Learn about Celexa (Citalopram) drug interactions, including medications, supplements, and foods to avoid. Know what to tell your doctor before starting.
Celexa (Citalopram) is generally well-tolerated, but like most medications, it can interact with other drugs, supplements, and even certain foods. Some of these interactions are dangerous — potentially life-threatening. Others are manageable if your doctor knows about them.
This guide covers the most important Celexa drug interactions, organized from most serious to least, so you know what to avoid and what to discuss with your prescriber.
Drug interactions happen when one substance changes how another works in your body. With Celexa, interactions fall into a few categories:
These interactions can be life-threatening. In most cases, these medications should not be combined with Celexa:
This is the most dangerous interaction. Combining Celexa with an MAO inhibitor can cause fatal serotonin syndrome. You must wait at least 14 days after stopping an MAOI before starting Celexa, and vice versa.
MAO inhibitors include:
Combining Pimozide with Celexa significantly increases the risk of QT prolongation, which can cause a dangerous heart rhythm called Torsades de Pointes. This combination is contraindicated.
Celexa itself can prolong the QT interval, so combining it with other medications that do the same increases cardiac risk. These include:
Combining Celexa with other drugs that increase serotonin raises the risk of serotonin syndrome — a potentially life-threatening condition with symptoms like agitation, confusion, rapid heart rate, high blood pressure, muscle twitching, and high fever.
Serotonergic drugs to be cautious with:
These interactions are manageable but require monitoring:
Celexa affects platelet function, and combining it with blood thinners or anti-inflammatory drugs increases the risk of bleeding:
If you need a pain reliever, Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is generally a safer choice while on Celexa.
These aren't prescription drugs, but they can still interact with Celexa:
Alcohol increases CNS depression when combined with Celexa, which means more drowsiness, dizziness, and impaired judgment. It can also worsen depression. The recommendation: avoid or strictly limit alcohol while taking Celexa.
Grapefruit juice may slightly increase Citalopram levels in the blood by inhibiting liver enzymes. This interaction is considered minor for Celexa (it's more significant for some other medications), but it's worth mentioning to your doctor if you drink grapefruit juice regularly.
Before starting Celexa, give your doctor a complete list of everything you take, including:
Also tell your doctor about:
If a new doctor or specialist prescribes you something, always mention that you're taking Celexa. Pharmacists can also catch interactions when they fill your prescriptions — that's one of the most important things they do.
Most people take Celexa without any dangerous interactions. The key is making sure your healthcare team knows every medication and supplement you're taking. The most critical interactions to avoid are MAO inhibitors (fatal serotonin syndrome risk), Pimozide (heart rhythm danger), and other QT-prolonging drugs.
When in doubt, ask your pharmacist. They have access to interaction databases and can flag problems in real time.
For more about Celexa, including side effects, dosage information, and how to save money, explore our guides on Medfinder.
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