Reactions 1415 - 18 Aug 2012

SCitalopram

Hypoglycaemia: case reportA 56-year-old man developed hypoglycaemia following

treatment with citalopram [Celexa] [therapeutic indicationnot clearly stated].

The man, who had a history of type 2 diabetes mellitus,depression, end-stage renal disease, HIV infection andHepatitis B and C infection, was hospitalised due todeclining haemoglobin values. Progressive somnolenceensued; oral citalopram 20mg daily was initiated in place ofsertraline. He developed tremors, anxiety, sweating andagitation with glucose values between 37 to 56 mg/dL, aweek later. Hypoglycaemia regressed on eating. Hisglucose level dropped to 45, at 36 hours, during a 72-hourfast resulting in study cessation. New onset hypoglycaemiawas noted only after initiation of citalopram.

Citalopram was withdrawn; within 24 hours, the man’sepisodic hypoglycaemia resolved.

Author comment: "We were impressed by the fact thathypoglycemia occurred very soon after starting citalopram,and resolved very rapidly. However, the exact mechanism isstill unclear."Mehta M, et al. Celexa Induced Hypoglycemia. 94th Annual Meeting of theEndocrine Society : abstr. MON-171, 23 Jun 2012. Available from: URL: http://www.abstracts2view.com/endo/view.php?nu=ENDO12L%5fMON-171 -USA 803075509

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Reactions 18 Aug 2012 No. 14150114-9954/10/1415-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved