Xanax vs. Celexa

• Are Xanax and Celexa the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Xanax?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Celexa?
• What Is Xanax?
• What Is Celexa?
• What Drugs Interact with Xanax?
• What Drugs Interact with Celexa?
• How Should Xanax Be Taken?
• How Should Celexa Be Taken?

Celexa (citalopram hydrobromide) and Xanax (alprazolam) are used to treat anxiety.

Celexa is mainly used to treat depression and it is used off-label for anxiety.

Xanax is also used to treat panic attacks.

Celexa and Xanax belong to different drug classes. Celexa is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) type antidepressant and Xanax is a benzodiazepine.

Common side effects of Xanax include:

• Drowsiness
• Tiredness
• Dizziness
• Sleep problems (insomnia)
• Memory problems
• Poor balance or coordination
• Slurred speech
• Trouble concentrating
• Irritability
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Increased sweating
• Headache
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Upset stomach
• Blurred vision
• Appetite or weight changes
• Swelling in your hands or feet
• Muscle weakness
• Dry mouth
• Stuffy nose
• Loss of interest in sex

Common side effects of Celexa include:

• constipation,
• nausea,
• diarrhea,
• upset stomach,
• decreased sexual desire,
• impotence,
• difficulty having an orgasm,
• dizziness,
• drowsiness,
• tiredness,
• sleep problems (insomnia),
• dry mouth,
• increased sweating or urination,
• weight changes, and cold symptoms such as stuffy nose,
• sneezing, sore throat, or
• cough.

Xanax (alprazolam) is indicated for the management of anxiety disorders and the short-term relief of symptoms of anxiety in adults. Xanax is also indicated for the treatment of panic disorder in adults with or without a fear of places and situations that might cause panic, helplessness, or embarrassment (agoraphobia).

Celexa is a prescription medicine used to treat depression. It is important to talk with your healthcare provider about the risks of treating depression and also the risks of not treating it. You should discuss all treatment choices with your healthcare provider. Celexa is also used to treat Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

Talk to your healthcare provider if you do not think that your condition is getting better with Celexa treatment.

Xanax may interact with cold or allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, medicine for depression or anxiety, antibiotics, antifungal medicines, antidepressants, and barbiturates. Xanax may also interact with birth control pills, cimetidine, cyclosporine, dexamethasone, ergotamine, imatinib, isoniazid, St. John's wort, heart or blood pressure medications, HIV/AIDS medicines, and seizure medications.

Do not take Xanax if you are allergic to alprazolam, other benzodiazepines, or any of the ingredients in Xanax. See the end of this Medication Guide for a complete list of ingredients in Xanax. you are taking antifungal medicines including ketoconazole and itraconazole.

Do not stop using Xanax without first talking to your doctor, even if you feel fine. You may have increased seizures or unpleasant withdrawal symptoms if you stop using Xanax suddenly.

Do not take Celexa if you:

• are allergic to citalopram hydrobromide or escitalopram oxalate or any of the ingredients in Celexa. See the end of this Medication Guide for a complete list of ingredients in Celexa.
• take a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI). Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you are not sure if you take an MAOI, including the antibiotic linezolid.
• Do not take an MAOI within 2 weeks of stopping Celexa unless directed to do so by your physician.
• Do not start Celexa if you stopped taking an MAOI in the last 2 weeks unless directed to do so by your physician.
• People who take Celexa close in time to an MAOI may have serious or even life-threatening side effects. Get medical help right away if you have any of these symptoms:
• high fever
• uncontrolled muscle spasms
• stiff muscles
• rapid changes in heart rate or blood pressure
• confusion
• loss of consciousness (pass out)
• take the antipsychotic medicine pimozide (Orap®) because this can cause serious heart problems.
• have a heart problem including congenital long QT syndrome

Before starting Celexa, tell your healthcare provider if you are taking certain drugs such as:

• Medicines for heart problems
• Medicines that lower your potassium or magnesium levels in your body
• Cimetidine
• Triptans used to treat migraine headache
• Medicines used to treat mood, anxiety, psychotic or thought disorders, including tricyclics, lithium, SSRIs, SNRIs, amphetamines, or antipsychotics
• Tramadol
• Over-the-counter supplements such as tryptophan or St. John's Wort

Before starting Celexa, tell your healthcare provider if you:

• have liver problems
• have kidney problems
• have heart problems
• have or had seizures or convulsions
• have bipolar disorder or mania
• have low sodium levels in your blood
• have a history of a stroke
• have high blood pressure
• have or had bleeding problems
• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if Celexa will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your healthcare provider about the benefits and risks of treating depression during pregnancy
• are breast-feeding or plan to breastfeed. Some Celexa may pass into your breast milk. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby while taking Celexa

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines that you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Celexa and some medicines may interact with each other, may not work as well, or may cause serious side effects.

Your healthcare provider or pharmacist can tell you if it is safe to take Celexa with your other medicines. Do not start or stop any medicine while taking Celexa without talking to your healthcare provider first.

Take Xanax exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to take it. Your healthcare provider will tell you how much Xanax to take and when to take it. If you take too much Xanax, call your healthcare provider or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away.

Xanax is a benzodiazepine medicine. Taking benzodiazepines with opioid medicines, alcohol, or other central nervous system depressants (including street drugs) can cause severe drowsiness, breathing problems (respiratory depression), coma and death.

Xanax can make you sleepy or dizzy, and can slow your thinking and motor skills.

Do not drive, operate heavy machinery, or do other dangerous activities until you know how Xanax affects you.

Do not drink alcohol or take other drugs that may make you sleepy or dizzy while taking Xanax without first talking to your healthcare provider. When taken with alcohol or drugs that cause sleepiness or dizziness, Xanax may make your sleepiness or dizziness much worse.

Do not take more Xanax than prescribed.

Take Celexa exactly as prescribed. Your healthcare provider may need to change the dose of Celexa until it is the right dose for you.

Celexa may be taken with or without food.

If you miss a dose of Celexa, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time. Do not take two doses of Celexa at the same time.

If you take too much Celexa, call your healthcare provider or poison control center right away, or get emergency treatment.