title: Co-administration of citalopram and clozapine: effect on plasma clozapine levels.
abstract: Antidepressants are frequently used in the treatment of depressive symptoms associated with schizophrenia. In patients taking clozapine, choice of antidepressant is complicated by additive pharmacodynamic effects and by pharmacokinetic interactions. We predicted that citalopram would not elevate plasma clozapine levels when the two drugs were co-administered because it does not inhibit the relevant enzyme systems. In this preliminary study of five patients given citalopram and clozapine there was no overall change in mean clozapine levels. Based on this limited evidence, citalopram might be the antidepressant of choice in patients taking clozapine.
authors.affiliation: Bethlem & Maudsley NHS Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ellison
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ementon Shaw
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wickham
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Murray
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D015283:Citalopram / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003024:Clozapine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*