Question:

What is your opinion of Celexa?

Answer:

Celexa is the newest antidepressant to be approved by the FDA. It is the most selectively acting on serotonin of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI). It has been used in Europe for almost a decade, and a total of 8 million patients have been prescribed Celexa. It has many similarities to the other SSRI's-Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, and Luvox. Like any antidepressant, not everyone responds or tolerates any given medication. Treatment must always be individualized. Many patients report a lifting of their mood one week after treatment is started. Like the other SSRI's, it is a broad spectrum psychotropic. In addition to helping depression, it also helps in the treatment of panic disorder and obscessive compulsive disorder (OCD), but these are not yet FDA approved indications. Higher doses are generally needed for OCD. Like the other SSRI's, it has been my experience that it also is helpful in the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder and social phobia/anxiety disorder.

It is generally well tolerated and quite safe. There appears to be no weight gain associated with Celexa. In my experience, the most common side effect is some nausea in a few patients when they first start the medication. Taking half the starting dose the first day or two helps to minimize this possibility. In the average patient, it is generally more sedating than Prozac and Zoloft, and less sedating than Paxil. It has a favorable drug interaction profile, with minimal effect upon the cytochrome P-450 system, and it is not heavily protein bound (80%). As a result of these and some other advantages, it has been used extensively in geriatric populations in Europe. The favorable drug interaction profile also allows Celexa to be used in combination with a number of other psychotropics. Refer to the sections on pathology and treatment for further detail.

Robert Bransfield MD

The diagnosis and treatment of any medical and / or psychiatric disorders requires trained medical professionals. The information provided is to be used for educational purposes only. It should not be used as a substitute for seeking professional care for the diagnosis and / or treatment for any medical and / or psychiatric disorder