Reactions 1370 - 24 Sep 2011

★Citalopram/escitalopram

Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (first reportwith escitalopram): case report

A 55-year-old woman with low energy, dysphoric moodand anhedonia developed gastro-oesophageal refluxdisease (GERD) following treatment with citalopram andescitalopram [routes and durations of treatment toreactions onset not stated].

The woman began receiving citalopram 10mg everymorning, and subsequently developed persistent nausea,occasional evening gastric reflux and headaches. Shereported that changing the time of drug intake had no effecton her symptoms.

The woman stopped taking citalopram after 3 months. Afew weeks later, she began receiving escitalopram 10mgevery morning. Due to persistent nausea and gastric reflux,the administration schedule was changed to eveningdosing. She developed sleep disturbances as a result ofincreasing gastric reflux, and began receiving omeprazoleon an as-needed basis. Her condition was successfullymanaged with desvenlafaxine and omeprazole.

Author comment: The Naranjo Adverse Drug ReactionProbability Scale "indicated a probable relationship (score of7, range of 0-12) between initiation of antidepressant therapyand the presentation of GERD symptoms in this patient."Brahm NC, et al. Antidepressant-mediated gastroesophageal reflux disease.Consultant Pharmacist 26: 274-277, No. 4, Apr 2011. Available from: URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.4140/tcp.n.2011.274 - USA 803060633

» Editorial comment: A search of AdisBase, Medline andEmbase did not reveal any previous case reports of gastro-oesophageal reflux associated with escitalopram. The WHOADR database contained 25 reports of gastro-oesophagealreflux disease associated with escitalopram.

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Reactions 24 Sep 2011 No. 13700114-9954/10/1370-0001/$14.95 © 2010 Adis Data Information BV. All rights reserved