Lexapro

Escitalopram oxalate

Major depressive episode, panic disorder w/ or w/o agoraphobia, social or generalised anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

Major depressive episodes, social or generalised anxiety disorder, OCD 10 mg once daily, may be increased to max: 20 mg daily. Panic disorder w/ or w/o agoraphobia Initially 5 mg for 1st wk before increasing to 10 mg daily. May be further increased up to max: 20 mg daily. Elderly >65 yr Initially ½ the usual dose. Reduce hepatic function, poor CYP2C19 metaboliser Initially 5 mg daily for 1st 2 wk, may be increased to 10 mg daily.

May be taken with or without food.

Hypersensitivity. Concomitant treatment w/ nonselective, irreversible MAOIs; pimozide.

Discontinue use if serotonin syndrome or increased seizure frequency occurs; in patients entering manic phase. Avoid use in patients w/ unstable epilepsy. History of suicide-related events, suicidal ideation. Paradoxical anxiety; history of mania/hypomania; diabetes; akathisia/psychomotor restlessness; known bleeding tendencies; angle-closure glaucoma or history of glaucoma. Closely monitor patients w/ controlled epilepsy. Avoid abrupt discontinuation. Not recommended to be used w/ reversible, selective MAO-A inhibitors. Concomitant use w/ drugs causing hyponatraemia; oral anticoagulants, medicinal products affecting platelet function eg, atypical antipsychotics, phenothiazines, TCAs, ASA, NSAIDs, ticlopidine, dipyridamole; medicinal products w/ serotonergic effects eg, sumatriptan or other triptans, tramadol, tryptophan; St. John's wort-containing herbal remedies. Concurrent use w/ electroconvulsive therapy. May affect ability to drive & use machines. Cirrhotic patients. Severe renal impairment (CrCl <30 mL/min). Not to be used during pregnancy. Not recommended during lactation. Not to be used in childn & adolescents <18 yr. Elderly.

Nausea. Decreased/increased appetite, increased wt; anxiety, restlessness, abnormal dreams, decreased libido, female anorgasmia; insomnia, somnolence, dizziness, paraesthesia, tremor; sinusitis, yawning; diarrhoea, constipation, vomiting, dry mouth; increased sweating; arthralgia, myalgia; ejaculation disorder, male impotence; fatigue, pyrexia.

Serotonin syndrome w/ non-selective MAOIs; reversible, selective MAOI-A eg, moclobemide; irreversible MAOI-B eg, selegiline; serotonergic drugs eg, tramadol, sumatriptan, other triptans. Increased AUC & C_max of pimozide. Enhanced effects w/ lithium, tryptophan. Increased adverse reaction incidence w/ St. John's wort-containing herbal remedies. Altered anticoagulant effects w/ oral anticoagulants. Increased bleeding tendency w/ NSAIDs. Increased plasma conc w/ omeprazole, cimetidine. Increased plasma levels of desipramine, metoprolol. Concomitant use w/ fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, lansoprazole, ticlopidine, flecainide, propafenone, clomipramine, nortriptyline, antipsychotics, CYP2C19-metabolized drugs, alcohol. Caution w/ medicinal products lowering seizure threshold w/ TCAs, SSRIs, neuroleptics (eg, phenothiazine, thioxanthenes, butyrophenones), mefloquine, bupropion, tramadol.

Antidepressants

N06AB10 - escitalopram ; Belongs to the class of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Used in the management of depression.

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