Problem
JM aged 25 years, is prescribed citalopram 20 mg daily following a diagnosis of depression. When discussing the situation with her parents and friends, she says that she will try the antidepressant for a couple of weeks to see if it helps with her depressed state. A close relative, SS, states that he has been doing really well on paroxetine, and JM wonders why she has not been put on the same medication.
Task
A. Explain whether a couple of weeks of citalopram therapy is sufficient to treat JM's depression.
B. To which antidepressant groups do citalopram and paroxetine belong? Describe their mechanisms of action.
C. What adverse effects might JM experience with citalopram?
D. What would you say to JM about why her doctor might have prescribed a different antidepressant from her relative?