New onset hypertension following abrupt discontinuation of citalopram.

We present a 48-year-old woman who developed sustained hypertension closely associated with abrupt cessation of citalopram (40 mg twice daily), in addition to the known withdraw symptoms. Re-initiation of the medication completely abolished the symptoms and normalized her blood pressure. Pre-clinical studies show that chronic citalopram use inhibits the activity of noradrenergic neurons, and abrupt removal of such inhibition could cause adrenergic hyperactivation. We postulate this mechanism might account for or contribute to the hypertension observed in our patient. As illustrated in this case, the degree of hypertension in such that setting could be persistent and severe. Gradual withdrawal of citalopram is advisable to avoid such occurrence. PMID: 23320970 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Clinical Nephrology - Category: Urology & Nephrology Authors: Tags: Clin Nephrol Source Type: research