Drug & supplement interaction

Palmitoylethanolamide (pea) + Citalopram

Citalopram brand name: Celexa.

No Known Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated July 2026 · Pair last verified Sep 13, 2026
The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Palmitoylethanolamide (pea) and Citalopram in our sources. Absence of a documented interaction is not the same as proven safety, and does not guarantee one does not exist. Do not start, stop, or change a medication or supplement based on this page; confirm with your pharmacist or doctor first.

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Interaction report

Palmitoylethanolamide (pea) and Citalopram

We checked these two against our interaction database. Here is what we found.

No Known Interaction Found

We did not find a documented interaction between Citalopram and Palmitoylethanolamide (pea) in our sources. This does not guarantee that the combination is completely free of risk — there is often limited research on supplements and herbal products, especially around drug interactions.

Worth understanding: our licensed dataset holds no drug-interaction record for Palmitoylethanolamide (pea) at all — not against Citalopram, and not against any other medication we track. This verdict therefore rests on the absence of any recorded data, not on research that looked at this combination and found nothing. We cannot rule an interaction out.

If you decide to take both, the practical routine is simple: add one new thing at a time and note the date you started it. If the combination is going to disagree with you, it usually shows in the first days to a couple of weeks — and a start date turns “I’ve been feeling off” into something a pharmacist can actually work with. Do not stop a prescribed medicine on your own.

Always talk with your pharmacist or doctor before making changes to your medications or supplements, particularly if you take several medications or have an ongoing health condition.

Palmitoylethanolamide (pea) safety at a glance

Palmitoylethanolam... overall Use caution Generally well tolerated in studies, but long-term safety data are limited.
Pregnancy Avoid Not enough safety information, so avoid use during pregnancy.
Breastfeeding Avoid Not enough safety information, so avoid use while breastfeeding.

Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

Still wondering about combining Citalopram and Palmitoylethanolamide (pea)? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
What to actually watch for

What Palmitoylethanolamide (pea) Itself Has Been Linked To

This is not an interaction — nothing below involves Citalopram. It is the side-effect record for Palmitoylethanolamide (pea) on its own, from the licensed Natural Medicines monograph. If something new turns up after you add Palmitoylethanolamide (pea), this list is the first place to look.

  • Dry skin / Itching Additional detail

    “Topically, applying a lotion containing PEA twice daily worsened pruritus and caused stinging, scaling, or reddening in 13% of patients with dry skin. However, these adverse effects did not occur more frequently than in patients applying the vehicle alone.”

    Palmitoylethanolamide (pea) · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in dry skin.

    1 source cited
    1. 106272. Visse K, Blome C, Phan NQ, Augustin M, Ständer S. Efficacy of body lotion containing N-palmitoylethanolamine in subjects with chronic pruritus due to dry skin: A dermatocosmetic study. Acta Derm Venereol. 2017;97(5):639-641. PubMed
  • Nausea Additional detail

    “Orally, PEA has been rarely reported to cause mild and transient gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea.”

    Palmitoylethanolamide (pea) · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in nausea and vomiting.

    3 sources cited
    1. 93325. Indraccolo U, Barbieri F. Effect of palmitoylethanolamide-polydatin combination on chronic pelvic pain associated with endometriosis: preliminary observations. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2010 May;150(1):76-9. PubMed
    2. 93327. Murina F, Graziottin A, Felice R, Radici G, Tognocchi C. Vestibulodynia: synergy between palmitoylethanolamide + transpolydatin and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. J Low Genit Tract Dis. 2013 Apr;17(2):111-6.
    3. 106266. Papetti L, Sforza G, Tullo G, et al. Tolerability of palmitoylethanolamide in a pediatric population suffering from migraine: A pilot study. Pain Res Manag 2020;2020:3938640. PubMed

Everything above comes from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record for Palmitoylethanolamide (pea) — expand a row for the licensed statement it rests on. We read the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of Citalopram’s FDA label too, and the two lists don’t meaningfully overlap — which is why no Citalopram column appears here.

