Does Celexa cause diarrhoea? (1+ prevention strategies)
By
Ivan Kahwa
Author bio
Mr Ivan Kahwa is a chemist and phytopharmaceutical scientist with expertise in chemistry, pharmacology, phytochemistry, and Nanobiotechnology. He writes and reviews content on these topics.
Mr Ivan Kahwa’s Highlights:
Guest Researcher at the University of Leipzig, Senior Research Fellow/Scientist, and Lecturer at the Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Mbarara University of Science and Technology.
Professional Experience:
Mr Ivan joined PHARMBIOTRAC as a research fellow/scientist during his master of science tenure. He contributed to the development of most of the phytopharmaceutical products in the project. Furthermore, he participated in carrying out the pharmacological activities of the developed products in laboratory animals such as mice and rats in order to develop proper doses hence leading to pre-clinical studies.
With the above relevant research experience, Ivan started to work with the University of Leipzig on collaborative projects with Mbarara University to develop the chemistry of Ugandan Medicinal plants and their pharmacological activities. This was coupled with several consultative positions by different German NGOs. Mr. Kahwa is also a supporting in the teaching and learning at the Departments of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Mbarara University of Science and Technology.
With the increase in antimicrobial resistance globally, Ivan retooled his thinking towards developing new naturally derived antibiotic regimens from Ugandan propolis with the assistance of nanotechnology to improve their delivery to microbial cells. Kahwa has also published over 28 articles in peer-reviewed journals and he is currently reviewing for many journals.
Education:
2023-2027: PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences (ongoing) with a focus on Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Nanobiology at Mbarara University of Science and Technology.
2022: 2Msc. in Pharmacognosy and Natural Medicine Science at Mbarara University of Science and Technology.
2018: Bachelor of Science (Chemistry) at Mbarara University of Science and Technology.
Publications:
▪ Iqbal, S., Jabeen, F., Kahwa, I., & Omara, T. 2023. Suberosin Alleviates Thiazolidinedione-Induced Cardiomyopathy in Diabetic Rats by Inhibiting Ferroptosis via Modulation of ACSL4-LPCAT3 and PI3K-AKT Signaling Pathways. Cardiovascular Toxicology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12012-023-09804-7
▪ Gupta, A. K., Yadav, R., Sharma, S., Sawale, J., & Kahwa, I. 2023. Anti-ageing Activity and Antioxidant Activity of Methanol Extracts of Leaves and Flowers of Salvia officinalis and Rosmarinus officinalis. Journal of Young Pharmacists, 15(3), 448–455. https://doi.org/10.5530/jyp.2023.15.60
▪ Tolo, C.U., Kahwa, I., Nuwagira, U., Weisheit, A. and Ikiriza, H., 2023. Medicinal plants used in treatment of various diseases in the Rwenzori Region, Western Uganda. Ethnobotany Research and Applications, 25, pp.1-16.
https://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/4683
▪ Kahwa, I., Ajayi, C.O., Yadav, R., Chauhan, N.S., Shah, K., Abdelgadir, A.A., Shegena, E.A., Daniel, S., Omara, T., Asiimwe, J.B. and Ikiriza, H., 2023. Pharmacognostic and phytochemical studies as an invaluable approach for correct identification of medicinal plants: The case of Artemisia vulgaris L. substituted for Artemisia annua L. in Western Uganda. TMR Integr Med, 7, p.e23004.
https://doi.org/10.53388/TMRIM202307004
▪ Nalimu, F., Oloro, J., Kahwa, I. and Ogwang, P.E., 2021. Review on the phytochemistry and toxicological profiles of Aloe vera and Aloe ferox. Future Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 7, pp.1-21.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s43094-021-00296-2
▪ Elamin, O.H.S., Ali, M.A., Elgezuli, I.A.A., Bashir, M.A. and Kahwa, I., 2021. Diagnosis of pre-and post-treatment of echinococcus granulosus with counter current immune electrophoresis and bacterial co-agglutination. Journal of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, 11(02), pp.88-94.
https://doi.org/10.5799/jmid.951600
Published book Chapter
▪ Kahwa, I., Ayesiga, I., Nakalema, S., Alinaiswe, R., Mbabazi, R. and Iqbal, S., 2023. Natural products in the management of onchocerciasis. In Natural Products in Vector-Borne Disease Management (pp. 63-80). Academic Press. Book Chapter.
https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-91942-5.00012-4
Submitted manuscripts Under Review:
▪ Comparison of the Wound Healing Activity of the Leaf and Leaf Ash Extracts of Vernonia amygdalina in Rats. Journal name: Clinical Phytoscience
▪ Ethnobotanical Survey of Medicinal plants used in the management of cancer in Uganda. Journal name: Journal of Herbal Medicine
▪ Ethnobotanical survey and phytochemical screening of medicinal plants used in treatment of epilepsy by PROMETRA-Uganda Traditional Health Practitioners in Mpigi District, Uganda. Journal name: Journal of Ethnopharmacology
Submitted book chapters under review
1.Book title: Algae as a Natural Solution for Water-Food-Energy Nexus, Section 4: Microalgae and cyanobacteria for food applications, Chapter 4.6: Safety, toxicological and allergenic aspects of using algae for food. Authors: Christine Kyarimpa, Tom Omute, Caroline K. Nakiguli, Alice V. Khanakwa4, Christopher Angiro, Ivan Kahwa, Fortunate Ahumuza, Timothy Omara*. Publisher: Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 152 Beach Road, #21-01/04 Gateway East, Singapore 189721, Singapore.
