Escitalopram

The label describes escitalopram for major depressive disorder in adults and in pediatric patients 12 years and older.

It is also described for generalized anxiety disorder in adults.

• Major depressive disorder, ages 12 and older
• Generalized anxiety disorder in adults

Escitalopram is thought to work by increasing serotonin activity in the brain. It does this by blocking the reuptake of serotonin into nerve cells.

This page covers the US label for escitalopram tablets taken by mouth, with the dosing the label gives for adults and, where the label says so, children.

This is label-level information, not personal advice. Indian pack labels may differ, and your prescriber's instruction always comes first.

For adults with depression, the label describes 10 mg once daily, which may be raised to 20 mg after at least 1 week. For generalized anxiety, 10 mg once daily is the starting dose.

For patients 12 and older with depression, the dose is 10 mg once daily, with a maximum of 20 mg after at least 3 weeks. For elderly people and those with liver impairment, 10 mg once daily is recommended.

It may be taken in the morning or evening, with or without food. The label says to reduce the dose gradually when stopping.

• 10 mg once daily is the usual dose
• Maximum 20 mg once daily
• Morning or evening, with or without food
• Reduce gradually when stopping

The boxed warning says antidepressants increased suicidal thoughts and behaviour in pediatric and young adult patients, so close monitoring is needed. It is not approved for children under 12.

It is contraindicated with MAOIs, including linezolid and intravenous methylene blue, within 14 days, with pimozide, and with allergy to it.

Care is needed with seizures, bipolar disorder, low sodium, bleeding risk and narrow-angle glaucoma. It can interfere with cognitive and motor performance.

• Suicidal thoughts in young people
• Not with MAOIs or pimozide
• Serotonin syndrome risk
• Seizures and mania
• Bleeding risk with NSAIDs and anticoagulants
• Reduce gradually to avoid withdrawal

• MAOIs including linezolid (contraindicated)
• Pimozide (contraindicated)
• Other serotonergic medicines
• NSAIDs, aspirin and warfarin
• MAOIs and pimozide are contraindicated.
• Other serotonergic drugs, such as SSRIs, SNRIs, triptans, tricyclics, opioids, lithium, buspirone and St.
• John's wort, raise serotonin syndrome risk.
• NSAIDs, aspirin, antiplatelets and warfarin may increase bleeding risk.

No match in this label text. Ask your pharmacist about any medicine you take.

The label also says to keep the container tightly closed.

Follow the storage line on your own pack, and keep medicines out of the reach of children.

We did not find escitalopram in the Drugs Rules 1945 Schedule H, H1, X or G rows we checked, so we cannot state its Indian prescription status from our lists. Ask your pharmacist or doctor.

Escitalopram is on the National List of Essential Medicines 2022. Listed forms include: Tablet 5 mg (page 102); Tablet 10 mg (page 102); Tablet 20 mg (page 102); Capsule 10 mg (page 102).

NPPA lists ceiling prices for scheduled escitalopram formulations. The table shows the rows we found. Check NPPA directly for the current list.

The Jan Aushadhi (PMBJP) list we checked has 5 product rows that mention escitalopram. We did not capture prices for them.

The banned fixed-dose combination list we checked has 2 entries that mention escitalopram. This does not mean the single medicine is banned. Use our checker for a specific combination.

NPPA ceiling prices set the most a seller can charge per unit for the listed formulations, before local taxes. They are ceilings, not the price you will always pay.

Jan Aushadhi lists escitalopram products including Escitalopram Tablets IP 10 mg 10 mg; Escitalopram Tablets IP 20 mg 20 mg; Escitalopram Oxelate 10mg and Clonazepam 0.5mg Tablets IP 10mg; Escitalopram Oxalate 5mg and Clonazepam 0.5mg Tablets IP 5mg. We have not shown a price for them. Check the pack and the seller for the actual price.