Overlapping uses

What Citalopram Is Prescribed For, and What Palmitoylethanolamide (pea) Has Been Studied For

These two come up together because they touch the same health topic — not because they do the same job. Citalopram is a prescription medicine with approved uses on its FDA label. Palmitoylethanolamide (pea) is a supplement: what follows is what researchers have looked at it for, and how strong that evidence is.

Citalopram is prescribed for: Citalopram — available as tablets (including brand Celexa), oral solution, and capsules — is used to treat major depressive disorder (MDD) in adults. This includes depression that causes persistent low mood, loss of interest in everyday activities, changes in sleep or appetite, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating. Citalopram capsules are specifically indicated for adults with MDD but are not intended for starting or stopping treatment — another citalopram product must be used for dose titration. All forms are indicated for adults only; citalopram tablets are not approved for use in children.

Palmitoylethanolamide (pea) has been studied for:

  • Depression studied, not established Palmitoylethanolamide (pea) has been studied for this. Natural Medicines rates the evidence: Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Read what the research shows

    Palmitoylethanolamide (pea) for depression

    It is unclear if oral PEA is beneficial for depression when used in combination with citalopram.

Effectiveness ratings and the research summaries above are the verbatim record from the Natural Medicines database, which grades evidence from “Effective” down to “Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate”. A rating below the top of that scale means researchers have looked at it — not that it works, and never that it can stand in for a prescribed medicine. Do not stop or replace Citalopram on your own; if you are taking Palmitoylethanolamide (pea) for the same health topic, tell your prescriber, especially if the medicine is being adjusted to a target.

From our Q&A

Questions About Palmitoylethanolamide (pea) or Citalopram

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Palmitoylethanolamide (pea) or Citalopram, not necessarily both, but if one is close to what you were about to ask it will usually go further than a database entry can:

Not quite your question? Ask our pharmacists directly — it is free, there is no account required, and answers usually come back within 24 hours.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Citalopram

This page covers Palmitoylethanolamide (pea) only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Citalopram page lists 191 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Grapefruit (major), Lithium (major), St. John's Wort (major) and 5-htp (moderate).

By severity: 4 major · 144 moderate · 43 minor.

Open the Citalopram interaction page

One more smart check

Taking Palmitoylethanolamide (pea) as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 97 real supplement products containing Palmitoylethanolamide (pea), each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Palmitoylethanolamide (pea). Even though Palmitoylethanolamide (pea) itself has no known interaction with Citalopram, another ingredient on your label might. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Palmitoylethanolamide (pea) and Citalopram Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement Palmitoylethanolamide (pea)
Top half

#483 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Citalopram
Top 5%

#51 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Where does our data come from?
  • Source: the Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) clinical database — the evidence-graded professional reference for herb & supplement interactions.
  • Citation library: 103,510 references behind our interaction content, 65,311 of them resolved to verified PubMed/DOI sources. See every Palmitoylethanolamide (pea) reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 13, 2026. The Palmitoylethanolamide (pea) and Citalopram records this page draws on were last updated July 10, 2026.
  • What “no known interaction” means: no documented interaction in the sources above — not a guarantee of safety. Supplements are studied far less than prescription drugs, so we say exactly what the evidence supports, and nothing more.
Data structure & sourcing designed and verified by .
Supplement

About Palmitoylethanolamide (pea)

What is Palmitoylethanolamide (pea)?

  • Chronic pain
  • Nerve (neuropathic) pain
  • Inflammation
  • Low back and sciatica pain
  • General immune and recovery support

Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) is a fat-like molecule made naturally in the body and studied mainly for pain and inflammation. Some research suggests it may help certain types of chronic and nerve pain, but the overall evidence is still limited and more high-quality studies are needed. It appears generally well tolerated, but talk with your pharmacist or doctor before starting it.

Not a plant; a fatty acid compound made in the body and found in some foods · Capsules, tablets, sublingual tablets, powders, and 'micronized' or 'ultramicronized' formulations

An interaction check asks whether these two react with each other — it does not ask whether Palmitoylethanolamide (pea) is a good idea for someone in your situation. Here is what our Palmitoylethanolamide (pea) record says about it on its own.

Palmitoylethanolamide (pea): dosing

There is no official, standardized dose of PEA. Studies have used a range of amounts and different formulations, including micronized and ultramicronized versions, which can affect how the body absorbs it.Because of this, the best approach is to follow the directions on the product label and start with the lowest suggested amount.

