Citalopram 20mg Tablets

Document: leaflet MAH BRAND_PLPI 18799-2739 change

(citalopram hydrobromide)

Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine because it contains important information for you.

• Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.

• If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

• This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their signs of illness are the same as yours.

• If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.

Package leaflet: Information for the user Cipramil® 20mg Tablets

The name of your medicine is Cipramil 20mg Tablets but will be referred to as Cipramil throughout this leaflet.

What is in this leaflet:

1. What Cipramil is and what it is used for

2. What you need to know before you take Cipramil

3. How to take Cipramil

4. Possible side effects

5. How to store Cipramil

6. Contents of the pack and other information

1. What Cipramil is and what it is used for How does Cipramil work?

Cipramil is a Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) and belongs to a group of medicines known as antidepressants. These medicines help to correct certain chemical imbalances in the brain that are causing the symptoms of your illness.

What is Cipramil used for?

Cipramil contains citalopram and is used for the treatment of depression and, when you feel better, to help prevent these symptoms recurring. Cipramil is also used for long-term treatment to prevent the occurrence of new episodes of depression if you have recurrent depression.

Cipramil is also beneficial in relieving symptoms if you tend to suffer from panic attacks.

2. What you need to know before you take Cipramil

Do not take Cipramil

• if you are allergic to citalopram or to any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6). Consult your doctor if you think you might be.

• at the same time as taking medication known as monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). MAOIs include medicines such as phenelzine, iproniazid, isocarboxazid, nialamide, tranylcypromine and moclobemide (used for the treatment of depression), selegiline (used in the treatment of Parkinson's disease) and linezolid (an antibiotic). Even if you have finished taking one of the following MAOIs: phenelzine, iproniazid, isocarboxazid, nialamide or tranylcypromine you will need to wait 2 weeks before you start taking your Cipramil tablets. One day must elapse after you have finished taking moclobemide. After stopping Cipramil you must allow 1 week before taking any MAOI.

• if you are born with or have had an episode of abnormal heart rhythm (seen at ECG; an examination to evaluate how the heart is functioning).

• if you take medicines for heart rhythm problems or that may affect the heart's rhythm (see ‘Other medicines and Cipramil' below).

Warnings and precautions

Please tell your doctor if you have any medical problems, especially if you have:

• Liver disease.

• Kidney disease.

• Diabetes (you may need an adjustment of your antidiabetic therapy).

• Epilepsy or a history of seizures or fits.

• A bleeding disorder or have ever suffered from bleeding in the stomach or intestine.

• Mania or panic disorder.

• Low blood levels of sodium.

• ECT (electroconvulsive therapy).

• Problems with your eyes, such as certain kinds of glaucoma.

• Suffered or suffer from heart problems or have recently had a heart attack.

• A low resting heart rate and/or you know that you may have salt depletion as a result of prolonged severe diarrhoea and vomiting (being sick) or usage of diuretics (water tablets).

• Experienced a fast or irregular heart beat, fainting, collapse or dizziness on standing up which may indicate abnormal functioning of the heart rate.

Please consult your doctor, even if these statements were applicable to you at any time in the past.

Please note:

Some patients with manic-depressive illness may enter into a manic phase. This is characterized by unusual and rapidly changing ideas, inappropriate happiness and excessive physical activity. If you experience this, contact your doctor.

Symptoms such as restlessness or difficulty in sitting or standing still can also occur during the first weeks of the treatment. Tell your doctor immediately if you experience these symptoms.

Special information relating to your disease

As with other medicines used to treat depression or related diseases, the improvement is not achieved immediately. After the start of Cipramil treatment it may take several weeks before you experience any improvement. In the beginning of the treatment certain patients may experience increased anxiety, which will disappear during continued treatment. Therefore, it is very important that you follow exactly your doctor's orders and do not stop the treatment or change the dose without consulting your doctor.

Thoughts of suicide and worsening of your depression or anxiety disorder

If you are depressed and/or have anxiety disorders you can sometimes have thoughts of harming or killing yourself. These may be increased when first starting antidepressants, since these medicines all take time to work, usually about two weeks but sometimes longer.

You may be more likely to think like this:

• If you have previously had thoughts about killing or harming yourself.

