Interaction Between Propranolol And Citalopram
In our latest question and answer, the pharmacist answers a drug interaction inquiry regarding citalopram.
I have 100mg doxycycline. I was wondering if it's okay to take alongside my 40mg propranolol and 20mg citalopram.
Mar 16, 2024- Citalopram can slightly increase propranolol levels in your blood because it weakly slows down how your body breaks down propranolol.
- This interaction is considered minor and usually doesn't require any changes to how you take these medications.
- If you notice increased side effects like a slower heart rate or dizziness while taking both drugs, talk to your doctor about your options.
Answer
Hello, thank you for reaching out, and great question!
There is an interaction between two of the drugs you listed in your question, propranolol and citalopram, but it's so minor that many drug references don't even list it.
What Is The Interaction?
Citalopram hydrobromide can increase the levels of propranolol hydrochloride in your blood. This occurs because citalopram is a weak inhibitor of an enzyme known as CYP2D6.
This can slow down the breakdown of propranolol in your liver.
As a result, the levels of propranolol in your body might become higher than expected, which could lead to changes in how effective propranolol is in treating your condition, as well as increase the risk of side effects (such as slower heart rate and dizziness).
Now, as mentioned, this is considered a minor interaction because citalopram is only a weak inhibitor of CYP2D6. It's very possible that the interaction has no clinically significant impact for many people, but it is something to know about.
Generally, no therapy modifications need to be made if you are taking both citalopram and propranolol, but if you are noticing more pronounced side effects occurring, it is important to talk to your doctor about your options.
Doxycycline, which you also mentioned in your question, isn't known to interact with citalopram or propranolol. If you were prescribed a short course of doxycycline, it is generally safe to take all of them together.
Final Words
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References & sources
Glossary — Terms in This Answer
- Citalopram hydrobromide
- The chemical form of citalopram, a medication used to treat depression.
- Propranolol hydrochloride
- The chemical form of propranolol, a medication used to treat high blood pressure and heart conditions.
- CYP2D6
- An enzyme in your liver that breaks down many medications.
- Enzyme inhibitor
- A substance that slows down or blocks the action of an enzyme.
- Metabolism
- The process by which your body breaks down and processes drugs.
- Side effects
- Unwanted or unexpected reactions that occur when taking a medication.
- Doxycycline
- An antibiotic medication used to treat bacterial infections.
- Clinically significant
- Important enough to noticeably affect a patient's health or treatment.
Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD
Doctor of Pharmacy, board certified clinical pharmacist (BCPS), American Herbalist Guild, Medication Therapy Management certified
Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS, is a licensed pharmacist with more than 13 years of experience across retail pharmacy, clinical pharmacy, medication safety, pharmacy program development, and healthcare administration. He is the founder of HelloPharmacist.com, where he helps patients...
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