Skip to main content
. 2012 Jul 11;2012(7):CD006534. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD006534.pub2

1. Adverse events.

Adverse event Study CItalopram Comparator Odds Ratio, Random [95% CI]
Events Total Events Total
Citalopram versus TCAs
Citalopram vs amitriptyline
Asthenia Shaw 1986 3 27 5 25 0.50 [0.11, 2.35]
Confusion Shaw 1986 2 27 5 25 0.32 [0.06, 1.83]
Conjunctivitis Gravem 1987 1 27 0 24 2.77 [0.11, 71.35]
Dermatological problems Gravem 1987 1 27 1 24 0.88 [0.05, 14.96]
Dizziness Gravem 1987; Kyle 1998; Shaw 1986 16 233 28 235 0.47 [0.15, 1.44]
Fatigue Kyle 1998 6 179 11 186 0.55 [0.20, 1.53]
Gastrointestinal Gravem 1987; Shaw 1986 3 54 6 49 0.45 [0.10, 2.07]
Headache Gravem 1987; Hosak 1999; Kyle 1998; Shaw 1986 22 262 18 266 1.25 [0.65, 2.42]
Loss of hair Gravem 1987 1 27 0 24 2.77 [0.11, 71.35]
Meteorism Gravem 1987 0 27 1 24 0.28 [0.01, 7.33]
Palpitations Gravem 1987; Shaw 1986 4 54 9 49 0.36 [0.10, 1.24]
Rash Shaw 1986 1 27 1 25 0.92 [0.05, 15.59]
Restlessness Gravem 1987; Shaw 1986 4 54 5 49 0.71 [0.18, 2.82]
Sweating Gravem 1987 2 27 3 24 0.56 [0.09, 3.67]
Syncope Gravem 1987 0 27 1 24 0.28 [0.01, 7.33]
Taste abnormalities Gravem 1987 0 27 1 24 0.28 [0.01, 7.33]
Tremor Gravem 1987 1 27 1 24 0.88 [0.05, 14.96]
Visual problems Gravem 1987 0 27 3 24 0.11 [0.01, 2.28]
Citalopram vs imipramine
Asthenia Lu 10‐171, 83‐01 2 22 3 21 0.60 [0.09, 4.01]
Dizziness Lu 10‐171, 83‐01 7 22 12 21 0.35 [0.10, 1.22]
Gastrointestinal Lu 10‐171, 83‐01 6 22 5 21 1.20 [0.30, 4.74]
Headache Lu 10‐171, 83‐01 6 22 2 21 3.56 [0.63, 20.15]
Irritability Rosenberg 1994 28 380 12 92 0.53 [0.26, 1.09]
Restlessness Lu 10‐171, 83‐01 3 22 4 21 0.67 [0.13, 3.44]
Citalopram vs maprotiline
Appetite increased Bouchard 1987 1 48 1 48 1.00 [0.06, 16.46]
Concentration decrease Bouchard 1987 1 48 0 48 3.06 [0.12, 77.09]
Craving for sweets Bouchard 1987 2 48 0 48 5.22 [0.24, 111.55]
Dermatological problems Bouchard 1987 1 48 1 48 1.00 [0.06, 16.46]
Dizziness Bouchard 1987 7 48 5 48 1.47 [0.43, 5.00]
Dyspepsia Bouchard 1987 2 48 1 48 2.04 [0.18, 23.32]
Dyspnea Bouchard 1987 0 48 1 48 0.33 [0.01, 8.22]
Feeling of numbness Bouchard 1987 2 48 0 48 5.22 [0.24, 111.55]
Headache Bouchard 1987 6 48 3 48 2.14 [0.50, 9.12]
Hypertonia Bouchard 1987 1 48 1 48 1.00 [0.06, 16.46]
Increased salivation Bouchard 1987 1 48 0 48 3.06 [0.12, 77.09]
Nasal congestion Bouchard 1987 1 48 1 48 1.00 [0.06, 16.46]
Orthostatic symptoms Bouchard 1987 3 48 3 48 1.00 [0.19, 5.22]
Restlessness Bouchard 1987 1 48 5 48 0.18 [0.02, 1.63]
Sweating Bouchard 1987 8 48 4 48 2.20 [0.62, 7.87]