• If you are a young adult. Information from clinical trials has shown an increased risk of suicidal behaviour in adults aged less than 25 years with psychiatric conditions who were treated with an antidepressant.

If you have thoughts of harming or killing yourself at any time, contact your doctor or go to a hospital straight away.

You may find it helpful to tell a relative or close friend that you are depressed or have an anxiety disorder, and ask them to read this leaflet. You might ask them to tell you if they think your depression or anxiety is getting worse, or if they are worried about changes in your behaviour.

Use in children and adolescents under 18 years of age

Cipramil should normally not be used for children and adolescents under 18 years. Also, you should know that patients under 18 have an increased risk of side effects such as suicide attempt, suicidal thoughts and hostility (predominantly aggression, oppositional behaviour and anger) when they take this class of medicines. Despite this, your doctor may prescribe citalopram for patients under 18 because he/she decides that this is in their best interests. If your doctor has prescribed Cipramil for a patient under 18 and you want to discuss this, please go back to your doctor. You should inform your doctor if any of the symptoms listed above develop or worsen when patients under 18 are taking Cipramil. Also, the long-term safety effects concerning growth, maturation and cognitive and behavioural development of Cipramil in this age group have not yet been demonstrated.

Other medicines and Cipramil

Medicines may affect the action of other medicines and this can sometimes cause serious adverse reactions. Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have taken or might take any other medicines. This includes other medicines for depression (see Do not take Cipramil).

• The herbal remedy St John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum). This should not be taken at the same time as Cipramil.

• Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). These should not be taken at the same time as Cipramil (see Do not take Cipramil).

Tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:

• Linezolid (an antibiotic).

• Sumatriptan (used to treat migraine) or tramadol (a pain killer). If you feel unwell when using these medicines with Cipramil you should see your doctor.

• Lithium (used to prevent and treat mania) and tryptophan (an anti-depressant).

• Pimozide (a neuroleptic). This should not be taken at the same time as Cipramil.

• Imipramine and desipramine (used to treat depression).

• Medicines containing selegiline (used to treat Parkinson’s disease)

• Cimetidine (used to treat stomach ulcers).

• Mefloquine (used to treat malaria).

• Bupropion (used to treat depression).

• Medicines known to affect the blood platelets (e.g. anticoagulant drugs used to treat or prevent blood clots; aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and diclofenac used as painkillers and some anti-psychotic drugs and tricyclic antidepressants).

• Metoprolol, a beta-blocker used to treat migraine, some heart conditions and high blood pressure. The effects of either drug could be increased, decreased or altered.

• Neuroleptics (used in the treatment of schizophrenia).

Do not take Cipramil if you take medicines for heart rhythm problems or medicines that may affect the heart's rhythm, e.g. such as Class IA and III antiarrhythmics, anti-psychotics (e.g. phenothiazine derivatives, pimozide, haloperidol), tricyclic antidepressants, certain antimicrobial agents (e.g. sparfloxacin, moxifloxacin, erythromycin IV, pentamidine, anti-malarial treatment particularly halofantrine), certain antihistamines (astemizole, mizolastine). If you have any further questions about this you should speak to your doctor.

Taking Cipramil with food, drink and alcohol

Cipramil can be taken with or without food (see section 3 ‘How to take Cipramil').

As with all antidepressants, it is sensible to avoid drinking alcohol whilst receiving treatment although Cipramil has not been shown to increase the effects of alcohol.

Pregnancy

Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking any medicine. If you are pregnant, think you might be pregnant, or are trying to become pregnant, tell your doctor. Do not take Cipramil if you are pregnant unless you and your doctor have discussed the risks and benefits involved.

Make sure your midwife and/or doctor know you are on Cipramil. When taken during pregnancy, particularly in the last 3 months of pregnancy, medicines like Cipramil may increase the risk of a serious condition in babies, called persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN), making the baby breathe faster and appear bluish. These symptoms usually begin during the first 24 hours after the baby is born. If this happens to your baby you should contact your midwife and/or doctor immediately. Also, if you take Cipramil during the last 3 months of your pregnancy and until the date of birth you should be aware that the following effects may be seen in your newborn: fits, being too hot or cold, feeding difficulties, vomiting, low blood sugar, stiff or floppy muscles, overactive reflexes, tremor, jitteriness, irritability, lethargy, constant crying, sleepiness or sleeping difficulties. If your newborn baby gets any of these symptoms please contact your midwife and/or doctor immediately.