2.Book title: Nutraceuticals Inspiring the Contemporary Therapy for Lifestyle Diseases. Chapter: Nutraceutical applications of Seaweeds and their Phytocompounds in Nutrition and Treatment of Diseases. Authors: Ivan Kahwa, Timothy Omara , Innocent Ayesiga , Gael Noel Neh Neba Ambe , Zehbanaz Javidbhai Panwala , Rachel Mbabazi , Shabnoor Iqbal , Christine Kyarimpa , Christine Betty Nagawa , Kamal Shah ,Nagendra Singh Chauhan* Publisher: CRC Press
You can view my works on the following professional sites:
Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ivan-Kahwa
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=tOwrvqoAAAAJ&hl=en
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6440-3437
Linkedin: https://de.linkedin.com/in/ivan-kahwa-865450159
In this article, we will look into the causes of diarrhoea due to Celexa. We will further look into the risks of having diarrhoea and the management strategies to prevent it due to Celexa.
Does Celexa cause diarrhoea?
Yes, Celexa can cause diarrhoea. Celexa is associated with causing diarrhoea, vomiting, and other abdominal side effects due to its use as an antidepressant.
However, Celexa may cause severe persistent diarrhoea in some patients but these effects vary from person to person. If you face severe diarrhoea due to Celexa, consult your doctor and seek medical help.
What does research suggest?
According to research studies, Celexa can cause diarrhoea and other related digestive system side effects which lead to low compliance in patients with depression. Diarrhoea and nausea are the most common SSRI-induced digestive system side effects (1).
Celexa not only increases the levels of serotonin in the brain but also increases serotonin levels in the gastrointestinal system. Elevated serotonin levels impact bowel movements and can cause diarrhoea (1).
Gastrointestinal side effects due to SSRI antidepressants are common and may be dose-dependent. However, individual variation may also play a significant role and these side effects may vary from person to person.
According to the work mechanism of Celexa, it alters serotonin levels in the brain. It inhibits the serotonin reuptake in the pre-synaptic terminal, which leads to an increase of serotonin in the neurosynaptic junction, and ultimately relieves the depressive symptoms (1).
The abdominal side effects due to Celexa are also caused possibly as a result of an increase in the usability of serotonin in the gastrointestinal system. Therefore, abdominal side effects are linked to the antidepressant mechanism of action of Celexa (1,2).
The safety and tolerability of SSRI antidepressants have improved but the side effects are still troublesome. The majority of patients experience severe side effects that impact quality of life and depressive remission (3).
The digestive side effects of Celexa occur early in the treatment process. These abdominal side effects are extremely common during the first few weeks of treatment and occur as a result of patient non-compliance (1).
Ways to prevent Celexa-induced diarrhoea
If you are having severe persistent diarrhoea due to Celexa, then follow the given prevention strategies, which might be helpful (1,2):
Hydration and fluid intake
Keeping hydrated is a critical factor related to diarrhoea as it could cause severe dehydration. Therefore, it is advised to keep yourself hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids and oral rehydration solutions.
You should significantly focus on increasing your electrolytes in the body because an electrolyte imbalance could cause severe weakness. Avoid taking caffeine and alcohol as these might worsen dehydration.
Dietary modification and probiotics
Probiotic supplements or foods containing probiotics are always a good choice to prevent abdominal side effects. Diarrhoea can lead to a loss of good bacteria which can be recovered by consuming probiotics.
Avoid eating heavy foods that upset your gut. Instead, keep your meals light and nutritious. Liquids and semi-solid foods might be helpful in digestion.
What to do if Celexa-induced diarrhoea persists?
If Celexa is not the right antidepressant for you and it continues to affect your gastrointestinal motility, then you should seek medical attention and if your doctor suggests then you can consider switching to a safer antidepressant with lesser or no abdominal side effects.
An alternate choice of drug to Celexa could be Fluoxetine which also belongs to SSRI antidepressants. It appears to possess low abdominal side effects and hardly alters your gastrointestinal motility.
However, switching drugs or tampering with your already prescribed dosage to avoid such side effects should be discussed with your doctor beforehand.
Conclusion
In the above article, we have discussed the possible reasons that can cause diarrhoea by using Celexa. We have discovered the basic prevention strategies to avoid Celexa-induced diarrhoea in patients.
Was this helpful?
References
1.-
Wang Z, Li H, Kang Y, Liu Y, Shan L, Wang F. Risks of Digestive System Side-Effects of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors in Patients with Depression: A Network Meta-Analysis. Ther Clin Risk Manag. 2022 Aug 13;18:799-812. doi: 10.2147/TCRM.S363404. PMID: 35992228; PMCID: PMC9386738. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9386738/
2.-
AHFS Patient Medication Information [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc.; c2019. Citalopram; [updated 2020 Jun 24; reviewed 2018 Jul 5; cited 2020 Jul 1]; [about 5 p.]. Available from: https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a699001.html
3.-
Kelly K, Posternak M, Alpert JE. Toward achieving optimal response: understanding and managing antidepressant side effects. Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2008;10(4):409-18. doi: 10.31887/DCNS.2008.10.4/kkelly. PMID: 19170398; PMCID: PMC3181894.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3181894/
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