Micelle Enhanced Fluorimetric and Thin Layer Chromatography Densitometric Methods for the Determination of (±) Citalopram and its S – Enantiomer Escitalopram

Introduction Citalopram (Fig. 1) a selective serotonine re-uptake inhibitor (SSRI), has been used for the treatment of depression, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder.1-3 Citalopram is sold as a racemic mixture, consisting of 50% R-(−)-citalopram and 50% S-(+)-citalopram. As the S-(+) enantiomer has the desired antidepressant eect4 it is now marketed under the generic name of escitalopram. It has been shown that the R-enantiomer present in citalopram counteracts the activity of escitalopram. Citalopram and escitalopram have demonstrated dierent pharmacological and clinical eects.5