Can Citalopram And NyQuil Be Taken Together?

Posted on Fri, 22 Jan 2016

Question: I am on 10mg of citalopram. Have been on it for 5+ years. I have the flu and took some NyQuil. Then it said those two may not mix. My symptoms are body aches, vomiting (stopped earlier today) headache and mild fever. I just want to know if I'll be ok now that I have taken it? I didn't take a full dose, I took a tbs and a half, when it called for 2 tbs.

Thank you

Answered by Dr. Swarnava Dattagupta (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Dont worry; you will be alright

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for posting your query in Healthcaremagic.com.
This is Dr. Swarnava Dattagupta answering your query.

I understand your concern.
We generally ask patients to avoid drugs like citalopram and nyquil together as they both increase serotonin levels in body and might cause a serious and rare drug interaction called serotonin syndrome. It can be life threatening too.
However, this reaction is very rare as I told you and happens within some time of taking the drugs only. So, you need not worry as you do not have any major symptoms as of now.
The symptoms you have mentioned might be associated with the flu you are suffering from. These are very nonspecific and can be managed with simple drugs and measures. If patients presented with such problem, I would have advised the following-

Avoid taking these together again.
Continue citalopram.
Take paracetamol for body ache, headache and fever etc.
Warm saline gargling if you have associated throat pain, difficulty in swallowing etc.
You can discuss the above with your treating or family doctor.

Hope I have answered your question.
If you have any further questions I will be happy to help.
Regards.

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad