How it works

Citalopram is a drug that can be used to treat depression and other mood disorders.

Experts are unsure how citalopram works, but it was previously thought that its effects were due to its ability to rebalance chemicals in the brain, such as serotonin, that were thought to be imbalanced in people with anxiety, depression, and other mood disorders. Despite the fact that the mechanism by which citalopram works is unknown, studies show that it is still effective in treating mood disorders such as depression.

Citalopram's activity against other neurotransmitters, such as norepinephrine or dopamine, is much lower than that of other antidepressants.

Citalopram belongs to a class of drugs known as Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs).