Citalopram hydrobromide (Celexa - Forest/Parke-Davis), a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) available in Europe since 1989, has now been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of depression. It is being advertised as having a 'favorable side-effect profile.'

In 2011, the FDA asked the manufacturers of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) citalopram (Celexa, and generics) to lower the maximum daily dosage of the drug because of a dose-related increase in the QT interval. Since then, some of our readers have asked whether escitalopram (Lexapro, and generics), the active enantiomer of citalopram, could have the same effect.

The FDA has asked the manufacturers of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant citalopram (Celexa, and others) to revise the labeling of the drug to include new warnings about the risk of QT interval prolongation.

Escitalopram (Lexapro - Forest), the active S-enantiomer of racemic citalopram (Celexa - Forest), a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), was recently approved by the FDA for treatment of depression. The manufacturer plans to stop promoting Celexa in favor of Lexapro; Celexa will continue to be available for patients already taking it.

Recently pharmaceutical manufacturers have marketed a stereoisomer of a successful drug nearing patent expiration as a new drug. Examples, such as esomeprazole (Nexium) , levalbuterol (Xopenex), escitalopram (Lexapro) and dexmethylphenidate

Breaking drug tablets in half is a common practice. Since our last article on this subject, some new data have become available.

In the February 2003 update of the Adverse Drug Interactions Program and in the Handbook of Adverse Drug Interactions 2003, the potentially lethal interaction between selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) was inadvertently omitted for citalopram (Celexa) and escitalopram (Lexapro). This interaction could occur with any SSRI.

Use of a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) is common in women taking tamoxifen (Nolvadex, and others) for breast cancer, both to treat depression and to decrease hot flashes. However, tamoxifen must be metabolized by CYP2D6 to become pharmacologically fully active (MJ Higgins et al. J Natl Compr Canc Netw 2009; 7:203), and the SSRIs fluoxetine (Prozac, and others) and paroxetine (Paxil, and others) are strong inhibitors of CYP2D6. Sertraline (Zoloft, and others) inhibits CYP2D6 to a lesser extent. Citalopram (Celexa, and others) and escitalopram (Lexapro), the 2 other SSRIs...

Five different selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are promoted for treatment of depression and a sixth (fluvoxamine) for use in obsessive compulsive disorder. Which one should we prescribe for our patients?

Vilazodone (Viibryd – Forest), a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) and partial 5-HT_1A receptor agonist, has been approved by the FDA for treatment of depression. It has been claimed to have no sexual side effects and not to cause weight gain.