Breast-feeding

Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking any medicine. If you are breast-feeding, ask your doctor for advice. You should not breast-feed your baby when taking Cipramil because small amounts of the medicine can pass into the breast milk.

Fertility

Citalopram has been shown to reduce the quality of sperm in animal studies. Theoretically, this could affect fertility, but impact on human fertility has not been observed as yet.

Driving and using machines

Cipramil does not usually affect the ability to carry out normal daily activities. However, if you feel dizzy or sleepy when you start to take this medicine, you should be careful when driving, operating machinery or performing jobs that need you to be alert until these effects wear off.

Important information about some of the ingredients of Cipramil

This product contains lactose.

If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicinal product.

3. How to take Cipramil How much to take

Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.

Adults

Depression

The usual dose is 20mg per day. This may be increased by your doctor to a maximum of 40mg per day.

Panic disorder

The starting dose is 10mg per day for the first week before increasing the dose to 20-30mg per day. The dose may be increased by your doctor to a maximum of 40mg per day.

Elderly patients (above 65 years of age)

The starting dose should be decreased to half of the recommended dose, e.g. 10-20mg per day. Elderly patients should not usually receive more than 20mg per day.

Children and adolescents (less than 18 years of age)

Cipramil should not be given to children or adolescents. For further information, please see section 2, What you need to know before you take Cipramil.

Patients with special risks

Patients with liver complaints should not receive more than 20mg per day.

How and when to take Cipramil

Cipramil is taken every day as a single daily dose. Cipramil can be taken any time of the day with or without food. Swallow the tablets with a drink of water. Do not chew them (they have a bitter taste).

Duration of treatment

Like other medicines for depression and panic disorder these tablets may take a few weeks before you feel any improvement. Continue to take Cipramil even if it takes some time before you feel any improvement in your condition. The duration of treatment is individual, usually at least 6 months. Continue to take the tablets for as long as your doctor recommends. Do not stop taking them even if you begin to feel better, unless you are told to do so by your doctor.

The underlying illness may persist for a long time and if you stop your treatment too soon your symptoms may return.

Patients who have recurrent depression benefit from continued treatment, sometimes for several years, to prevent the occurrence of new depressive episodes.

Never change the dose of the medicine without talking to your doctor first.

If you take more Cipramil than you should

If you think that you or anyone else may have taken too many Cipramil, contact your doctor or nearest hospital emergency department immediately. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. Take the Cipramil box/container with you if you go to a doctor or hospital. Some of the signs of an overdosage could be life-threatening.

POM

Symptoms of overdosage may include:

• Irregular heart beat

• Seizures

• Changes in heart rhythm

• Feeling sick (nausea)

• Vomiting

• Sweating

• Drowsiness

• Unconsciousness

• Fast heart beats

• Tremor

• Changes in blood pressure

• Serotonin syndrome (see Section 4)

• Agitation

• Dizziness

• Enlarged eye pupils

• Bluish skin

• Breathing too quickly

If you forget to take Cipramil

If you forget to take a dose, take the next dose at the usual time. Do not take a double dose. Effects when treatment with Cipramil is stopped

Stopping this medicine quickly may cause symptoms such as dizziness, nausea and numbness or tingling in hands or feet, sleep disturbances (vivid dreams, nightmares, inability to sleep), feeling anxious, headaches, feeling or being sick, sweating, feeling restless or agitated, tremor, feeling confused or disorientated, feeling emotional or irritable, diarrhoea (loose stools), visual disturbances, fluttering or pounding heart beat (palpitations). These are usually non-serious and disappear within a few days. When you have completed your course of treatment, the dose of Cipramil is usually reduced gradually over a couple of weeks.

If you have any further questions on the use of this product, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

4. Possible side effects

Like all medicines this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. Several of the effects listed below can also be symptoms of your illness and may disappear as you start to get better.

Serious side effects

Stop taking Cipramil and seek medical advice immediately if you have any of the following

symptoms:

• Difficulty in breathing.

• Swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat that causes difficulty in swallowing or breathing.

• Severe itching of the skin (with raised lumps).

• Fast, irregular heart beat, fainting which could be symptoms of a life-threatening condition known as torsades de pointes.

If you notice any of the following symptoms you should contact your doctor immediately as your dose may need to be reduced or stopped:

• You start having fits for the first time or fits that you have suffered from in the past become more frequent.

• Your behaviour changes because you feel elated or over excited.

• You experience high fever, agitation, confusion, trembling or abrupt contractions of muscles. These may be signs of a rare condition called serotonin syndrome.

• Tiredness, confusion and twitching of your muscles. These may be signs of a low blood level of sodium (hyponatraemia).

If you have thoughts of harming or killing yourself at any time, contact your doctor or go to a hospital straight away.

The following side effects are often mild and usually disappear after a few days' treatment.

Very common side effects (may affect more than 1 in 10 people)

• Sleepiness

• Difficulty in sleeping

• Fleadache

• Changes in your sleeping pattern

• Loss of body strength, weakness

• Increased sweating

• Dry mouth (a dry mouth increases the risk of tooth decay, so be sure to clean your teeth more often than usual)

• Feeling sick (nausea)

Common side effects (may affect up to 1 in 10 people)

• Lack of appetite

• Agitation

• Decreased sex drive

• Anxiety

• Nervousness

• Confusion

• Abnormal dreams

• Reduced emotions, indifference (apathy)

• Tremor

• Tingling or numbness in the hands or feet

• Dizziness

• Problems concentrating

• Migraine

• Loss of memory (amnesia)

• Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)

• Palpitations

• Yawning

• Blocked or runny nose (rhinitis)

• Diarrhoea

• Vomiting

• Constipation

• Stomach pain

• Flatulence (wind)

• Increase in saliva (drooling)

• Itching

• Pain in muscles and joints

• For men, problems with ejaculation and erection

• For women, failing to reach an orgasm

• Tiredness

• Prickling of the skin

• Loss of weight

Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)

• Bruising easily

• Increased appetite

• Aggression

• Hallucinations

• Mania

• Fainting

• Large pupils (the dark centre of the eye)

• Fast heart beat

• Slow heart beat

• Nettle rash

• Loss of hair

• Rash

• Sensitivity to sunlight

• Difficulties urinating

• Excessive menstrual bleeding

• Swelling of the arms or legs

• Increased weight

Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1000 people)

• Increased sex drive

• Convulsions

• Involuntary movements

• Taste disturbances

• Bleeding

• Coughing

• Hepatitis

• Feeling unwell (malaise)

Some patient have reported (frequency not known)

• Thoughts of harming or killing themselves, see also section 2 ‘What you need to know before you take Cipramil’

• An increase in bleeding or bruising caused by a decrease in blood platelets (thrombocytopenia)

• Rash (hypersensitivity)

• Low potassium levels in the blood (hypokalaemia), which can cause muscle weakness, twitching or abnormal heart rhythms

• Panic attack

• Grinding teeth

• Restlessness

• Unusual muscle movements or stiffness

• Involuntary movements of the muscles (akathisia)

• Low blood pressure

• Nosebleed

• Bleeding disorders including skin and mucosal bleeding (ecchymosis)

• Sudden swelling of skin or mucosa

• In men, painful erections

• Flow of breast milk in men or in women who are not breast-feeding (galactorrhoea)

• Irregular menstrual periods

• Abnormal liver function tests

• An increased risk of bone fractures has been observed in patients taking this type of medicines

• Abnormal heart rhythm

SSRIs can, very rarely, increase the risk of bleeding, including stomach or intestinal bleeding. Let your doctor know if you vomit blood or develop black or blood stained stools.

Also let your doctor know if you continue to have other symptoms associated with your depression. This might include hallucinations, anxiety, mania or confusion.

Any side effects that do occur will usually disappear after a few days. If they are troublesome or persistent, or if you develop any other unusual side effects while taking Cipramil, please tell your doctor.

Reporting of side effects

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard.

Alternatively you can call Freephone 0808 100 3352 (available between 10am-2pm Monday -Friday) or fill in a paper form available from your local pharmacy.

