Can Celexa make me tired? 

Can Celexa make me tired? 

Yes, Celexa (Citalopram) can make you feel tired. In fact, this is one of the most commonly reported side effects of this antidepressant, even at low doses. 

However, the tiredness is usually experienced during the early course of the treatment and it begins to subside when your body adjusts to this. 

This is because antidepressants alter the number of active chemicals in your brain and your body doesn’t get used to it right away. It can literally take 4-6 weeks before you begin to see a noticeable difference in your depression symptoms. 

So, if you’re feeling tired and sleepy during the first few weeks of your therapy with Celexa, don’t worry!

What does research suggest?

Research studies have indicated that Celexa and other antidepressants can cause tiredness and sleepiness in 3-4% of the population taking this antidepressant, especially during the first few weeks of the treatment.

However, once Celexa kicks in, it can actually help alleviate fatigue and boost energy levels by enhancing the functioning of serotonin, an excitatory chemical in your brain (2). 

Another research review indicated that Celexa can cause insomnia in less than 2% of the people taking this antidepressant (2). Inadequate sleep can cause fatigue during the daytime. Insomnia, however, is also expected to subside on its own within a few weeks.

Celexa, in general, does not cause severe psychological side effects or damage your brain. However, this antidepressant may affect dopamine and norepinephrine levels in some cases. Make sure you report your side effects to your healthcare provider.

Should you be concerned about tiredness caused by Celexa? 

You shouldn’t worry about Celexa-induced tiredness, especially if you’re new to this medication or antidepressants in general. The tiredness is usually coupled with sedation and you may feel exhausted after taking your medication. This can also affect your ability to exercise or generally stay active.

However, this tiredness starts to get better within a few weeks as your body adjusts to the medication and the way it makes you feel. That’s when the side effects will stop bothering you. 

However, Celexa can impair your ability to drive or operate heavy machinery by causing tiredness, so make sure you stay safe and avoid such activities until these side effects subside.

If you continue to feel this way after weeks and weeks of your treatment, you should definitely report it to your healthcare provider. 

It is also important to note that Celexa may cause more pronounced tiredness, and even sedation when paired with other medications that can affect your brain, like:

• benzodiazepines (Xanax, Ativan, etc)
• non-benzodiazepines (Ambien, Lunesta, etc)
• antipsychotics (Seroquel, Abilify, etc)
• other antidepressants (Trazodone, Mirtazapine, Cymbalta, etc)
• first-generation antihistamines (diphenhydramine, doxylamine, etc)

Furthermore, Celexa may cause tiredness or decrease energy levels by affecting thyroid functions – hypothyroidism in particular. Thyroid hormones are important to energy production and their deficiency can lead to lethargy. However, Celexa-induced thyroid malfunctioning is rare, but it should be ruled out.

What to do if Celexa makes you tired? 

If Celexa makes you unbearably tired or if it significantly affects your mental alertness and productivity, you need to reach out to your healthcare provider. Your doctor may advise you to change the time at which you take Celexa, as it can help some patients. 

If that doesn’t help, your doctor may try to reduce the dose at first, if possible. Dose reduction can help a few people, especially those who are sensitive to Celexa. This way their bodies are first adjusted to the lower dose of the medication and then the dose is slightly increased. 

If you’re already on a low dose and Celexa continues to cause unbearable tiredness or fatigue, your doctor may switch you to another antidepressant.

In some cases, if antidepressant monotherapy is not enough to help manage your symptoms, your doctor may pair Celexa with another low-dose antidepressant that is compatible with your current medication.

Make sure you go to your doctor first before making any changes to your prescription on your own. Celexa should be gradually tapered off to prevent disturbing withdrawal symptoms.

There are other antidepressants, such as bupropion which is different from Celexa and is known as the best antidepressant for energy and motivation. Your doctor may switch you to another antidepressant if necessary.

References