What should you know about citalopram nausea?

Nausea may feel like queasiness, an unsettled stomach, reduced appetite, or the urge to vomit. It can begin after starting citalopram or after a dose change. Do not stop the medicine suddenly without advice, because abrupt stopping can cause withdrawal symptoms and a return of depression or anxiety symptoms.

Citalopram is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. Serotonin affects the digestive system as well as mood, so changes in serotonin signalling can temporarily upset the stomach. The effect does not mean the medicine is damaging your stomach, but vomiting, poor fluid intake, or ongoing weight loss can become a problem.

Nausea can also have another cause, such as acid reflux, gastritis, food poisoning, or gastroenteritis. Tell your prescriber when it started, whether it follows each dose, and whether you have diarrhoea, fever, abdominal pain, or vomiting. This helps distinguish a medicine effect from an illness requiring separate assessment.

Take citalopram exactly as prescribed and at a consistent time. If it irritates your stomach, taking it with or after food may be more comfortable, unless your prescriber has given different instructions. Sip fluids regularly, choose small plain meals, and avoid large, rich meals while the nausea is active.

Avoid adding an anti-sickness medicine, herbal product, or painkiller without checking with a pharmacist or clinician; some products can interact with citalopram. Contact the prescriber if nausea is stopping you from eating, drinking, working, or taking the dose. They may review the dose, timing, other medicines, or an alternative explanation.

Seek urgent medical help for repeated vomiting with signs of dehydration, severe or worsening abdominal pain, fainting, confusion, a seizure, or thoughts of harming yourself. Get emergency help for swelling of the face or throat, trouble breathing, or a widespread blistering rash.

Contact a clinician promptly if nausea is severe, continues without improvement, or occurs with agitation, heavy sweating, diarrhoea, fever, shaking, muscle stiffness, or a fast heartbeat. These symptoms can signal a serious reaction, especially after a dose change or with another medicine that affects serotonin.

Ask whether taking your dose with food is suitable, how long stomach upset should be monitored, and what to do if you vomit soon after taking it. Bring a list of medicines, supplements, and recreational substances so interactions can be checked.

You can also ask whether your dose or dosing time should change, how to taper safely if treatment needs to stop, and which symptoms should prompt same-day advice. Do not change the dose or skip repeated doses on your own.