By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

5. How to store Cipramil

• Keep all medicines out of the sight and reach of children.

• Cipramil should be stored below 25°C.

• Do not take Cipramil after the expiry date printed on the carton, label or blister strip.

• If the tablets become discoloured or show any other signs of deterioration, you should ask your pharmacist who will advise you what to do.

• Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. These measures will help to protect the environment

6. Contents of the pack and other information What Cipramil contains

Cipramil contains 24.98mg of the active ingredient, citalopram hydrobromide (equivalent to 20mg citalopram base).

Cipramil also contain the following ingredients: lactose, microcrystalline cellulose, maize starch, polyvinylpyrrolidone vinylacetate, glycerol, croscarmellose sodium, magnesium stearate, hypromellose, macrogol 400 and titanium dioxide (E171).

What Cipramil looks like and contents of pack

Cipramil is a white oval tablet, which is marked 'C' breakline ‘N' on one side and is plain on the reverse.

Cipramil are available as blister packs of 28 tablets.

Manufactured by: H. Lundbeck A/S, 9 Ottiliavej, DK-2500 Copenhagen-Valby, Denmark.

Procured from within the EU and repackaged by the Product Licence holder:

B&S Healthcare, Unit 4, Bradfield Road, Ruislip, Middlesex, HA4 0NU, UK.

Cipramil 20mg Tablets PL 18799/2739

Leaflet date: 04.04.2016

(citalopram hydrobromide)

Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine because it contains important information for you.

• Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.

• If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

• This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their signs of illness are the same as yours.

• If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.

Package leaflet: Information for the user

Citalopram 20mg Tablets

The name of your medicine is Citalopram 20mg Tablets but will be referred to as Citalopram throughout this leaflet.

What is in this leaflet:

1. What Citalopram is and what it is used for

2. What you need to know before you take Citalopram

3. How to take Citalopram

4. Possible side effects

5. How to store Citalopram

6. Contents of the pack and other information

1. What Citalopram is and what it is used for How does Citalopram work?

Citalopram is a Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) and belongs to a group of medicines known as antidepressants. These medicines help to correct certain chemical imbalances in the brain that are causing the symptoms of your illness.

What is Citalopram used for?

Citalopram contains citalopram and is used for the treatment of depression and, when you feel better, to help prevent these symptoms recurring. Citalopram is also used for long-term treatment to prevent the occurrence of new episodes of depression if you have recurrent depression.

Citalopram is also beneficial in relieving symptoms if you tend to suffer from panic attacks.

2. What you need to know before you take Citalopram

Do not take Citalopram

• if you are allergic to citalopram or to any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6). Consult your doctor if you think you might be.

• at the same time as taking medication known as monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). MAOIs include medicines such as phenelzine, iproniazid, isocarboxazid, nialamide, tranylcypromine and moclobemide (used for the treatment of depression), selegiline (used in the treatment of Parkinson's disease) and linezolid (an antibiotic). Even if you have finished taking one of the following MAOIs: phenelzine, iproniazid, isocarboxazid, nialamide or tranylcypromine you will need to wait 2 weeks before you start taking your Citalopram tablets. One day must elapse after you have finished taking moclobemide. After stopping Citalopram you must allow 1 week before taking any MAOI.

• if you are born with or have had an episode of abnormal heart rhythm (seen at ECG; an examination to evaluate how the heart is functioning).

• if you take medicines for heart rhythm problems or that may affect the heart's rhythm (see ‘Other medicines and Citalopram' below).

Warnings and precautions

Please tell your doctor if you have any medical problems, especially if you have:

• Liver disease.

• Kidney disease.

• Diabetes (you may need an adjustment of your antidiabetic therapy).

• Epilepsy or a history of seizures or fits.

• A bleeding disorder or have ever suffered from bleeding in the stomach or intestine.

• Mania or panic disorder.

• Low blood levels of sodium.

• ECT (electroconvulsive therapy).

• Problems with your eyes, such as certain kinds of glaucoma.

• Suffered or suffer from heart problems or have recently had a heart attack.

• A low resting heart rate and/or you know that you may have salt depletion as a result of prolonged severe diarrhoea and vomiting (being sick) or usage of diuretics (water tablets).