Tachycardia Bouchard 1987 3 48 5 48 0.57 [0.13, 2.55]
Taste abnormalities Bouchard 1987 1 48 0 48 3.06 [0.12, 77.09]
Tremor Bouchard 1987 5 48 8 48 0.58 [0.18, 1.93]
Visual problems Bouchard 1987 1 48 0 48 3.06 [0.12, 77.09]
Yawning Bouchard 1987 1 48 0 48 3.06 [0.12, 77.09]
Citalopram vs nortriptyline
Confusion Lu 10‐171,79‐01 1 17 0 18 3.36 [0.13, 88.39]
Headache Lu 10‐171,79‐01 5 17 5 18 1.08 [0.25, 4.70]
Palpitations Lu 10‐171,79‐01 4 17 4 18 1.08 [0.22, 5.22]
Pruritus Lu 10‐171,79‐01 5 17 3 18 2.08 [0.41, 10.53]
Citalopram versus heterocyclics
Citalopram vs mianserin
Back pain Karlsson 2000 6 163 10 173 0.62 [0.22, 1.75]
Dizziness Karlsson 2000 4 163 10 173 0.41 [0.13, 1.33]
Headache Karlsson 2000 12 163 12 173 1.07 [0.46, 2.45]
Pain (general) Karlsson 2000 6 163 9 173 0.70 [0.24, 2.00]
Citalopram versus other SSRIs
Citalopram vs escitalopram
Abdominal pain Moore 2005 1 152 0 142 2.82 [0.11, 69.84]
Accidental injury Colonna 2005 4 182 10 175 0.37 [0.11, 1.21]
Aggressive behaviour Moore 2005 0 152 1 142 0.31 [0.01, 7.65]
Anorexia Ou 2010; Yevtushenko 2007 2 225 4 223 0.64 [0.06, 7.29]
Asthenia Moore 2005 2 152 2 142 0.93 [0.13, 6.72]
Back pain Colonna 2005; SCT‐MD‐02 14 305 12 300 1.36 [0.34, 5.51]
Breast surgery Moore 2005 1 152 0 142 2.82 [0.11, 69.84]
Bronchitis Colonna 2005 3 182 10 175 0.28 [0.07, 1.02]
Chest pain Moore 2005 1 152 0 142 2.82 [0.11, 69.84]
Chicken pox Moore 2005 0 152 1 142 0.31 [0.01, 7.65]
Dermatological problems Yevtushenko 2007 2 110 1 109 2.00 [0.18, 22.38]
Dizziness Moore 2005; Ou 2010; SCT‐MD‐02; Yevtushenko 2007 11 502 17 491 0.69 [0.28, 1.71]
Dyspepsia Yevtushenko 2007 1 110 0 109 3.00 [0.12, 74.45]
Enuresis Moore 2005 0 152 1 142 0.31 [0.01, 7.65]
Exacerbation of depression Moore 2005 1 152 0 142 2.82 [0.11, 69.84]
Gastrointestinal Ou 2010 14 117 16 115 0.84 [0.39, 1.81]
Headache Colonna 2005; Moore 2005; SCT‐MD‐02; Yevtushenko 2007 45 567 46 551 0.96 [0.49, 1.88]
Hot flash Moore 2005 0 152 1 142 0.31 [0.01, 7.65]
Memory impairment Moore 2005 2 152 0 142 4.73 [0.23, 99.47]
Palpitations Moore 2005 0 152 1 142 0.31 [0.01, 7.65]
Panic attack Moore 2005 1 152 0 142 2.82 [0.11, 69.84]
Pharyngitis Moore 2005 0 152 1 142 0.31 [0.01, 7.65]
Pruritus Moore 2005 1 152 0 142 2.82 [0.11, 69.84]
Rash Yevtushenko 2007 1 110 0 109 3.00 [0.12, 74.45]
Rhinitis Colonna 2005; Lepola 2003; SCT‐MD‐02 24 466 28 456 0.87 [0.40, 1.87]
Sexual problems: erectile dysfunction Lepola 2003 0 161 2 156 0.19 [0.01, 4.02]
Sexual problems: increased sexual desire SCT‐MD‐02 9 123 8 125 1.15 [0.43, 3.10]
Sexual problems: other Burke 2002; Moore 2005; SCT‐MD‐02; Yevtushenko 2007 16 452 31 563 0.72 [0.36, 1.43]
Sweating Lepola 2003; Moore 2005; SCT‐MD‐02 13 436 15 423 0.83 [0.39, 1.78]
Tachycardia SCT‐MD‐02 0 123 1 125 0.34 [0.01, 8.33]
Tremor Moore 2005 0 152 4 142 0.10 [0.01, 1.89]
Upper respiratory tract infection SCT‐MD‐02 8 123 12 125 0.66 [0.26, 1.66]
Visual problems Moore 2005 1 152 0 142 2.82 [0.11, 69.84]
Weight gain Colonna 2005; Moore 2005 15 334 12 317 1.21 [0.55, 2.64]
Citalopram vs fluoxetine
Abdominal pain Bougerol 1997a; Bougerol 1997b 16 331 10 342 1.57 [0.55, 4.53]
Back pain Bougerol 1997b 5 173 0 184 12.04 [0.66, 219.46]
Bronchitis Bougerol 1997b 5 173 7 184 0.75 [0.23, 2.42]
Decreased weight Bougerol 1997a; Bougerol 1997b 13 331 22 342 0.62 [0.25, 1.50]
Headache Bougerol 1997a; Bougerol 1997b; Hosak 1999 25 360 28 372 0.90 [0.51, 1.60]
Influenza‐like symptoms Bougerol 1997b 2 173 6 184 0.35 [0.07, 1.74]
Nervousness Bougerol 1997a 6 158 5 158 1.21 [0.36, 4.04]
Pruritus Bougerol 1997a 2 158 5 158 0.39 [0.07, 2.05]
Sweating Bougerol 1997a 6 158 2 158 3.08 [0.61, 15.49]
Tension Bougerol 1997a 6 158 6 158 1.00 [0.32, 3.17]
Vertigo Bougerol 1997a 7 158 3 158 2.40 [0.61, 9.43]
Citalopram vs paroxetine
Asthenia 29060/785 36 207 22 199 1.69 [0.96, 3.00]
Headache 29060/785 54 207 44 199 1.24 [0.79, 1.96]
Sexual problems: other 29060/785 13 207 11 199 1.15 [0.50, 2.62]
Syncope 29060/785 1 207 0 199 2.90 [0.12, 71.57]
Citalopram vs sertraline
Asthenia Ekselius 1997 3 200 6 200 0.49 [0.12, 2.00]
Concentration decrease Ekselius 1997 1 200 2 200 0.50 [0.04, 5.53]
Decreased weight Ekselius 1997 19 200 9 200 2.23 [0.98, 5.05]
Dermatological problems Ekselius 1997 6 200 5 200 1.21 [0.36, 4.02]
Dizziness Ekselius 1997 14 200 14 200 1.00 [0.46, 2.16]
Emotional indifference Ekselius 1997 2 200 1 200 2.01 [0.18, 22.35]
Forgetfulness Ekselius 1997 7 200 4 200 1.78 [0.51, 6.17]
Gastrointestinal Ekselius 1997 5 200 12 200 0.40 [0.14, 1.16]
Headache Ekselius 1997 13 200 18 200 0.70 [0.33, 1.48]
Increased salivation Ekselius 1997 1 200 0 200 3.02 [0.12, 74.46]
Palpitations Ekselius 1997 8 200 6 200 1.35 [0.46, 3.96]
Sexual problems: anorgasmia Ekselius 1997 24 200 13 200 1.96 [0.97, 3.97]
Sexual problems: erectile dysfunction Ekselius 1997 7 200 3 200 2.38 [0.61, 9.34]
Sexual problems: increased sexual desire Ekselius 1997 14 200 7 200 2.08 [0.82, 5.26]
Sexual problems: loss of sexual interest Ekselius 1997 16 200 19 200 0.83 [0.41, 1.66]
Sexual problems: other Ekselius 1997 13 200 8 200 1.67 [0.68, 4.12]
