title: Citalopram and desmethylcitalopram concentrations in breast milk and in serum of mother and infant.
abstract: A case is presented with measurements of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI)-antidepressant citalopram in serum of mother and breast-fed infant and in breast milk. We found a milk-to-serum concentration ratio of approximately 3 for both citalopram and the main metabolite desmethylcitalopram. Peak milk concentrations of citalopram occurred 3-9 h after drug intake by the mother. The infant received approximately 5% of the mother's dose, adjusted for weight. Accordingly, the serum level in the infant of approximately 7 nM corresponded to approximately 1/15 of the trough serum concentration of the mother (104 nM). No signs of drug effects in the infant were observed.
authors.affiliation: Department B, Psychiatric Hospital, Arhus, Risskov, Denmark.
authors.forename: P N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: O V
authors.initials: OV
authors.lastname: Olesen
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bertelsen
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Linnet
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015283:Citalopram / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015283:Citalopram; C046304:desmethylcitalopram