Citalopram; Escitalopram/Cilostazol 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:
Serious. These medicines may interact and cause very harmful effects. Contact your healthcare professional (e.g. doctor or pharmacist) for more information.
How the interaction occurs:
Citalopram or escitalopram can affect your heart's rhythm. Cilostazol can have the same effect on your heart and affect how your body stops bleeding.
What might happen:
Taking citalopram or escitalopram with cilostazol may increase your risk of bleeding and may increase your risk of irregular heartbeat, which can be life-threatening.
What you should do about this interaction:
Make sure your healthcare professionals (e.g. doctor or pharmacist) know that you are taking these medicine together and all other medicines you are taking. Your doctor may want to monitor a test called an electrocardiogram (ECG) on you while you are taking citalopram to see if it is 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. Let your doctor know right away if you have any signs of bleeding such as bleeding from your gums, nosebleeds, unusual bruising, or dark stools.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.
- 1.Celexa (citalopram hydrobromide) US prescribing information. Forest Laboratories Inc. August, 2023.
- 2.Gagne M. Dear Canadian Healthcare Professional: Subject: Association of CELEXA (citalopram hydrobromide) with Dose - Dependent QT Prolongation. Lundbeck Canada January 25, 2012.
- 3.USFood and Drug Administration. FDA Drug Safety Communication: Revised recommendations for Celexa (citalopram hydrobromide) related to a potential risk of abnormal heart rhythms with high doses. available at: http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm297391.htm March 28, 2012.
- 4.Lexapro (escitalopram oxalate) US prescribing information. Forest Pharmaceuticals Inc. September, 2021.
- 5.Pletal (cilostazol) US prescribing information. Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc. January, 2015.
- 6.Iwagami M, Tomlinson LA, Mansfield KE, Douglas IJ, Smeeth L, Nitsch D. Gastrointestinal bleeding risk of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors by level of kidney function: A population-based cohort study. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2018 Sep;84(9):2142-2151.
- 7.Drew BJ, Ackerman MJ, Funk M, Gibler WB, Kligfield P, Menon V, Philippides GJ, Roden DM, Zareba W. Prevention of torsade de pointes in hospital settings: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology Foundation. J Am Coll Cardiol 2010 Mar 2;55(9):934-47.
- 8.Drye LT, et al. Changes in QTc interval in the citalopram for agitation in Alzheimer's disease (CitAD) randomized trial. PLoS One 2014;9(6):e98426.
- 9.Dalton SO, Johansen C, Mellemkjaer L, Norgard B, Sorensen HT, Olsen JH. Use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and risk of upper gastrointestinal tract bleeding: a population-based cohort study. Arch Intern Med 2003 Jan 13;163(1):59-64.
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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.