ 685 reports · Rapid-Acting Insulin 134,198reports
- methylprednisolone Δ 1,766 reports · Corticosteroid 131,747reports
Similar death-report share
Nearest drugs by FAERS death-report share. This record: 13.99%.
- prochlorperazine Δ 0.02 pts · 26,613 reports · Phenothiazine Antiemetic 13.97%death share
- daptomycin Δ 0.07 pts · 8,426 reports · Lipopeptide Antibiotic 14.05%death share
- acetaminophen Δ 0.12 pts · 417,458 reports · Analgesic / Antipyretic 14.11%death share
- nystatin Δ 0.13 pts · 26,244 reports · Polyene Antifungal 13.86%death share
Medication Guides
Understanding Drug Interactions
How CYP450 enzymes, inhibitors, and inducers affect your medications
Generic vs Brand Name Drugs
FDA requirements, cost savings, and when the difference matters
Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs
FDA bioequivalence and label-record context for narrow therapeutic index medicines
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
Save on citalopram
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What the FDA Data Shows for citalopram
The FDA label for citalopram (sold under brand names such as Celexa) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) class. Citalopram is used to treat major depressive disorder (MDD) in adults. Official labeling lists 1 commonly reported side effect, including Ejaculation disorder (mostly delayed ejaculation).
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 133,513 voluntary reports. The database also lists 9 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated major severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $0.02 versus $9.06 for the brand - a 99% generic savings.
Report counts do not establish causation, a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information are separate source-record fields. This page is a public FDA/CMS registry and does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. This registry does not provide medication decisions.
Last updated: April 30, 2025
PlainMeds is rendered directly from FDA openFDA/FAERS extracts, DailyMed labels, and CMS drug-pricing files, no number is typed in by an editor. FAERS counts, recalls, shortages, and price figures on this page are queried live from those federal extracts. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-05-15. Primary sources: openFDA / FAERS, DailyMed and CMS Part B ASP.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled from the source snapshot dated . See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a data issue.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book - approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed - NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) - post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm - standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files - federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database - current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages