Escitalopram: What is it and what is it for?

What is escitalopram?

Escitalopramis a synthetic drug classified as an active ingredientby the drug, which belongs to the line of antidepressant drugs, used to treat patients withsome psychological disorders in thecentral nervous system. (1)

What is escitalopram for?

• Escitalopram isan antidepressant medication that acts as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor that is the S enantiomer of citalopram, indicated to treat patientswith psychological disorders. (2)
• It is used to treat:
  • Major depressionor to prevent relapses. (3)
  • Panic disorder.
  • Social or generalizedanxietydisorder.
  • Panic disorders with or without agoraphobia.
  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Dosage and routes of administration of escitalopram

Escitalopram comes asa 10 mg and 20 mgtablet with escitalopram oxalate. The dose for informational purposes may be as follows:

• Treatment of major depressive disorder: A dose of 10 mg is recommended, 1 time a day, and may be increased to a maximum of 20 mg.
• Treatment of generalized anxiety disorder: A dose of 10 mg is recommended, 1 time a day, and may be increased to a maximum of 20 mg.
• Treatment of panic disorder (panic attack) with or without agoraphobia: It is recommended to start treatment with 1 single dose of 5 mg daily for the first week and then increase the dose to 10 mg daily.
• Treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder: The initial dose is 10 mg once a day, which can be increased up to a maximum of 2 doses a day, according to the doctor’s recommendation.
• Treatment of social phobia: The recommended dose is 10 mg once a day, which can be increased to a maximum of 20 mg, according to medical recommendation.

What products contain escitalopram?

Some of the medicines that contain escitalopram are:

• Cipralex®
• Elicea®
• Esertia®
• Heipram®

Cipralex®

• Cipralex® is a synthetic medicine whose main component is escitalopram, in tablets of 5, 10, 15 and 20 mg.
• It is indicated to treat psychological disorders .

Elicea®

• Elicea® has escitalopram oxalate as its main component, in presentation of 10, 15 and 20 mg tablets.
• It is indicated for the treatment of major depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, among others.

Esertia®

• Esertia® is the trademark of a synthetic medicine that belongs to the group of antidepressants and contains escitalopram oxalate, whose presentation is 5, 10, 15 and 20 mg and 20 mg/ml oral drops.
• It is indicated for the treatment of major depression and anxiety disorders.

Heipram®

• Heipram® is a drug made mainly with escitalopram, with antidepressant effect in presentations of 10 and 20 mg.
• This medication is used to treat major depression , panic disorder with or without agoraphobia, social anxiety disorder, among others.

Escitalopram Side Effects

The first weeks of treatment with escitalopram may cause some of the following side effects in certain patients :

• Possible allergic reactions due to contact with any component of the formula,
• Decreased appetite.
• Insomnia , drowsiness, dizziness.
• Nausea.
• Weight gain.
• Decreased libido, anorgasmia (in women).
• disorders
• Diarrhea , constipation .
• Ejaculation disorders, sexual impotence.
• Sinusitis , yawning.

Important : Discontinue use and inform your doctor if any of these symptoms or any other symptoms not included in the list appear during treatment with escitalopram.

Contraindications and warnings of escitalopram

Treatment with escitalopram is contraindicated in the following cases:

• Hypersensitivity to any of the formula’s components.
• If you have a history of drug abuse.
• Pregnancy and lactation .
• In patients with concomitant treatment with monoamine oxidase inhibitors.
• Do not administer in children and adolescents under 18 years of age.

To highlight: Before starting treatment with this drug, it is advisable to provide allthe informationabout your medical history to your doctor.

Avoid it if you have:

• Severe liver failure.
• Severe renal failure.
• History of seizure.
• Than driving vehicles or operating machinery.

Warnings:

• Do not mix this medicine with the consumption of alcohol and other drugs.
• Do not mix with other antidepressant medications.
• Concomitant administration of escitalopram and herbal remedies containing St. John’s Wort is not appropriate as it may increase the incidence of adverse reactions.
• The plasma concentration of escitalopram is increased with concomitant use with cimetidine, so great caution must be exercised.
• Keep this medicine out of the reach of children.