Celexa Dosage

Celexa is one of the brands for citalopram, a SSRI antidepressant. SSRI is an acronym for selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, a class of drugs that stops the neurotransmitter from being reabsorbed by the presynaptic nerve ending, thus increasing the concentration of serotonin in the fluid between the nerve endings and increasing the serotonin effect on the post-synaptic nerve receptors.

Celexa dosage is normally 20mg to 40mg, but people with liver problems or the elderly have to have the Celexa dosage reduced by half. A recent FDA alert reduced the maximum acceptable Celexa dosage to 40 mg daily as Celexa dosage at 60 mg daily or higher was found to be associated with serious cardiac arrhythmias. Celexa is not marketed for use in children; other antidepressants are available for use in adolescents. The maximum citalopram dosage is 40mg, and people on high doses of antidepressants should beware about serotonin toxicity. Celexa is usually slowly tapered rather than stopping abruptly to avoid citalopram withdrawal, also known as the SSRI discontinuation syndrome.

Some Celexa side effects are directly citalopram dosage related, including nausea on first taking the medication, so the Celexa dosage is often started low and gradually increased to get the maximum benefit.