From our Palmitoylethanolamide (pea) monograph — the full record covers uses, side effects and every documented interaction.

Read the full Palmitoylethanolamide (pea) monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Citalopram

What Is Citalopram Used For?

Brand name: Celexa

Citalopram — available as tablets (including brand Celexa), oral solution, and capsules — is used to treat major depressive disorder (MDD) in adults. This includes depression that causes persistent low mood, loss of interest in everyday activities, changes in sleep or appetite, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating.

Citalopram capsules are specifically indicated for adults with MDD but are not intended for starting or stopping treatment — another citalopram product must be used for dose titration. All forms are indicated for adults only; citalopram tablets are not approved for use in children.

Most-Reported Side Effects for Citalopram

From FAERS, the FDA’s public side-effect reporting system (106,559 reports, all brands). Reports are voluntary and are not proof the drug caused the effect.

Fatigue 6,992 reports
Nausea 6,019 reports
Headache 5,146 reports
Toxicity to various agents 5,100 reports
Diarrhea 4,832 reports
See full Citalopram drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Palmitoylethanolamide (pea)

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Palmitoylethanolamide (pea) — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

0Major
0Moderate
0Minor
2,829No known interaction
2,829 No interaction
No interaction 2,829 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked Palmitoylethanolamide (pea) against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,829 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Palmitoylethanolamide (pea) list.

See the full Palmitoylethanolamide (pea) interactions page
See every supplement checked against Citalopram, ranked by severity
Evidence & sources

Palmitoylethanolamide (pea) References

The 4 references that drive our Palmitoylethanolamide (pea) monograph and interaction data, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Citations with a link open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

  1. Indraccolo U, Barbieri F. Effect of palmitoylethanolamide-polydatin combination on chronic pelvic pain associated with endometriosis: preliminary observations. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2010 May;150(1):76-9. PubMed
  2. Murina F, Graziottin A, Felice R, Radici G, Tognocchi C. Vestibulodynia: synergy between palmitoylethanolamide + transpolydatin and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. J Low Genit Tract Dis. 2013 Apr;17(2):111-6.
  3. Papetti L, Sforza G, Tullo G, et al. Tolerability of palmitoylethanolamide in a pediatric population suffering from migraine: A pilot study. Pain Res Manag 2020;2020:3938640. PubMed
  4. Visse K, Blome C, Phan NQ, Augustin M, Ständer S. Efficacy of body lotion containing N-palmitoylethanolamine in subjects with chronic pruritus due to dry skin: A dermatocosmetic study. Acta Derm Venereol. 2017;97(5):639-641. PubMed

Medication overviews come from MedlinePlus (NIH); supplement label data from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists — see our data sources and editorial standards.

Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Palmitoylethanolamide (pea) and Citalopram Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Palmitoylethanolamide (pea) with Citalopram?
We do not list a known interaction between Palmitoylethanolamide (pea) and Citalopram. That does not guarantee the combination is risk-free, so confirm with your pharmacist or doctor — especially if you take other medications or have a health condition.
Are Palmitoylethanolamide (pea) and Citalopram used for the same thing?
They overlap in purpose, which usually means the real question is whether you need both rather than whether they are safe together. This page lists the shared uses and how strong the evidence is for Palmitoylethanolamide (pea) in each. That is a conversation for your prescriber, especially if Citalopram is being adjusted to a target.
Does Citalopram interact with any supplements?
Yes. Citalopram has documented interactions with 191 supplements in our database — Palmitoylethanolamide (pea) is not one of them. The Citalopram interaction page linked on this page lists every one, ranked by severity.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Where next

Keep Exploring

Palmitoylethanolamide (pea) monograph Uses, safety profile, and every drug interaction in one place Citalopram drug information The full plain-English guide to this medication Citalopram supplement interactions Every supplement checked against Citalopram, ranked by severity Supplement interaction checker Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z Every drug we’ve checked against herbs & supplements References The 4 citations behind this page Ask a pharmacist Free, personal answer from our licensed team

Still Have a Question About Citalopram and Palmitoylethanolamide (pea)?

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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.