A Deep Dive into Citalopram and Escitalopram

The Psychopharmacology Institute has recently published a comprehensive article on citalopram and escitalopram.

This article is a must-read for clinicians who want to deepen their understanding of these two commonly prescribed antidepressants.

Some pearls extracted from the article:

Both citalopram (Celexa) and escitalopram (Lexapro) have low potential for drug-drug interactions due to their minimal inhibition of CYP450 isoenzymes.
Citalopram has been linked with QT prolongation. While it was initially approved for use in doses ranging from 20 to 60 mg/day, in 2011 the FDA recommended against its use in doses higher than 40 mg/day.
A helpful prescribing tip highlighted in the article is that the equivalent dose of escitalopram is half that of citalopram.

Here’s what you can expect to learn: