Does Celexa Have Lithium In It? (5+ Side Effects)

By Ivan Kahwa

Page last updated: 30/01/2024 | Next review date: 30/01/2026

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

Ivan Kahwa

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In this article, we will discuss whether Celexa contains lithium. We will also discuss the key differences between the two medications to help you understand the basic pharmacological uses of these medications.

Does Celexa have Lithium in it?

No, Celexa (Citalopram) does not have lithium in it. Celexa and Lithium are different medications which can be used for different therapeutic reasons. However, they may manage similar symptoms in some cases.

Both Celexa and Lithium are prescription medications which should only be used when prescribed by a qualified healthcare professional.

Make sure you do not take these medications without medical supervision or combine them together.

How is Celexa different from Lithium?

Celexa and Lithium have the following differences:

Mechanism of action

Celexa is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. It is the most commonly prescribed antidepressant which works by blocking the reuptake of serotonin (an excitatory neurotransmitter), by blocking serotonin transporters (SERT) (1).

This increases the availability of serotonin in the brain, which helps improve mood and reduces symptoms of depression and anxiety (1).

Lithium, on the other hand, is a mood stabilizer that helps patients with mood problems, but it appears to regulate certain neurotransmitters in the brain, reducing the severity and frequency of mood swings in bipolar disorder (2).

Therapeutic uses

Celexa is used to treat and manage the following conditions (3):

Anxiety
Depression
Major depressive disorder (MDD)
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Social anxiety disorder (SAD)
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)

Lithium, on the other hand, is used to manage the symptoms associated with mania and bipolar disorder. It can also be used to manage major depressive disorder in some cases (4).

What are the common side effects of Celexa and Lithium?

Some common side effects of Celexa and Lithium include (3,4):

Common side effects	Celexa	Lithium
Dizziness	yes	yes
Dry mouth	yes	yes
Fatigue	yes	yes
Abdominal pain	yes	yes
Weight changes	yes	yes
Constipation	yes	yes
Vivid dreams	yes	yes

Withdrawal symptoms

Both Celexa and Lithium can cause disturbing withdrawal symptoms if stopped abruptly. If you use either of these medications, make sure you do not make any changes to your dosage without consulting your doctor first (5,6).

Can you take Celexa and Lithium together?

Celexa and Lithium should not be taken together. Both of these meds can affect your brain chemistry and taking them together and taking them together can increase the risk of a rare, but life-threatening condition called serotonin syndrome. This condition is associated with a number of disturbing symptoms, including (7):

Hallucinations
Seizures
Confusion
Tremors
Fever
Nausea
Blurred vision
Incoordination

How to choose between Celexa and Lithium?

The choice between Celexa and Lithium depends on the symptoms one suffers from and the most appropriate medication should only be decided by a qualified healthcare professional.

Lithium is considered a good medication for people struggling with bipolar disorder. Celexa, on the other hand, can aggravate bipolar symptoms and should not be prescribed to such patients.

Diagnosis is the most critical factor here and the medication should be decided on the basis of proper diagnosis of your symptoms. Both these medications require medical supervision. So, make sure you attend follow-up appointments and keep discussing your concerns with your doctor.

What are the precautions while using Celexa or Lithium?

The precautions while using Celexa or Lithium include:

Tell your doctor if you are allergic to Celexa or Lithium.
Take your medicines exactly as prescribed by your doctor and do not alter dosage or timings.
Inform your doctor about underlying health conditions, and family history or if you are taking any other medicines or supplements.
Inform your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to get pregnant or have surgery.
Be consistent with your medication and do not skip any doses.
If you skip any doses, take them as soon as you remember it; do not take an extra dose to make up for the missed one.

In my opinion, Celexa and Lithium are two different medications used for different therapeutic indications. These medications should not be used in combination due to the increased risk of life-threatening conditions.

Always follow your healthcare provider for personalized guidance and treatment plans.