• Experienced a fast or irregular heart beat, fainting, collapse or dizziness on standing up which may indicate abnormal functioning of the heart rate.

Please consult your doctor, even if these statements were applicable to you at any time in the past.

Please note:

Symptoms such as restlessness or difficulty in sitting or standing still can also occur during the first weeks of the treatment. Tell your doctor immediately if you experience these symptoms.

Special information relating to your disease

As with other medicines used to treat depression or related diseases, the improvement is not achieved immediately. After the start of Citalopram treatment it may take several weeks before you experience any improvement. In the beginning of the treatment certain patients may experience increased anxiety, which will disappear during continued treatment. Therefore, it is very important that you follow exactly your doctor's orders and do not stop the treatment or change the dose without consulting your doctor.

Thoughts of suicide and worsening of your depression or anxiety disorder

You may be more likely to think like this:

• If you have previously had thoughts about killing or harming yourself.

If you have thoughts of harming or killing yourself at any time, contact your doctor or go to a hospital straight away.

Use in children and adolescents under 18 years of age

Citalopram should normally not be used for children and adolescents under 18 years. Also, you should know that patients under 18 have an increased risk of side effects such as suicide attempt, suicidal thoughts and hostility (predominantly aggression, oppositional behaviour and anger) when they take this class of medicines. Despite this, your doctor may prescribe citalopram for patients under 18 because he/she decides that this is in their best interests. If your doctor has prescribed Citalopram for a patient under 18 and you want to discuss this, please go back to your doctor. You should inform your doctor if any of the symptoms listed above develop or worsen when patients under 18 are taking Citalopram. Also, the long-term safety effects concerning growth, maturation and cognitive and behavioural development of Citalopram in this age group have not yet been demonstrated.

Other medicines and Citalopram

• The herbal remedy St John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum). This should not be taken at the same time as Citalopram.

• Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). These should not be taken at the same time as Citalopram (see Do not take Citalopram).

Tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:

• Linezolid (an antibiotic).

• Sumatriptan (used to treat migraine) or tramadol (a pain killer). If you feel unwell when using these medicines with Citalopram you should see your doctor.

• Lithium (used to prevent and treat mania) and tryptophan (an anti-depressant).

• Pimozide (a neuroleptic). This should not be taken at the same time as Citalopram.

• Imipramine and desipramine (used to treat depression).

• Medicines containing selegiline (used to treat Parkinson’s disease)

• Cimetidine (used to treat stomach ulcers).

• Mefloquine (used to treat malaria).

• Bupropion (used to treat depression).

• Metoprolol, a beta-blocker used to treat migraine, some heart conditions and high blood pressure. The effects of either drug could be increased, decreased or altered.

• Neuroleptics (used in the treatment of schizophrenia).

Do not take Citalopram if you take medicines for heart rhythm problems or medicines that may affect the heart's rhythm, e.g. such as Class IA and III antiarrhythmics, anti-psychotics (e.g. phenothiazine derivatives, pimozide, haloperidol), tricyclic antidepressants, certain antimicrobial agents (e.g. sparfloxacin, moxifloxacin, erythromycin IV, pentamidine, anti-malarial treatment particularly halofantrine), certain antihistamines (astemizole, mizolastine). If you have any further questions about this you should speak to your doctor.

Taking Citalopram with food, drink and alcohol

Citalopram can be taken with or without food (see section 3 ‘How to take Citalopram').

As with all antidepressants, it is sensible to avoid drinking alcohol whilst receiving treatment although Citalopram has not been shown to increase the effects of alcohol.

Pregnancy

Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking any medicine. If you are pregnant, think you might be pregnant, or are trying to become pregnant, tell your doctor. Do not take Citalopram if you are pregnant unless you and your doctor have discussed the risks and benefits involved.

Make sure your midwife and/or doctor know you are on Citalopram. When taken during pregnancy, particularly in the last 3 months of pregnancy, medicines like Citalopram may increase the risk of a serious condition in babies, called persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN), making the baby breathe faster and appear bluish. These symptoms usually begin during the first 24 hours after the baby is born. If this happens to your baby you should contact your midwife and/or doctor immediately. Also, if you take Citalopram during the last 3 months of your pregnancy and until the date of birth you should be aware that the following effects may be seen in your newborn: fits, being too hot or cold, feeding difficulties, vomiting, low blood sugar, stiff or floppy muscles, overactive reflexes, tremor, jitteriness, irritability, lethargy, constant crying, sleepiness or sleeping difficulties. If your newborn baby gets any of these symptoms please contact your midwife and/or doctor immediately.

