What is Escitalopram?

Escitalopram is a depressant in a class of medications known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). It alters the chemical balance within the brain, which could be imbalanced in those suffering from anxiety or depression. Escitalopram can be used to treat major depression disorder in adolescents and adults with a minimum age of 12 years. Escitalopram can also be utilized for treating anxiety in adults.

Warnings

It is not recommended to take escitalopram in conjunction with pimozide or citalopram (Celexa). Do not take escitalopram 14 days before or 14 days after taking an MAO inhibitor, such as isocarboxazid or linezolid, blue injections, phenelzine, rasagiline, and selegiline, or tranylcypromine. Many young people are prone to thoughts of suicide when they first start taking antidepressants. Keep an eye on fluctuations in mood and symptoms. Inform your doctor if you notice any changes or worsening symptoms.

Get immediate medical attention. If you experience signs that suggest serotonin syndrome, which include hallucinations, agitation, sweating, chills, shivering, rapid heart rate, muscle stiffness and twitching, loss of coordination, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea,

Before you Take this Drug

This medicine is for you if you're allergic to citalopram or escitalopram (Celexa) or if you suffer from:

• You can also use pimozide.

Do not take escitalopram during the 14 days prior to or following the use of or taking of an MAO inhibitor. A drug interaction that is dangerous can occur. MAO inhibitors include isocarboxazid, linezolid, phenelzine, selegiline, and rasagiline. the trannylcypromine.

Make sure to inform your doctor that you also take stimulant medicines, opioid medications, herbal remedies, or medications for mental illness, depression, such as Parkinson's disease, migraines, severe infections, headaches, or for the prevention of vomiting and nausea. These medicines can interfere with escitalopram and create an extremely serious condition known as serotonin syndrome.

To ensure that escitalopram is suitable for you, inform your doctor if you have previously had:

• Kidney or liver disease;
• Seizures;
• The sodium levels are low in your blood.
• Coronary heart diseases, excessive blood pressure;
• A stroke;
• Bleeding issues;
• Sexual problems;
• Bipolar Disorder (manic depression), Also known as
• Addiction to drugs or suicidal ideas.

A few young people may have thoughts of suicide after they first start taking antidepressants. Your doctor should monitor your progress regularly. Your family members and other caregivers should be on the lookout for changes in your symptoms or mood. Escitalopram is not permitted for use by anyone less than 12 years old. Talk to your doctor about this medication when you are pregnant. Taking an SSRI antidepressant in late pregnancy could result in serious medical issues for the infant. You could also experience the possibility of relapses in depression when you quit the antidepressant. Contact your doctor immediately if you become pregnant. Do not begin or stop taking the medication without consulting your physician. If you're pregnant, then your name might be added to an e-registry for pregnant women to monitor any effects of the drug escitalopram on the child. If you're nursing, consult your physician when you experience drowsiness, issues with feeding, agitation, or a lack of weight gain during the breastfeeding period.

How to Take Escitalopram?

Use escitalopram as directed by your physician. Follow all instructions on the prescription label and go through all medication guides and instructions. The doctor might alter your dosage.Take escitalopram at the same time every day, whether or not you eat. Take care when measuring liquid medicines. Make use of the syringe for dosing or a dosage-measuring device (not an ordinary spoon). It could take as long as four weeks for your symptoms to improve. Use the medication exactly as prescribed, and notify your physician if your symptoms don't improve.

Inform your doctor if there are any changes in sexual activity,orgasmas asuch as loss of interest in sexual a,ity and difficulty having an orgasm or (in males) issues with erections or Ejaculation. There are some sexual problems that are treatable. Your doctor should monitor your performance regularly. Children taking escitalopram must be screened for weight gain and height. Do not stop taking escitalopram abruptly; otherwise, you might experience uncomfortable withdrawal effects. Follow the instructions of your physician about the process of tapering your dose. Keep escitalopram stored at room temperature, free of heat and moisture.

Details on Dosage

Usual Adult Dose for Generalized Anxiety Disorder:

Initial dosage: 10 mg taken every day orally. augment if needed after a minimum of a week of treatment to 20 mg a day.
Dosage for maintenance: 10–20 mg taken orally, once a day.
Maximum dosage: 20 mg taken orally, at least once per day.

Comment: Treatment must be reviewed regularly to determine the need for continual treatment. The efficacy of treatments beyond 8 weeks hasn't been thoroughly studied.

