Celexa - new information - warning

[Guest guest]

Hate to post this info, I loved Celexa for my son and he was on 50mg. We even

tried 60mg for a short time. I don't know how this will affect OCD dosages

since treating OCD generally takes higher doses of anti-depressants than if

treating for depression, other. But thought I'd pass this information on,

announced today:

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has reduced the maximum recommended

dose of the antidepressant Celexa (citalopram) to 40 mg per day, warning that

higher doses may trigger potentially fatal changes in heart rhythm.

The FDA also said that studies showed no benefit in the treatment of depression

with doses higher than 40 mg per day.

The revised drug label was based on post-market reports and a clinical trial

showing that people taking 60 mg per day of citalopram — a dose that was

previously approved by the FDA for certain patients — were at increased risk of

unsafe changes to the electrical activity of the heart, a condition known as

" prolongation of the QT interval, " compared with patients taking 20 mg of

citalopram a day or a placebo.

These electrical-activity changes can lead to abnormal heart rhythms, which can

be fatal, the FDA said. Based on the trial data, the agency estimated that a

40-mg-per-day dose of Celexa would be safe.

People at particular risk for QT interval prolongation include those with

underlying heart conditions or those who have low levels of potassium and

magnesium in the blood.

The new drug labels for Celexa and its generics will no longer allow doses of 60

mg per day and will include a warning about the heart risks. The FDA's safety

communication did not include information about the closely related selective

serotonin reuptake inhibitor Lexapro (escitalopram).

For now, the agency recommends that people taking higher doses of Celexa talk to

their doctors before making any changes to their medication. Patients taking

Celexa should seek immediate care, however, if they experience irregular

heartbeat, shortness of breath, dizziness or fainting.

FDA link: http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm269086.htm

Read more:

http://healthland.time.com/2011/08/24/fda-high-doses-of-celexa-may-be-dangerous-\

for-the-heart/#ixzz1Vzpm5VkV