Citalopram and Weed (The ultimate effect)

Citalopram is a form of antidepressant which is known as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI).

SSRIs first came on the market for U.S. customers in the 1980s and have grown in recognition ever since.

Citalopram often used to treat depression and also at times for panic attacks. It helps many people to get better from depression, and it has fewer surplus side effects than older antidepressants. 

In this article we will discuss Citalopram and Weed.

Generic Name: Citalopram
Brand Name: Celexa

Key Facts:

1. Citalopram generally takes 4 to 6 weeks to work. 
2. Side effects such as tiredness, dry mouth, and sweating are common. They are usually easygoing and go away after a couple of weeks. 
3. If you and your doctor decide to take you off citalopram, your doctor may counsel dropping your dose slowly to help avoid extra side effects.
4. Citalopram is called by the brand name Cipramil. 

How Citalopram Works:

• Citalopram balances your level of serotonin, a naturally occurring chemical substance or neurotransmitter in the brain. Serotonin is accountable for flexible sleep, mood, and other functions.  
• An SSRI like Citalopram can help in balancing serotonin by preventing the nerve cells in the brain from absorbing it. By falling the rate at which serotonin is reabsorbed, citalopram changes your brain chemistry, improves your mood and reduces the thoughts of anxiety. 
• Citalopram can help in decreasing the severity of panic attacks and other panic disorder symptoms. It can also reduce symptoms if someone has a common co-occurring state, such as depression.

Dosage for Citalopram:

The usual initial dose is 20 mg in morning or evening. The dose may be amplified to 40 mg every day after one week.

A dose of 60 mg has not been exposed to be more efficient than 40 mg. Because with all antidepressants, it might take quite a few weeks of treatment earlier than the most effects are seen.

Intakes are frequently gradually used upwards to find the most efficient dose.

Common Side Effects:

People who take Citalopram can experience some side effects, including:

• Nausea
• Sleep disturbances
• Lethargy 
• Problems with memory or concentration
• Lightheadedness
• Headache
• Drowsiness
• Changes in weight
• Fast heartbeats, feeling shaky
• Dry mouth
• Tiredness
• Blurred vision
• Increased sweating
• Sexual side effects

Many of the side effects of citalopram become less intense or more controllable over time. By means of any medication, there is a risk of having an allergic drug response to citalopram.

Unusual Side Effects:

You should consult your doctor right away if you experience any of the following unusual side effects:

• Indicators of an allergic reaction (rash, pimples, difficulty swallowing, limited breathing, or swelling of the face, mouth, or tongue)
• Hallucinations
• Bewilderment
• Vomiting
• Seizures
• Severe nervousness and anxiety
• Accelerated heart rate
• Suicidal thoughts or behaviors

Coping with the Side Effects:

Here are some coping strategies you should follow while having these side effects:

Dry mouth – chew up sugar-free bubble gum or sugar-free sweets.

Sweating a lot – try to wear loose clothes, use a strong anti-perspirant and keep yourself cool using a fan if possible. If this doesn’t help, you might need to try a different type of antidepressant. 

Unable to sleep – take citalopram first thing in the morning

Feeling sleepy – take citalopram in the evening and cut down the amount of alcohol you drink. Do not drive or use tools or heavy machinery if you’re feeling sleepy. If this doesn’t facilitate, talk to your doctor.

Feeling tired or weak – do not drive or use tools or machinery if you’re feeling tired. Cut down the amount of alcohol you drink as it can make you feel worse.

Effectiveness of Citalopram:

Taking new antidepressant pills, it’s important to be tolerant and not anticipate immediate results.

A lot of people report that they observe positive changes and reduced symptoms within the first days to weeks, but it can take up to several months before the complete effect of citalopram kicks in. 

Precautions:

There are quite a lot of precautions and contraindications to think about when taking citalopram which are including:

Black Box Warning

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a black box warning in 2007 threatening that the usage of SSRIs might lead to enlarged suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

The FDA warned that this difficulty can be especially challenging for adolescents and young adults who are on SSRIs.

Doctors who prescribe SSRIs, including citalopram, need to observe for probable deterioration of mood and thoughts of suicide, especially for young people just to start their prescription.

Alcohol

Alcohol intake should be minimized while taking citalopram.

The effects of alcohol can be intensified with citalopram and alcohol has likely to interfere with its efficiency.

Pregnancy and Nursing

Citalopram can be tolerable from mother to child during pregnancy or while nursing.

If you’re pregnant or nursing, speak with your doctor about the benefits and risks of taking citalopram and will help you decide which treatment is best for you and your baby.

Citalopram has been associated with a very small increased danger of problems for your unborn baby.

But if your depression isn’t treated during pregnancy, this can also increase the chance of problems.

Citalopram and Breastfeeding

If your doctor or health practitioner says your baby is healthy, then citalopram can be used during breastfeeding.

Citalopram passes into breast milk in little amounts, and is related with side effects in only some breastfed babies.

It’s significant to carry on taking citalopram to keep you well. Breastfeeding will also benefit both you and your baby.

If you notice that your baby isn’t feeding as well as abnormally sleepy, or you have any other concerns regarding your baby, talk to your health professional or doctor as soon as possible.

Weed:

Weed, pot, dope, grass. These are the different names for the same drug that comes from the cannabis plant.

You can smoke it, vape it, drink it, or eat it. Most people use weed/marijuana for pleasure and leisure.

But a rising number of doctors recommend it for specific medical situations and symptoms.

Weed has mind-altering compounds that affect both your brain and body. It can be addictive, and it may be injurious to some people’s health. 

You Can Get “High”

It’s why most people try pot. The main psychoactive ingredient, THC, stimulates the part of your brain that responds to pleasure, like food and sex.

That unleashes a chemical called dopamine, which gives you an ecstatic, relaxed feeling.

If you vape or smoke weed, the THC could get into your bloodstream rapidly enough for you to get you high in seconds or minutes.

The THC level usually peaks in about 30 minutes, and its effects may wear off in 1-3 hours.

If you drink or eat pot, it takes many hours for you to fully sober up. 

Affect Your Mental Health

Not everyone’s experience with weed is pleasant. It can make you restless, scared, or panicked frequently.

Weed may raise your chances for clinical depression or deteriorate the symptoms of any psychological disorders that you already have.

In high doses, it can make you paranoid or lose touch with reality so you have the sense of hearing or see things that are not there.

Distorted Thinking

Weed can blur your senses and verdict.

The effects can differ depending on things like how strong your weed was, how you took it, and how much weed you have used in the past.

It might:

• Intensify your senses (colors might seem brighter and sounds might seem louder)
• Deform your sense of time
• Damage your motor skills and drive more dangerously
• Lesser your inhibitions so you may have unsafe sex or take other chances

Side Effects of Weed:

It’s not clear how frequently weed itself can cause anxiety or depression, but study suggests this can also occur:

• Tachycardia
• Dizziness
•  Anxiety
• Drowsiness 
• Nausea 
• Vomiting
• Difficulty sleeping 
• Confusion 

These side effects can also be caused by definite antidepressants, so using Citalopram and Weed at the same time can make them worse.

Health Risks of Citalopram and Weed Abuse:

•  Effects on the brain
• Increased potency
• Specific signs
• Effects on the mind

Citalopram and Weed (Cannabis):

There is a research that has examined how Citalopram and Weed act together.

It’s rigid to know precisely why this is, but it could be down to a low awareness of possible side effects.

It could also be due to the unwillingness of those taking antidepressants to reveal that they are also taking weed.

Possibly it is losing to the variety of antidepressants. There are several different forms, and each interacts with weed/cannabis differently.

Citalopram and Weed can lead to complications such as: 

• Tachycardia 
• Panic attacks
• Hallucinations
• Difficulty concentrating
• Dizziness
• Drowsiness
• Impairment in thinking, judgment and motor coordination

One should avoid or stay away from the use of alcohol as being treated with Citalopram and Weed.

And avoid actions requiring mental responsiveness such as driving or operating risky machinery until you know how the medications have an effect on you.

Effects of Citalopram and Weed:

Citalopram and Weed can be able to give you a fast heartbeat. Methadone may increase the threat of side effects in people taking citalopram.

Citalopram and Weed make sleepiness worse, particularly in the population who has just started taking it.

It can be strongly dangerous to take citalopram with:

• stimulants like MDMA (ecstasy)
• hallucinogens like LSD
• novel psychoactive substances (which used to be known as legal highs) like mephedrone

People also worry if they can take CBD oil with citalopram or not.

Statistics of Citalopram and Weed:

In the United States, about 11% of Americans that are at the age of 12 and over now take an antidepressant of some kind.

In addition, more than 22 million people have apparently used Citalopram and Weed throughout the last month.

Studies predict Citalopram and Weed use being on the rise as more states begin to legalize the drug.

Unfortunately, many people don’t understand how Citalopram and Weed interact. Nor do they realize the associated risks of combining them.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most given type of antidepressant.

Examples of SSRIs include:

• Citalopram (Cipramil)
• Fluoxetine (Prozac)
• Fluvoxamine (Luvox)
• Sertraline (Zoloft)
• Paroxetine (Aropax)

Naturally SSRIs are linked with low rates of side effects.

So far, there are subjective reports of users experiencing severe panic attacks after mixing them with cannabis/weed.

FAQs about Citalopram and Weed

References: 

medicinenet.com/citalopram/article.htm

medicinenet.com/citalopram/article.htm#which_drugs_or_supplements_interact_with_citalopram_celexa

.nhs.uk/medicines/citalopram/

verywellmind.com/faqs-about-celexa-for-panic-disorder-2584294

drugs.com/citalopram.html

narconon.org/drug-abuse/effects-of-weed.html

webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/marijuana-use-and-its-effects#1

leafly.com/news/health/cannabis-interact-antidepressants

drugs.com/drug-interactions/cannabis-with-citalopram-2758-0-679-0.html?professional=1

recoveryinmotion.com/guide-mixing-antidepressants-marijuana/

nhs.uk/common-health-questions/medicines/does-cannabis-interact-with-antidepressants-or-lithium/