Citalopram vs Escitalopram Oxalate: side effects in FDA adverse event reports
At a glance
| Citalopram | Escitalopram Oxalate | |
|---|---|---|
| Drug class | – | – |
| Brand names | – | Escitalopram |
| FAERS reports | 136,022 | 72,460 |
| Serious | 77% | 78% |
| Death outcome | 18,996 | 7,343 |
| Boxed warning | Yes SUICIDAL THOUGHTS AND BEHAVIORS Antidepressants increased the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in pediatric and young adult patients in short- term studi | Yes SUICIDAL THOUGHTS AND BEHAVIORS Antidepressants increased the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in pediatric and young adult patients in short-term studie |
Signals both drugs share
| Reaction | Citalopram | Escitalopram Oxalate | Label screen (A / B) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Serotonin syndrome | 1,513 · PRR 13.2 | 1,460 · PRR 23.8 | Labeled — boxed warning / Labeled — boxed warning |
| Hyperreflexia | 191 · PRR 8.8 | 152 · PRR 13.1 | Labeled adverse reaction / Labeled adverse reaction |
| Steroid dependence | 105 · PRR 21.6 | 167 · PRR 70.7 | Labeled (related wording) / Not in label — unassessed |
| Alcohol poisoning | 183 · PRR 11.4 | 130 · PRR 14.9 | Not in label — unassessed / Not in label — unassessed |
| Respiratory disorder neonatal | 204 · PRR 22.6 | 72 · PRR 13.7 | Not in label — unassessed / Not in label — unassessed |
| Burns second degree | 113 · PRR 10.6 | 158 · PRR 28.6 | Not in label — unassessed / Not in label — unassessed |
| Catarrh | 102 · PRR 19.9 | 153 · PRR 60.0 | Not in label — unassessed / Not in label — unassessed |
Labeled signals distinctive to Citalopram
- Electrocardiogram qt prolonged — n=1,712, PRR 7.7 Labeled (related wording)
- Bursitis — n=586, PRR 7.8 Labeled adverse reaction
- Torsade de pointes — n=400, PRR 8.2 Labeled — boxed warning
- Depressive symptom — n=250, PRR 11.7 Labeled (related wording)
- Anorgasmia — n=244, PRR 15.1 Labeled adverse reaction
- Depression suicidal — n=239, PRR 11.4 Labeled (related wording)
- Long qt syndrome — n=138, PRR 9.3 Labeled — boxed warning
- Atrial tachycardia — n=106, PRR 8.1 Labeled (related wording)
Labeled signals distinctive to Escitalopram Oxalate
- Major depression — n=434, PRR 18.2 Labeled (related wording)
- Mite allergy — n=274, PRR 218.9 Labeled (related wording)
- Urinary tract disorder — n=219, PRR 14.8 Labeled (related wording)
- Suspected suicide — n=212, PRR 13.4 Labeled (related wording)
- Respiratory symptom — n=161, PRR 17.6 Labeled (related wording)
- Clonus — n=135, PRR 14.9 Labeled adverse reaction
- Bronchial secretion retention — n=112, PRR 28.0 Labeled (related wording)
- Genital hypoaesthesia — n=61, PRR 18.6 Labeled (related wording)
Common questions
Which has more reported side effects, Citalopram or Escitalopram Oxalate?
Citalopram has 136,022 FAERS reports and Escitalopram Oxalate 72,460. More reports does not mean more dangerous: volume follows how widely and how long a drug has been used, prescription vs over-the-counter status, and publicity. The seriousness share (77% vs 78%) is a better like-for-like signal of the kind of problems reported.
Which side effects do Citalopram and Escitalopram Oxalate share?
Both drugs carry disproportionality signals for serotonin syndrome, hyperreflexia, steroid dependence, alcohol poisoning, respiratory disorder neonatal. Shared signals often reflect a shared drug class or the condition both are used for.
Is Citalopram or Escitalopram Oxalate safer?
FAERS cannot answer that: it has no denominator and no comparator. Use this page to see which risks are already on each label and which signals are unlabeled, then check the prescribing information and your clinician for your situation.
Sources: openFDA FAERS pair statistics (OpenPV build 2026-09-14), FDA labels via openFDA, openFDA count queries for seriousness and deaths. Pair chosen because it is a commonly searched comparison. Generated 2026-10-08.