Andy asked
I take 10 mg of Citalopram (an antidepressant) and missed a dose. Will I experience any negative side effects?
Answer
Celexa (citalopram) is classified as a selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor, or SSRI for short. They work by increasing the amount of the neurotransmitter serotonin available in the brain. While some individuals will experience benefits in as little as 1 to 2 weeks after starting Celexa, it very commonly takes at least 4 to 6 weeks to experience maximum therapeutic effects.
In terms of missing doses of Celexa, doing so during the first 12 weeks of therapy may delay the onset of effects, but you should not have any untoward effects. Regardless of how long you have been taking Celexa, it would be extremely uncommon to experience any sort of withdrawal symptoms from missing one dose of Celexa. Most studies state that withdrawal symptoms from SSRI drugs like Celexa usually begin & peak about one week after discontinuation.
If you do miss a dose of Celexa, the prescribing information offers the following recommendation:
"Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time. Do not take two doses of Celexa at the same time.While you shouldn't make a habit of missing doses of Celexa, missing an occasional dose should not have significant effects as long as you take them consistently the rest of the time.
