Patients, the agency says, should not stop taking Celexa or change their dose without first talking to their doctor. LQTS is rare–only about 1 in 5,000 Americans have the condition. The safety announcement warns doctors not to prescribe the drug for patients with congenital long QT syndrome (LQTS)–a condition of the heart's electrical system that can lead to cardiac arrest or sudden death. The FDA says at-risk patients include "those with underlying heart conditions and those who tend to have low levels of potassium and magnesium in their blood." "But we issued the safety communication today to make sure doctors and patients have the most up to date information possible to make treatment decisions." "Most patients are treated with lower doses of Celexa," Sandy Walsh, FDA spokesperson said. SSRIs like Celexa increase the amount of serotonin in the brain, which can help improve mood.Īlthough the drug is available in 10mg, 20mg and 40mg pills, 60mg doses can be used to treat certain patients with depression. Researchers believe serotonin imbalances can influence your mood and lead to depression. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter–it helps relay messages from one part of the brain to another. The recommendation includes generic versions of the drug.Ĭelexa, is made by Forest Laboratories Inc., and is in a class of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). The FDA says anything more can cause abnormal heart rhythms, and studies show there is no therapeutic benefit with doses higher than 40mg. The Food and Drug Administration is recommending that patients taking the anti-depressant Celexa (citalopram hydrobromide) take no more than 40mg a day.
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