Product description
Cipramil® is a drug containing the active ingredient citalopram in the form of citalopram hydrobromide. Other excipients are also incorporated into this product. The active ingredient is the serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) citalopram. In addition to Cipramil®, the active ingredient Cipramil® is also found in the following products:
- Citadura
- Citalich
- Citalon
- Citalopram ratiopharm
- Citalopram Hexal
- Futuril
Mode of operation
In addition to citalopram hydrobromide, as in Cipramil®, the active ingredient citalopram also occurs in the following chemical forms: Like all drugs in the group of SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), Cipramil® inhibits the reuptake of serotonin from the synaptic cleft, serotonin longer than can act. This leads to an improvement in mood and to a reduction in anxiety. – Citalopram Hydrochloride
- Citalopram fumarate.
Deployment
Cipramil®, like other compounds with citalopram, is prescribed for the drug therapy of affective disorders. These include depression, but also bipolar disorder (occurrence of manic and depressive phases). Cipramil® has a mood-lifting effect here.
However, this effect only occurs after several weeks of regular use. To treat depression, 20mg to 60mg are taken daily. The drug must be added slowly (increase the dose slowly) in order to minimize the side effects. Higher doses are also used for obsessive-compulsive and panic disorders.
Side effects
At the beginning of the therapy the following side effects often occur: However, these side effects improve after a few days of use and should not be a reason for premature discontinuation. Cipramil® leads to a change in the excitation of the heart. There is an extension of the so-called QT time.
An ECG must therefore be written before the start of therapy to determine the QT time. In addition, Cipramil® should not be combined with other drugs which also lead to an extension of the QT time. A temporary increase in depressive symptoms, sometimes with suicidal thoughts, can also be observed under antidepressant medication.
In this case a close connection to the treating physician should be established in order to be able to intervene in time. A rare but life-threatening side effect is the so-called serotonin syndrome. Here, an excess of serotonin and serotonin-like substances leads to the following symptoms: If this occurs, a doctor must be consulted immediately.
Patients must be closely monitored (sometimes in an intensive care unit). The causal medication is discontinued and medication to alleviate the symptoms is given. – Dry mouth
- Nausea
- Unrest
- Nervousness
- Shaking
- Palpitations
- Sweating
- Sexual dysfunction and the like
- Rise in pulse and blood pressure, flu-like feeling, vomiting and diarrhoea, headache, faster breathing
- Hallucinations, disturbances of consciousness, coordination disorders, restlessness, anxiety
- Tremor, muscle cramps, epileptic seizures
Dependence
The active ingredient Citalopram® itself is not addictive. However, the body gets used to it, so that abrupt discontinuation can lead to circulatory problems (dizziness, nausea, palpitations, headaches, etc.). If the therapy with Citalopram® is to be terminated, a slow, step-by-step reduction of the dose (sneaking out) is therefore recommended.