In this blog post, we are going to answer the question, “What is the best time to take Celexa?”. Celexa, brand name for Citalopram, is an antidepressant which is used to treat a variety of mental health conditions.

This antidepressant is also associated with a number of side effects, some of which have a close relationship with the time at which you take your celexa. This blog is all about the best possible time to take your antidepressant.

What is the best time to take Celexa?

The best time to take celexa is determined according to the side effects caused by this antidepressant:

Side effects	Best time to take Celexa
Insomnia	Morning
Drowsiness/tiredness/fatigue	Night\Bedtime
Nausea	Night\Bedtime
Urinary problems	Morning
Loss of libido	Morning
Loss of appetite	Night\Bedtime

What are the benefits of taking celexa in the morning?

Some side effects associated with celexa make your night time quite unbearable. It is best to switch your antidepressant from night to morning, if it causes following side effects:

Insomnia

Some SSRIs, including celexa, tend to decrease your sleep quality and can cause insomnia. If your antidepressant is keeping you up all night and making it difficult for you to fall asleep, it’s best to take it in the morning.

This way, the effects of the drug will be minimal when you go to bed. Hence, you will experience less sleep disturbance.

Urinary problems

Celexa can cause frequent urination as well as urinary incontinence in children and adolescents. In this case, it’s best to take celexa in the morning to avoid bedwetting.

Sexual issues

If celexa makes you go through sexual issues, such as low libido, erectile dysfunction, or inability to ejaculate, it is extremely important to set an appropriate time to take you medication.

Studies suggest it’s best to counteract sexual side effects by taking antidepressant after the time you usually spend being sexually active. This means that you can take celexa early in the morning which can help you to avoid sexual side effects at night.

What are the benefits of taking celexa at night?

It’s best to take your antidepressant at night if you suffer from the following side effects:

Drowsiness/Tiredness/Fatigue

If celexa makes you drowsy, it’s better to take it at night. In this way you can avoid getting sleepy during the day time.

Antidepressant associated drowsiness is more common in other classes of antidepressants, such as Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) etc.

However, celexa can also produce enough drowsiness to ruin your daytime activities. If you’re taking it in the morning, it is recommended to switch it to night. While you’re suffering from celexa induced daytime tiredness, make sure you avoid the following activities:

Do not drive when you’re feeling tired or drowsy. Driving requires your full physical and mental alertness and it’s in your best interest to avoid it when you’re tired and have low energy levels.

If you’re an employee in some factory where you are supposed to operate heavy machinery, don’t! Your drowsiness might cause an accident and can make you or others around you severely injured.

Make sure you’re not taking any other medication that might be contributing to your drowsiness. Do not drink alcohol, or you’ll end up dulling your senses even more.

Nausea

Celexa is known to trigger nausea, as well as vomiting, diarrhoea and loss of appetite. This is because high serotonin levels can be overwhelming for your stomach. In such conditions, it is best to take celexa at night, in order to avoid such side effects.

Loss of appetite

Celexa is also associated with loss of appetite which may make it difficult for you to consume enough calories that are required to sustain your normal bodily functions.

This is why it is recommended to take your celexa at night, which will help to tone down your loss of appetite during the daytime, when you actually eat.

What is the best way to change the timing at which you take celexa?

If you wish to change the time at which you take your med, discuss the best switching strategy with your doctor. It is not recommended to change your dose or time without medical guidance.

If you wish to shift from morning to night, it is recommended to skip your morning dose and take it at night instead, from where you can continue taking it at night.

If you wish to shift from night to morning, it is recommended to skip your night dose and take it in the following morning, from where you can continue taking celexa every morning. Try to take your med at the same time everyday in order to have a perfect gap between the two doses.

What are the upside and downsides of Celexa?

Upsides

Celexa is widely used in the treatment of mild to severe depression.
It is known to reduce anxiety in people with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).
It is also used to tone down the intensity and frequency of panic attacks.
It is also approved to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), relieving symptoms such as avoidance and intrusion.
It is also used to treat eating disorders like bulimia nervosa.
It is known to reduce the symptoms of social anxiety disorder.
Celexa is also used to treat premenstrual dysphoric disorder, including symptoms like mood swings, irritability, bloating, and breast tenderness.
It can also be used to help relieve tingling sensations in hands and feet which are associated with diabetes.

Downsides

Common side effects of celexa include:

Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhoea or Constipation
Acid reflux or heartburn
Abdominal pain
Loss of appetite
Weight gain or loss
Excessive sweating or night sweating (nocturnal/night hyperhidrosis)
Frequent urination
Polydipsia or excessive thirst
Tremors
Muscle twitching and pain
Drowsiness
Dizziness
Excessive tiredness or fatigue
Insomnia or inability to fall asleep
Xerostomia or dry mouth
Dysmenorrhea or heavy periods
Flu like symptoms including irritation in eyes and runny nose
Loss of libido in both male and females. Males may suffer from inability to ejaculate, while females may suffer from inability to have an orgasm.

