Can Citalopram Cause Headaches? | What To Expect

Citalopram can cause headaches, and that’s not a fringe side effect. People often notice them during the first stretch of treatment, after a dose change, or during withdrawal if the medicine is stopped too suddenly. That said, not every headache during treatment comes from the drug itself. Stress, poor sleep, dehydration, missed meals, and the condition being treated can all muddy the picture.

If you’re trying to figure out whether citalopram is behind a new headache pattern, timing tells a big part of the story. A headache that showed up soon after starting the tablet, then eased as the body settled in, fits the usual pattern far better than a headache that began months later with no other change. The details matter.

Can Citalopram Cause Headaches? What Current Guidance Shows

Public drug guidance and prescribing information line up on one point: headaches can happen with citalopram. The NHS lists headaches among the common side effects and notes that they often settle as your body gets used to the medicine. The FDA label adds another layer: headache can also show up during discontinuation, which is one reason prescribers usually taper the dose instead of stopping it in one jump.

That split matters. A headache during the first week of treatment and a headache after a missed dose may look similar, yet they can come from two different phases of the same medicine. One is an early side effect. The other can be part of withdrawal.

What “Common” actually means here

When drug leaflets say a side effect is common, that does not mean it will hit everyone. It means enough people reported it that it showed up often enough to be tracked in patient guidance. With citalopram, headache sits in that bucket. In real life, that usually means mild to moderate pain, often fading after the first days or weeks.

There’s another wrinkle. In pooled placebo-controlled trial data in the FDA label, headache was not higher with citalopram than placebo. That does not prove citalopram never causes headaches. It tells you headaches are common in people taking part in depression trials in general, which makes it tricky to pin every headache on the drug alone.

Citalopram Headaches: When They Start And Why

Most citalopram-related headaches fall into one of three buckets:

• Start-up headaches: these show up after the medicine is first started.
• Dose-change headaches: these appear after the dose goes up or down.
• Withdrawal headaches: these happen after missed doses or a fast stop.

That pattern makes sense when you think about how SSRIs work. Citalopram shifts serotonin signaling. Your nervous system then needs a little time to settle into the new rhythm. During that stretch, some people get headaches, feel sick, sleep badly, or feel more tired than usual.

Withdrawal headaches are a bit different. They often come with dizziness, “electric shock” sensations, sweating, nausea, or a foggy feeling. If a headache shows up after skipping tablets for a day or two, that timing raises a stronger flag for discontinuation symptoms than for a brand-new illness.

Clues that point toward the medicine

A headache is more likely to be linked to citalopram when:

• it began within days of starting treatment
• it showed up after a dose increase
• it followed missed doses or a fast taper
• it came with other SSRI-type effects like nausea, sweating, or poor sleep
• it eased as treatment settled or after the dose issue was fixed

A headache is less likely to be from citalopram when it has the same pattern you had before treatment, turns up with a fever or sinus symptoms, or keeps getting worse even though the rest of the treatment course is stable.

How Long Do Citalopram Headaches Last?

For many people, early headaches fade within days to a few weeks. The NHS side effects page for citalopram says common side effects often improve as the body gets used to the medicine. That matches what many prescribers see in routine practice.

If the headaches are still hanging around after the early stretch, or if they’re getting stronger instead of easing, it’s worth getting the medication plan reviewed. That does not always mean stopping citalopram. Sometimes a dose tweak, a slower titration, or checking for another cause is all that’s needed.

Simple steps that may ease a mild headache

• Drink water through the day.
• Don’t skip meals.
• Try taking the tablet at the same time each day.
• Cut back on alcohol if you drink.
• Rest if the headache hits during the start-up phase.
• Ask a pharmacist which pain relief is suitable with your other medicines.

These steps are for mild headaches only. If the pain is strong, strange, or tied to other warning signs, self-care is not enough.

When A Headache Means You Should Get Medical Advice

Most citalopram headaches are not dangerous. A few patterns do need faster attention. The FDA prescribing information warns about low sodium levels, bleeding risk, serotonin syndrome, and angle-closure glaucoma in some patients. Each of those can involve headache, though the full symptom cluster is what matters most.

The FDA label for Celexa also states that stopping the medicine abruptly can bring on headache as part of discontinuation syndrome, and lists headache among possible signs of hyponatremia. That means a headache is not always “just a headache” when it arrives with confusion, balance trouble, or sudden weakness.

Red flags that should not wait

Get urgent medical care if the headache comes with any of these:

• fainting, seizure, or chest pain
• confusion, major balance trouble, or sudden weakness
• high fever, muscle stiffness, agitation, or a racing heartbeat
• eye pain or sudden changes in vision
• heavy bleeding or unusual bruising

Should You Stop Citalopram If It Gives You Headaches?

Not on your own. Stopping citalopram suddenly can create a second problem by bringing on withdrawal symptoms, and headache is one of them. The MedlinePlus drug monograph says sudden stopping may cause headache along with dizziness, nausea, sweating, and sleep trouble.

If the headache is mild and started soon after treatment began, many people can ride out that start-up period with a bit of monitoring. If the headache is strong, lasts longer than expected, or comes with other symptoms, the safer move is to get the dose and timing reviewed.

What usually happens next

A prescriber may check the dose, the timing, other medicines, hydration, caffeine, alcohol use, and whether the headache pattern fits withdrawal, start-up effects, or another cause. They may also look for other risk factors, such as diuretics in older adults, since low sodium is more likely in some groups.

That makes the practical answer pretty clear: yes, citalopram can cause headaches, yet the timing and the full symptom picture tell you whether it’s a short-lived nuisance, a withdrawal clue, or a signal to get checked sooner.

Founder & Lead Editor

Mo Maruf

I created WellFizz to bridge the gap between vague wellness advice and actionable solutions. My mission is simple: to decode the research and give you practical tools you can actually use.

Beyond the data, I am a passionate traveler. I believe that stepping away from the screen to explore new environments is essential for mental clarity and physical vitality.

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