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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Hearing Voices While On Citalopram?

A Close friend of mine who I have know for over 25 years is on Citalopram 20mg. The other day she told me she experienced hearing voices whilst reading a book in a quiet room.I ve noticed her personality changing over the past few years since being on this medication, i.e. disinhibition, very judgemental and lacking in emotion, seems distant at times, complete change in clothing and hair style, very outgoing compared to her usual quiet self etc Is this a side effect of Citalopram?
Tue, 20 Oct 2015
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General & Family Physician,  's  Response
hi
thank you for asking your concern. there is no documented adverse effect of citalopram as hearing voices. we call it as auditary hallucinations. i would like to go in some details. is your friend diagnosed as major depression and started on citalopram? if yes then i must say this is progrssion to psychosis. if you found your friend behaves well sometimes then it is surely scizophrenia and you need to switch over to other drugs like olenzepine or resperidone. hallucination is not the symptom of depression it is of schizophrenia often. i would suggest you to please consult any psychiatrist for appropriate and timely treatment.
i hope i answered your concern
thank you and regards
dr. abhijit
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What Causes Hearing Voices While On Citalopram?

hi thank you for asking your concern. there is no documented adverse effect of citalopram as hearing voices. we call it as auditary hallucinations. i would like to go in some details. is your friend diagnosed as major depression and started on citalopram? if yes then i must say this is progrssion to psychosis. if you found your friend behaves well sometimes then it is surely scizophrenia and you need to switch over to other drugs like olenzepine or resperidone. hallucination is not the symptom of depression it is of schizophrenia often. i would suggest you to please consult any psychiatrist for appropriate and timely treatment. i hope i answered your concern thank you and regards dr. abhijit