Celexa (Citalopram) is also associated with some serious side effects, which may include:

Allergic reaction associated with symptoms like redness of skin, itching, burning sensation, blisters, blue-purple patches, tightness of chest, wheezing, difficulty in breathing, hoarseness etc.
Auditory or visual hallucinations
Nose bleeds
Severe headache
Arrhythmia or abnormal heartbeats
Impaired memory and concentration
Convulsions
Swelling or tenderness in different parts of the body.

What happens if you accidentally overdose on your celexa?

If you have overdosed on celexa, the severity of side effects depend on the dose you took and your tolerance level. If the dose is low, you will surely suffer from side effects, but they would be somehow manageable.

If high doses are consumed, it can cause serious complications. Make sure you report to your healthcare provider as soon as you can and properly inform them how much dose you have taken and when. High doses of celexa increases the amount of serotonin up to the point that you start experiencing symptoms associated with serotonin syndrome. The side effects associated with celexa overdose include:

Seizures
Fever with chills
Hallucination
Unconsciousness or coma
Vertigo
Drowsiness/sleepiness
Hypotension (low blood pressure)
Insomnia or poor quality of sleep
Arrhythmia or irregular heartbeat
Nausea and vomiting

It is important to monitor your dose closely. Do not deviate from the prescribed dose. Do not drink alcohol while you’re on antidepressants. The combination can make your symptoms or your side effects even worse. Cut back as much as you can.

If you have missed the dose and you’re way past the usual time at which you take your med, do not take it. It will cause you to overdose when you take your next dose, which is not too far away.

It’s better to skip the missed dose and take the next one. If you remember your missed dose earlier, it’s safe for you to take it.

In case you experience any unusual side effect, report to your healthcare provider as soon as you can. Not every side effect goes away on its own. It’s best to consult your doctor and make sure your side effects do not require urgent treatment.

Conclusion

In this blog post, we have discussed the best time to take celexa. Celexa is an antidepressant which is used to treat a number of mental health illnesses and the best time to take this antidepressant depends on the kind of side effects it causes.

If it causes insomnia, sexual issues or urinary problems, take it in the morning as these side effects will be more pronounced at night. If celexa causes drowsiness or nausea, take it at night.

Although, it’s best to discuss your symptoms with your healthcare professional and follow his advice. Always report unusual side effects. Do not just sit back and wait for them to go away on their own.

FAQs: best time to take celexa

When should I take Celexa morning or night?

You should take celexa according to the side effects it causes in your:

If it causes insomnia, morning is preferred.
If it causes drowsiness, night time is preferred.
If it causes nausea, night time is preferred.
If it causes urinary problems, morning is preferred.
If it causes loss of libido, morning is preferred.
If it causes loss of appetite, bedtime is preferred.

What is the peak time for citalopram?

The peak time of citalopram or the time at which the drug is at its maximum concentration in blood is around 4 to 5 hours. This time can vary from person to person. If the process of absorption is slow in certain individuals, it may delay the peak time.

Can I take Celexa before bed?

Yes, you can take celexa before bed. In fact, taking it at bedtime is preferred if your antidepressant causes side effects like loss of appetite. Drowsiness, dizziness, nausea and excessive tiredness or fatigue.

Can citalopram make you tired?

Yes, citalopram can cause tiredness, sleepiness or fatigue. Tiredness is, in fact, one of the most commonly experienced side effects of celexa. Antidepressants often stimulate other receptors and mediators, including histamine and acetylcholine, which sometimes lead to unpleasant side effects such as dry mouth, blurry vision, weight gain, and tiredness.

What is the most common side effect of Celexa?

Common side effects of celexa include:

Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhoea or Constipation
Acid reflux or heartburn
Abdominal pain
Loss of appetite
Weight gain or loss
Excessive sweating or night sweating (nocturnal/night hyperhidrosis)
Frequent urination
Polydipsia or excessive thirst

Will celexa keep me up at night?

Celexa may cause insomnia, especially during the first few weeks of your treatment. However, this side effect will begin to subside within 2 to 3 weeks of treatment. Just make sure you take your med properly and give your body enough time to adjust to it.

References

James M. Ferguson, M.D. – SSRI Antidepressant Medications: Adverse Effects and Tolerability https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC181155/
Celexa – Uses, Side Effects, and More https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-8603/celexa-oral/details
Citalopram (Oral Route) https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/citalopram-oral-route/description/drg-20062980

What is the best time to take Celexa?