Uses and side effects of Citopam tablets

Citopam is an Indian brand name of Citalopram. It is a SSRI (Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) class medication. Citopam is commonly prescribed for major depression, anxiety disorders and panic disorders.

Uses of Citopam

This is primarily prescribed for major depression. In addition, it is prescribed for anxiety disorders. Depression is characterized by persistent (more than two weeks) low mood, lack of energy, and inability to feel happiness. Citopam is given in moderate to severe forms of depression, but it is generally not recommended for mild depressive disorder. In addition, it is also not recommended in normal bereavement and grief.

Citopam 10mg tablets

Citopam is effective in treating anxiety disorders such as obsessive compulsive disorder and social phobia. It is specifically indicated for panic disorder. Panic disorder is characterized by episodes of sudden out of the blue severe anxiety. In social phobia the person is overwhelmed by anxiety in social situations.

Depression can be treated with Citopam

Common Side effects of Citopam

This medication is a SSRI class medication. Therefore all side effects of medications in this class apply to this medication. These are the common side effects of SSRI medications.

1.       Nausea

2.       Heartburn

3.       Poor sleep

4.       Loose stools

5.       Headache

6.       Weight loss

7.       Loss of appetite

8.       Sexual dysfunction

Sexual dysfunction is one of the troublesome side effect of Citopam

Rare side effects of Citopam

1.       Allergic reactions : Hives, edema of the lips and anaphylaxis

2.       Increased anxiety at the initial period of treatment, which usually settles after sometime.

3.       Mania: Other extreme of depression. Therefore, it is given carefully to patients with Bipolar  affective disorder

4.       Can cause occasional reduction of blood sodium level

5.       Serotonin syndrome: A very rare serious side effect associated with SSRI treatment. It is characterized by fever, muscle rigidity and tremors.

6.       Increased risk of bleeding.

In addition to the above side effects, Citopam specifically causes following side effects.

1.       Reduced heart rate and heart problems

2.       Yawning

3.       Impaired concentration

For most of the people above side effects settles with time.

However, one of the annoying side effect is Sexual dysfunction. It makes people to discontinue medication without seeing their doctor. They are erectile dysfunction in men and lack of sexual desire in women. Since depression can also cause sexual side effects, net effect of the sexual function may be favorable for patients with depression.

Most people tolerate above side effects.  

How Citopam is prescribed

Citopam is available as tablets. Usual dose range is 10mg to 40mg. It should be taken as a whole tablet without crushing as it will increase side effects. It should be taken immediately after a meal to minimize stomach side effects.

When it is prescribed your doctor should know whether you have,

1.       Bipolar affective disorder

2.       Liver problems

3.       Kidney problems

4.       Heart problems

5.       Bleeding problems

6.       Chronic gastritis

Summary

Citopam is a SSRI class medication prescribed for depression, panic and other anxiety disorders. Its most common side effect are heartburn, nausea and headache. However, compared to other antidepressants, this medication is well tolerated among patients.

Side effects of Vistagra

Vistagra is a medication prescribed for male erectile dysfunction. Its popular brand name is Viagra and its generic name is Sildenafil Citrate.

It is manufactured in India by Cadilla Pharmaceuticals. Therefore, side effects are almost similar between these two preparations.

Vistagra causes erection after adequate sexual stimulation. It does not causes erection when the person does not have adequate sexual stimulation. It is also not effective when the sexual problems are due to serious psychological, relationship problems or serious medical problems such as vascular disease of the genitalia.

Common Side effects of Vistagra 

1. Low blood pressure: Sudden lowering of blood pressure can cause strokes, heart attacks and blindness.
2. Seizures or fits
3. Priaprism or continuous erection of penis can result in penile fracture.
4. Nausea, Vomiting and heartburn
5. Nasal bleeding

Since Vistagra can precipitate low blood pressure it is not recommended in people with heart diseases such as recent myocardial infarction or heart attacks, heart failure and heart rhythm abnormalities. In addition, it is not recommended in people with epilepsy. In addition, if you had a episode of priaprism  then it is not recommended.

Vistagra is a medication prescribed for male erectile dysfunction. Vistagra does this by inhibiting an enzyme called PGE5 or phosphodiesterase 5. By way of this inhibition it increases the Nitrous oxide level inside the penile vascular smooth muscles. This causes relaxation of vascular smooth muscles and penile erection. But this all happens when there is a proper emotional background. Therefore, Vistagra cannot erect a penis alone without sexual feelings.

What is Delusion of Love (Erotomania) ?

Love and being loved are common human emotions. Delusional variety of this emotion is called delusion of love, Erotomania or de Clérambault's syndrome. It is quite different from nymphomania or satyriasis, which are disorders of excessive sexual activity. Erotomania is much commoner in women.

What is delusion of love?
Here, typically a woman believes a man who is in higher social status and older, is in love with her. Although the person has done nothing to deserve her attention and he may even be unaware of her existence. Often reasons given by her for being in love is illogical. For an example a women who is saying that her school headmaster is in love with her may say that it is because he enters into the lecture hall in the direction she was seated at.



In addition, sometimes this delusion can have a persecutory tinge. For an example, the deluded person may say that the love letters send by her school headmaster were stolen by her friends.
Most of the time the man is a well known public figure, singer or patients employer. Sometimes patient may even believe that he (victim) is the father of her children.

Who gets it?
Usually it is seen in delusional disorders. Here the patient does not have any other delusions and her life is revolved around a delusion. But it is common in other psychiatric disorders like schizophrenia and Bipolar disorder.
In popular culture
It is said that, Michael Jackson’s popular song Billie Jean is based on an incident where delusion of love is involved. Lyrics of Billie jean.

Sources
1. Symptoms of mind by Andrew sims
2. Wikipedia Billie jean page