Does Celexa Interact With Gabapentin? (+3 Precautions)

By Ivan Kahwa

Page last updated: 02/01/2024 | Next review date: 02/01/2026

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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This article will discuss the query, “Does Celexa interact with Gabapentin?” We will also have a closer look at the potential interactions between Celexa and Gabapentin and precautions to avoid the side effects of this interaction.

Does Celexa interact with Gabapentin?

Yes, Celexa and Gabapentin do have a possible interaction. When used in combination, the severity of adverse effects may increase (1). However, this interaction often occurs when both medications are prescribed at a high dose.

Gabapentin is an anticonvulsive medication used to treat post-herpetic neuralgia, partial-onset seizures, and restless leg syndrome (2). While Celexa (Citalopram) is an SSRI antidepressant primarily used to treat depression in adults (3)

When used together, these drugs can lead to potentially serious interactions. Therefore, it is recommended that healthcare providers should cautiously prescribe Celexa and Gabapentin together.

What are the possible interactions between Celexa and Gabapentin?

The potential interactions between Celexa and Gabapentin include the following:

Hyponatremia:

A rare side effect associated with using SSRIs such as Celexa is hyponatremia, in which there is a drop in your blood sodium levels. When Celexa is co-administered with an anticonvulsive medication such as Gabapentin, the risk of the severity of hyponatremia may increase (3).

If you experience any of the symptoms of hyponatremia, which include headache, difficulty concentrating, memory impairment, confusion, and weakness while taking Celexa and Gabapentin together, it is recommended to contact your healthcare provider immediately (3)

In more severe cases, hyponatremia may lead to hallucinations, syncope, seizures, coma, respiratory distress, or even death (3).

Seizures:

Celexa should be used cautiously in patients with seizure disorders, as some clinical studies have indicated that 0.3% of the patients treated with Celexa develop seizures (3).

Therefore, using Gabapentin with Celexa might reduce its efficacy, leading to an increased risk of seizures in susceptible individuals.

If you experience seizures or an increase in the frequency of seizures while taking Celexa with Gabapentin, it is recommended that you contact your healthcare provider immediately.

Healthcare Provider’s role in Celexa-Gabapentin interaction management

Your healthcare provider plays a significant role in preventing and managing the interaction between Celexa and Gabapentin.

If you experience any symptoms of hyponatremia or seizures while taking Celexa and Gabapentin together, it is strongly recommended that you immediately contact your healthcare provider.

Your healthcare provider should also inform you about the possible adverse effects associated with Gabapentin and Celexa and advise you to promptly report any worsening of your depression symptoms or any changes in your mood and behavior (4,5).

To manage the risk associated with taking Celexa and Gabpentin together, your healthcare provider will either adjust the dose of your medicines or switch you to other medications that do not have a possible interaction with one another.

How to minimize Celexa and Gabapentin interaction side effects?

To minimize the side effects associated with the interaction between Celexa and Gabapentin, it is recommended to take the following precautions:

Do not drive or operate hazardous machinery while taking Celexa and Gabapentin together, as these medications tend to cause drowsiness and loss of coordination (2,3).
To avoid hyponatremia associated with the concomitant use of Celexa and Gabapentin, monitoring your sodium levels regularly is recommended, especially when both medications are prescribed at high doses.
Both Celexa and Gabapentin have an interaction with alcohol that results in CNS depression. Therefore, it is recommended to avoid alcohol when using Celexa with Gabapentin (2,3).
Do not abruptly stop Celexa or Gabapentin without consulting your healthcare provider, as discontinuing these medications abruptly can often lead to withdrawal symptoms.

Conclusion

In this article, we have discussed the query, “Does Celexa interact with Gabapentin?” We have also discussed the potential interactions between Celexa and Gabapentin and the precautions to avoid the side effects of this interaction.

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References

1.-

PubChem [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US), National Center for Biotechnology Information; 2004-. PubChem Compound Summary for CID 3446, Gabapentin; [cited 2023 Oct. 6].

https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Gabapentin

2.-

Gabapentin: MedlinePlus Drug Information. (n.d.).

https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a694007.html

3.-

Citalopram: MedlinePlus Drug Information. (n.d.).

https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a699001.html#how

4.-

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA).HIGHLIGHTS OF PRESCRIBING INFORMATION. CELEXA (citalopram) tablets, for oral use. Available from:

https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2022/020822s041lbl.pdf

5.-

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA).HIGHLIGHTS OF PRESCRIBING INFORMATION. NEURONTIN (gabapentin) capsules, for oral use. Available from: