Citalopram Antidepressant, Indications and Side Effects

Question:
patient has sign and symptoms of depression. your prescribed celexa (citalopram). 1.what dose would you start the patient on? 2.how long before patient can see therapeutic effects? 3.what are the possible problems with the medication ? 4.how long should you continue the treatment regimen?
Solution:
A patient who demonstrates symptoms of depression may be treated using Citalopram (Celexa). Citalopram is an antidepressant approved for the treatment of the major depressive disorder (Roseboom, & Kalin, 2017). However, patients who are under Citalopram therapy should be closely monitored for clinical deterioration, suicidal thoughts or undesirable behavioral change.
The Citalopram dose usually ranges from 20mg to 40mg once per day. Just like the rest of antidepressants, it may take several weeks of treatment before optimum effects are manifested (Friesen & Bugden, 2015). Therefore, the patient should start at a low dose (once per day) and increase steadily over several weeks.
The efficacy of Citalopram take up to 6-8 weeks, but sleep, energy, and appetite may improve within the first 2 weeks of medication. The stimulation of these symptoms can be an important indication that the medication is effective (Roseboom, & Kalin, 2017). The patient