Sweating Ekselius 1997 34 200 26 200 1.37 [0.79, 2.38]
Tension Ekselius 1997 7 200 6 200 1.17 [0.39, 3.55]
Visual problems Ekselius 1997 6 200 11 200 0.53 [0.19, 1.47]
Weight gain Ekselius 1997 26 200 30 200 0.85 [0.48, 1.49]
Citalopram versus other antidepressants
Citalopram vs mirtazapine
Dizziness Leinonen 1999 6 133 12 137 0.49 [0.18, 1.35]
Fatigue Leinonen 1999 18 133 17 137 1.10 [0.54, 2.25]
Headache Leinonen 1999 19 133 13 137 1.59 [0.75, 3.37]
Influenza‐like symptoms Leinonen 1999 3 133 7 137 0.43 [0.11, 1.69]
Citalopram vs moclobemide
Gastrointestinal Castanedo de Alba 1998 6 22 5 20 1.13 [0.28, 4.47]
Headache Castanedo de Alba 1998 0 22 2 20 0.16 [0.01, 3.64]
Sexual problems: loss of sexual interest Castanedo de Alba 1998 0 22 1 20 0.29 [0.01, 7.51]
Tremor Castanedo de Alba 1998 2 22 1 20 1.90 [0.16, 22.72]
Citalopram vs reboxetine
Concentration decrease Langworth 2006 2 176 3 181 0.68 [0.11, 4.13]
Confusion Langworth 2006 1 176 2 181 0.51 [0.05, 5.69]
Decreased weight Langworth 2006 1 176 8 181 0.12 [0.02, 1.00]
Dizziness Berlanga 2006 13 54 14 47 0.75 [0.31, 1.81]
Emotional indifference Langworth 2006 1 176 4 181 0.25 [0.03, 2.28]
Headache Berlanga 2006; Langworth 2006 17 230 27 228 0.50 [0.25, 1.00]
Increased dream activity Langworth 2006 5 176 10 181 0.50 [0.17, 1.49]
Increased salivation Langworth 2006 0 176 2 181 0.20 [0.01, 4.27]
Influenza‐like symptoms Langworth 2006 9 176 8 181 1.17 [0.44, 3.09]
Memory impairment Langworth 2006 2 176 3 181 0.68 [0.11, 4.13]
Orthostatic symptoms Langworth 2006 4 176 9 181 0.44 [0.13, 1.47]
Paraesthesia Langworth 2006 5 176 5 181 1.03 [0.29, 3.62]
Rash Langworth 2006 2 176 4 181 0.51 [0.09, 2.81]
Sexual problems: loss of sexual interest Langworth 2006 5 176 3 181 1.73 [0.41, 7.37]
Tachycardia Langworth 2006 3 176 3 181 1.03 [0.20, 5.17]
Tension Langworth 2006 4 176 3 181 1.38 [0.30, 6.26]
Tremor Langworth 2006 2 176 5 181 0.40 [0.08, 2.11]
Upper respiratory tract infection Langworth 2006 8 176 5 181 1.68 [0.54, 5.23]
Vertigo Langworth 2006 10 176 8 181 1.30 [0.50, 3.38]
Visual problems Langworth 2006 1 176 4 181 0.25 [0.03, 2.28]
Weight gain Berlanga 2006; Langworth 2006 21 230 8 228 2.37 [0.61, 9.19]
Citalopram vs venlafaxine XR
Common cold Allard 2004 2 75 3 76 0.67 [0.11, 4.11]
Dizziness Allard 2004 3 75 4 76 0.75 [0.16, 3.47]
Citalopram vs hypericum (St. John's wort)
Dermatological problems Gastpar 2006 6 127 4 131 1.57 [0.43, 5.72]
Infection Gastpar 2006 17 127 20 131 0.86 [0.43, 1.72]
Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders Gastpar 2006 5 127 6 131 0.85 [0.25, 2.87]