Treatment for acute symptoms of generalized anxiety disorders

Usual Adult Dose for Depression:

Initial dose: 10 mg taken orally every day. Increase as needed after one week of treatment. Then increase to 20 mg daily.
Dosage for maintenance: 10–20 mg once orally every day.
Maximum dosage: 20 mg taken orally, at least once per day.

Comments:
Acute episodes could require months or even years of ongoing treatment with pharmacological drugs beyond the response to an acute episode.
Patients should be assessed regularly to determine if they require regular treatment.

Utilization: An acute and ongoing treatment for major depression disorder

Usual Geriatric Dose for Depression:

Dosage recommended: 10 mg orally every day.

Treatment: The acute or ongoing treatment of major depression disorder

Usual Pediatric Dose for Depression:

Ages 12 and over:
Initial dosage: 10 mg orally every day. Increase as needed after three weeks of treatment. 20 mg daily
Dose for maintenance 10–20 mg once orally every day
Maximum dosage: 20 mg taken orally every day, once

Comments:
Acute episodes could require months or more of continuous medication beyond the time it takes to treat them. Patients should be assessed regularly to determine if they require regular treatment. Utilization: An acute and regular treatment of major depression disorder

What Happens If I Miss a Dose?

You should take the medication as quickly as you can. However, do not take any missed doses if you are close to the time of the next dose. Don't take two doses at a time.

What Happens If I Overdose?

For medical emergencies, seek emergency medical attention or contact the Poison Help line toll-free at 1-800-222-1222.

What Should be Avoided?

Talk to your doctor prior to using a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication (NSAID) like Ibuprofen, aspirin (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), celecoxib (Celebrex), diclofenac, indomethacin, meloxicam, and others. When you take an NSAID combined with escitalopram, it can cause bruises or make you easily bleed.

Avoid alcohol.

Avoid driving or engaging in hazardous activities until you are aware of how escitalopram affects your body. Your reaction could be affected.

Side Effects of Escitalopram

Contact a medical professional immediately. If you are experiencing symptoms that indicate you are experiencing an allergic reaction to escitalopram, These include clear skin or itching, breathing problems, and swelling of your lips, tongue, throat, or face.

Inform your doctor about any new or increasing symptoms, for example, a change in behavior or mood such as anxiety, panic attacks, or trouble sleeping. You should also tell your doctor when you are feeling uncontrollably angry, irritable, or aggressive. anxious, hyperactive (mentally and physically), depressed, or thinking about suicide or harming yourself.

Contact your doctor immediately. If you suffer from:

• Blurred vision blurred vision, tunnel vision, eye swelling or pain, or having halos appear around lights;
• Racing thoughts, risk-taking behavior, and emotions of extreme sadness or happiness;
• Burning or pain after you urinate; (in an infant who is taking escitalopram) loss of weight or slow growth.
• Low levels of sodium in the body may experience headaches, confused speech, vomiting, severe weakness, loss of coordination, and feeling unsteady or unstable.
• Extreme nervous system reactions: extremely hard (rigid) muscles with high fever, sweating, and confusion; rapid or irregular heartbeats; tremors; or a sensation that makes you feel like you may faint.

You should seek medical attention now if you are experiencing signs of serotonin-related syndrome, like hallucinations, agitation, sweating, fever, and shivering. You may also experience rapid heart rate, muscle stiffness, or twitching. Also, you may experience loss of coordination, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhoea.

The most common side effects of escitalopram are:

• Urination that is painful.
• Dizziness, drowsiness, tiredness, weakness.
• Experiencing anxiety or feeling agitated.
• Increased muscle movement, feeling shaking.
• Sleep problems (insomnia).
• Dry mouth, sweating dry mouth, thirst, and loss of appetite.
• Nausea, constipation yawning .
• Nosebleed, heavy menstrual periods, or diminished sex drive, impermanence, or difficulties in getting an orgasm.

This is not a comprehensive list of all the side effects. Others could happen. Contact your physician to seek medical advice on adverse effects. You can report any adverse reactions to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Interaction with Other Drugs

Utilizing escitalopram in conjunction with other medications that cause you to become drowsy could increase the severity of this effect. Consult your physician before taking opioids, sleeping pills such as muscle relaxers, or medication for seizures or anxiety. Discuss with your doctor the current medications you are taking, including blood thinners like warfarin, coumadin, and Jantoven.

A variety of drugs can be incompatible with escitalopram, and some medications should not be taken together. Discuss with your doctor all your medications and any medication you begin or stop taking. This includes over-the-counter and prescription medicine, vitamins, and herbal supplements. The interactions between these products are not included in this list.