Drug Mechanism: How does it work?

Generic Celexa 20 mg, Citalopram is in the class of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), a class that also contains fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil) and sertraline (Zoloft). Neurotransmitters manufactured and released by nerves attach to adjacent nerves and alter their activities. Thus, neurotransmitters can be thought of as the communication system of the brain. Many experts believe that an imbalance among neurotransmitters is the cause of depression. Serotonin is one such neurotransmitter.

Abnormally low levels of serotonin may play a role in diseases such as depression, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, social anxiety disorder, and eating disorders. Increasing serotonin levels in the brain can help treat these disorders. Generic Celexa 20 mg (Citalopram), and other SSRIs, block the ability of the nerve terminals in the brain to bind and break down serotonin so that more serotonin is available for the brain to use. It works by preventing the uptake of serotonin, by nerve cells after it has been released. Such uptake is an important mechanism for removing released neurotransmitters and terminating their actions on adjacent nerves. The reduced uptake caused by citalopram results in more free serotonin in the brain to stimulate nerve cells.

Generic Celexa 20 mg, Citalopram was approved by the FDA in July 1998.