Clozapine/Citalopram; Escitalopram Interactions
This information is generalized and not intended as specific medical advice. Consult your healthcare professional before taking or discontinuing any drug or commencing any course of treatment.
Medical warning:
Moderate. These medicines may cause some risk when taken together. Contact your healthcare professional (e.g. doctor or pharmacist) for more information.
How the interaction occurs:
When these two medicines are taken together, your body may not process clozapine as quickly. Also, the combination can affect your heart's rhythm.
What might happen:
Your blood levels of clozapine may increase. You may experience a fast heartbeat, weakness, fatigue, dizziness, increased salivation, or decreased breathing. With citalopram or escitalopram, your risk of an irregular heartbeat may increase, which may be life-threatening.
What you should do about this interaction:
Let your healthcare professionals (e.g. doctor or pharmacist) know that you are taking these medicines together. If you experience these problems, contact your doctor. The dose of your medicines may be need to be adjusted. Your doctor may want to monitor a test called an electrocardiogram (ECG) on you to see if your medicines are affecting your heart's rhythm. Let your doctor know right away if you notice an irregular heartbeat or have any dizziness, fainting episodes, or seizures.Your healthcare professionals may already be aware of this interaction and may be monitoring you for it. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with them first.
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CONDITIONS OF USE: The information in this database is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of healthcare professionals. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions or adverse effects, nor should it be construed to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for you or anyone else. A healthcare professional should be consulted before taking any drug, changing any diet or commencing or discontinuing any course of treatment.