Jump to: Should you take Mounjaro alongside antidepressants like citalopram? | Depression treatment beyond medication | Tips for taking Mounjaro with citalopram | Take home message
You can take Mounjaro with citalopram as there are no known interactions between them, but this doesn’t mean no interactions exist, so caution is advised.
Mounjaro is a dual-action weight-loss injection that partially works through the central nervous system and the brain by ‘activating’ GLP-1 and GIP (two hormones in the body that Mounjaro mimics) receptors that manage our appetite.
It’s prescribed for people living with obesity and works by lowering hunger so people can eat fewer calories and lose weight.
Citalopram is an SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor). It’s prescribed for people living with depression and anxiety. Its primary function is to increase serotonin levels in the brain, which helps regulate mood and emotional balance.
As Mounjaro and citalopram have direct effects on the brain, it’s possible there would be interactions between the two drugs. However, as mentioned already, none have yet been discovered.
If you joined Second Nature’s Mounjaro weight-loss programme, the clinical team would review your current medication and guide you on taking citalopram with Mounjaro.
Our health coaching team can also help manage side effects by developing healthy habits to support your progress and help you achieve your weight loss goals.
We’d recommend letting your doctor know if you start taking Mounjaro alongside citalopram.
Should you take Mounjaro alongside antidepressants like citalopram?
It’s widely recognised that obesity and excess body fat, alongside a poor diet and lack of physical activity, can contribute to the development of mental health conditions like depression and anxiety.
Mounjaro significantly reduces body weight by an average of 26% after one year. Weight loss can profoundly impact mental well-being by reducing inflammation, improving gut function, and other beneficial effects.
Additionally, research is currently underway investigating the potential role of GLP-1 receptor agonists, like Mounjaro, and their potential antidepressant effects.
Research has discovered that GLP-1 medications may improve cognitive processes, promoting neuroprotection and neurotransmitter release.
In theory, these effects could play a complementary role in the treatment of depression for individuals currently taking SSRIs like citalopram. Still, this is largely speculative, and much more research is needed.
Whether you decide to take Mounjaro with citalopram is a personal choice and one that should be taken under the guidance of medical professionals to ensure your progress is continuously monitored.
Depression treatment beyond medication
While GLP-1 receptors like Mounjaro and Wegovy are being touted as having a potential role in the treatment of depression, it’s essential to understand the comprehensive support available to help manage and treat the condition.
Depression is a multifactorial condition, and its root causes lie in a complex interplay of biological, psychological, and environmental factors.
Current medications, like citalopram, aren’t necessarily treating the root cause of the disease but rather are managing a symptom so that patients can have more cognitive capacity for psychological treatments like CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy).
As stated above, obesity has the potential to play a contributory role in the development of depression, and people living with obesity are more at risk of developing depression than individuals of a lower weight.
However, depression can also play a contributory role in the development of obesity, and research suggests that there’s a strong association between adverse life experiences and obesity.
So, we’d recommend speaking with your GP about potential treatments for depression and other mood disorders like anxiety if you’re considering taking Mounjaro with citalopram.
Tips for taking Mounjaro with citalopram
Firstly, we’d recommend ensuring that you maintain your ongoing psychological therapies alongside citalopram.
Losing weight on Mounjaro shouldn’t be seen as a replacement for therapy like CBT. Still, as discussed, losing weight and developing healthy habits can contribute to the management or potential reversal of mental health conditions like depression and anxiety.
We’d also recommend you maintain close contact with your healthcare team so they can work with you to monitor your progress.
If you notice any new or concerning side effects, notify your healthcare team immediately or contact the NHS 111 healthline if you need immediate medical advice.
Healthy habits will be the key to reaching your weight loss goals while taking Mounjaro with citalopram. On Second Nature, our programme can help you:
- Develop healthier eating habits that focus on eating more whole foods with more protein, fibre, and fat
- Eating fewer ultra-processed foods rich in sugar and added vegetable oils
- Increase physical activity levels
- Sleep better
- Develop a positive relationship with stress
- Learn how to move away from emotional eating
Take home message
Weight-loss injections are most effective when combined with a healthier lifestyle. They can help kickstart weight loss while you commit to developing healthier habits.
Mounjaro and other weight loss injections, like Ozempic and Wegovy, can allow you to make lifestyle changes to support long-term weight loss.
These medications can help silence food-related thoughts and give you a boost of confidence with more immediate weight-loss results.
They can also buy you the time and headspace to understand why your body may have struggled to lose weight and build new long-term healthy habits.
These healthy habits may provide a strong foundation during a psychological treatment for depression, like CBT.
Second Nature’s medication programmes
Second Nature has two medication-supported programmes: a Wegovy weight-loss programme and a Mounjaro weight-loss programme.
Why should you choose Second Nature over other medication providers if you’ve decided to try Mounjaro or Wegovy (assuming you’re eligible)?
For peace of mind.
Second Nature has worked with the NHS for over 6 years, providing weight-loss programmes across the UK.
While our Wegovy and Mounjaro weight-loss programmes are private and not currently used by the NHS, we’ve built the programmes focusing on scientific evidence, patient safety, and data security.
We hope that our 6+ years of working with the NHS and building a track record of effective weight-loss results will give you peace of mind to give us a try.