Breast-feeding

Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking any medicine. If you are breast-feeding, ask your doctor for advice. You should not breast-feed your baby when taking Citalopram because small amounts of the medicine can pass into the breast milk.

Fertility

Citalopram has been shown to reduce the quality of sperm in animal studies. Theoretically, this could affect fertility, but impact on human fertility has not been observed as yet.

Driving and using machines

Citalopram does not usually affect the ability to carry out normal daily activities. However, if you feel dizzy or sleepy when you start to take this medicine, you should be careful when driving, operating machinery or performing jobs that need you to be alert until these effects wear off.

Important information about some of the ingredients of Citalopram

This product contains lactose.

If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicinal product.

3. How to take Citalopram How much to take

Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.

Adults

Depression

The usual dose is 20mg per day. This may be increased by your doctor to a maximum of 40mg per day.

Panic disorder

The starting dose is 10mg per day for the first week before increasing the dose to 20-30mg per day. The dose may be increased by your doctor to a maximum of 40mg per day.

Elderly patients (above 65 years of age)

The starting dose should be decreased to half of the recommended dose, e.g. 10-20mg per day. Elderly patients should not usually receive more than 20mg per day.

Children and adolescents (less than 18 years of age)

Citalopram should not be given to children or adolescents. For further information, please see section 2, What you need to know before you take Citalopram.

Patients with special risks

Patients with liver complaints should not receive more than 20mg per day.

How and when to take Citalopram

Citalopram is taken every day as a single daily dose. Citalopram can be taken any time of the day with or without food. Swallow the tablets with a drink of water. Do not chew them (they have a bitter taste).

Duration of treatment

Like other medicines for depression and panic disorder these tablets may take a few weeks before you feel any improvement. Continue to take Citalopram even if it takes some time before you feel any improvement in your condition. The duration of treatment is individual, usually at least 6 months. Continue to take the tablets for as long as your doctor recommends. Do not stop taking them even if you begin to feel better, unless you are told to do so by your doctor.

The underlying illness may persist for a long time and if you stop your treatment too soon your symptoms may return.

Patients who have recurrent depression benefit from continued treatment, sometimes for several years, to prevent the occurrence of new depressive episodes.

Never change the dose of the medicine without talking to your doctor first.

If you take more Citalopram than you should

If you think that you or anyone else may have taken too many Citalopram, contact your doctor or nearest hospital emergency department immediately. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. Take the Citalopram box/container with you if you go to a doctor or hospital. Some of the signs of an overdosage could be life-threatening.

POM

Symptoms of overdosage may include:

• Irregular heart beat

• Seizures

• Changes in heart rhythm

• Feeling sick (nausea)

• Vomiting

• Sweating

• Drowsiness

• Unconsciousness

• Fast heart beats

• Tremor

• Changes in blood pressure

• Serotonin syndrome (see Section 4)

• Agitation

• Dizziness

• Enlarged eye pupils

• Bluish skin

• Breathing too quickly

If you forget to take Citalopram

If you forget to take a dose, take the next dose at the usual time. Do not take a double dose. Effects when treatment with Citalopram is stopped

Stopping this medicine quickly may cause symptoms such as dizziness, nausea and numbness or tingling in hands or feet, sleep disturbances (vivid dreams, nightmares, inability to sleep), feeling anxious, headaches, feeling or being sick, sweating, feeling restless or agitated, tremor, feeling confused or disorientated, feeling emotional or irritable, diarrhoea (loose stools), visual disturbances, fluttering or pounding heart beat (palpitations). These are usually non-serious and disappear within a few days. When you have completed your course of treatment, the dose of Citalopram is usually reduced gradually over a couple of weeks.

If you have any further questions on the use of this product, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

4. Possible side effects

Serious side effects

Stop taking Citalopram and seek medical advice immediately if you have any of the following