title: Should We be Worried About QTc Prolongation Using Citalopram? A Review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Summarize available information regarding clinical impact of citalopram on the QTc interval.
  
  
  METHODS
  A literature search was conducted in Pubmed, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases using the MeSH term "long QT syndrome" and key word "citalopram" on July 11, 2014.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-one studies were evaluated with 4 included in this review. Studies were excluded if they reported acute overdoses of citalopram or did not report on patient-specific risk factors for long QT syndrome (eg, hypokalemia, bradycardia, and increased age). The majority of the available data is derived from case reports. A number of confounders complicate the determination of a causal link between QTc prolongation and citalopram. Of the 4 studies included for review, none identified significant QTc prolongation in patients taking citalopram 20 to 60 mg daily without the patients having one or more patient-specific risk factors for prolonged QTc.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is insufficient evidence to establish a causal link between citalopram 20 to 60 mg orally daily and increased risk of TdP. Further research is required to determine the clinical impact and association between citalopram 20 to 60 mg daily and QTc prolongation.
authors.affiliation: 1 Pharmacy Department, Vernon Jubilee Hospital, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Lauren M J
authors.initials: LMJ
authors.lastname: Hutton
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Cave
authors.affiliation: 3 Pharmacy Department, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Renée
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: St-Jean
authors.affiliation: 4 Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Kaye Edmonton Clinic, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Hoan Linh
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Banh
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D015283:Citalopram / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008133:Long QT Syndrome / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis*; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D015283:Citalopram; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors
keywords: cardiac arrhythmia; citalopram; review; selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor; side effect