Mitchie - Citalopram (Celexa™) is the SSRI that is the most selective blocker of the serotonin reuptake mechanisms. It does not bind to other types of receptors as do all of the other SSRIs, like paroxetine (Paxil™), fluoxetine (Prozac™), sertraline (Zoloft™), and fluvoxamine (Luvox™).

As for when to take the citalopram, it really doesn't matter when you take it. If it makes you tired, take it at night; if it activates you, take it in the morning. My experiences with those who take it seem to be evenly split between taking it in the morning or at bedtime. I guess it really comes down to which time is most convenient for you to take it.

As for eating fungi (yeast or mushrooms), I know of no reason to avoid either. I do not recommend taking the "magic variety of mushrooms with it, but even then I do not think that there is a serious interaction (actually, magic mushrooms do act as partial agonists - stimulators - at some serotonin receptor subtypes, so I guess that there could be a remote possiblity of serotonin syndrome - manifested by a racing heart, sweating, fever, tremor, etc.).

Citalopram, like all antidepressants, will take about 2 or 4 weeks to begin to work, and 8 to 12 weeks to achieve full effect (ie. remission). As I said, it is the "cleanest" of the SSRIs (serotonin selective reuptake inhibitors). By not binding to other neuroreceptors (eg. muscarinic/cholinergic, norepinephrine reuptake, dopamine, alpha-1 adrenergic, sigma, etc.) it should theoretically have the propensity to cause fewer side effects than the other SSRIs. It still does have some start-up side effects that can be bothersome, in some people. The more common of these being, headache (actually, more of a sensation of increased pressure in the frontal and temporal - sides - of the head), nausea, dry mouth, insomnia or tiredness, sweating, dizziness, constipation or diarrhea, unsteadiness. These strat-up side effects begin to wane within the first couple of weeks and, for the most part, completely disappear within 4 to 6 weeks.

Long term side effects, in some people, seem to be sexual dysfunction (eg. decreased libido [loss of interest in sex], delayed ejaculation or orgasm, difficulty in maintaining an erection) and "incidious" weight gain. What I mean by incidious weight gain is that, at first, some people will lose weight, but 4 or 6 months into treatment, these people will begin to notice that their clothes are getting tigher. This seems to happen with no apparent reason, but most people who gain weight seem to be eating more. This has been blamed on a carbohydrate craving that may occur, or could be due to stimulation of certain certain serotonin receptor subtypes.

The resolving of depressive symptoms has also been linked to weight gain. In this scenario, it has been noticed that some people with depression have no appetite, but when the depression resolves, the appetite returns. The loss of appetite during a depressive episode can result in the learning of poor eating habits, which can be maintained when the appetite returns upon remission of the depressive symptoms, possibly leading to the weight gain that is seen in some people. Just being aware that weight gain can happen sometimes help people to avoid or change poor eating habits. It is far, far easier to avoid weight gain than it is to lose the weight once it has been gained.

if you have any more specific questions about citalopram, I would be glad to try to anser them. - Cam