ESCITALOPRAM

Worsening depression: Antidepressant medications are used to treat a variety of conditions, including depression and other mental/mood disorders. However, studies have shown that a small number of people (especially people younger than 25) who take antidepressants for any condition may experience worsening depression, other mental/mood symptoms, or suicidal thoughts/attempts. Therefore, it is very important to talk with the doctor about the risks and benefits of antidepressant medication (especially for people younger than 25), even if treatment is not for a mental/mood condition.

Some of the side effects that can occur with escitalopram may not need medical attention:

More common

• Constipation
• decreased interest in sexual intercourse
• diarrhea
• dry mouth
• ejaculation delay
• gas in the stomach
• heartburn
• inability to have or keep an erection
• loss in sexual ability, desire, drive, or performance
• sleepiness or unusual drowsiness
• trouble sleeping

Less common

• Bloated or full feeling
• burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, “pins and needles”, or tingling feelings
• chills
• cough
• decreased appetite
• excess air or gas in the stomach or intestines
• fever
• general feeling of discomfort or illness
• increased sweating
• joint pain
• muscle aches and pains
• not able to have an orgasm
• pain in the neck or shoulders
• pain or tenderness around the eyes and cheekbones
• passing gas
• runny nose
• shivering
• sneezing
• sore throat
• stuffy nose
• tightness of the chest
• tooth problems
• trouble breathing
• unusual dreams
• unusual drowsiness, dullness, tiredness, weakness or feeling of sluggishness
• yawning

Precautions

Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist about all the products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products).

• Allergy: Before taking escitalopram, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or to citalopram; or if you have any other allergies.
• Medical History: Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you had: personal or family history of bipolar/manic-depressive disorder, personal or family history of suicide attempts, liver disease, seizures, intestinal ulcers/bleeding (peptic ulcer disease) or bleeding problems, low sodium in the blood (hyponatremia), personal or family history of glaucoma (angle-closure type).
• QT prolongation: Escitalopram may cause a condition that affects the heart rhythm (QT prolongation).

Before using escitalopram, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the drugs you take and if you have any of the following conditions: certain heart problems (heart failure, slow heartbeat, recent heart attack, QT prolongation in the EKG), family history of certain heart problems (QT prolongation in the EKG, sudden cardiac death). Low levels of potassium or magnesium in the blood may also increase your risk of QT prolongation.

Dizzy: This drug may make you dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do any activity that requires alertness until you are sure you can perform such activities safely. Avoid alcoholic beverages.

Diabetic patients: The liquid form of this medication may contain sugar and/or aspartame. Caution is advised if you have diabetes, phenylketonuria (PKU), or any other condition that requires you to limit/avoid these substances in your diet.

Pregnancy Risk:  Category C.  During pregnancy, this medication should be used only when clearly needed. It may harm an unborn baby.

Breastfeeding: This medication passes into breast milk and may have undesirable effects on a nursing infant. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

Interactions

• Some products that may interact with this drug include: other drugs that can cause bleeding/bruising (including antiplatelet drugs such as clopidogrel, NSAIDs such as ibuprofen, “blood thinners” such as warfarin).
• Aspirin can increase the risk of bleeding when used with this medication.
• Taking MAO inhibitors with this medication may cause a serious (possibly fatal) drug interaction. Avoid taking MAO inhibitors (isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue, moclobemide, phenelzine, procarbazine, rasagiline, selegiline, tranylcypromine) during treatment with this medication.
• The risk of serotonin syndrome/toxicity increases if you are also taking other drugs that increase serotonin. Examples include street drugs such as MDMA/”ecstasy,” St. John’s wort, certain antidepressants (including other SSRIs such as fluoxetine/paroxetine, SNRIs such as duloxetine/venlafaxine), tryptophan, among others.
• Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking other products that cause drowsiness including alcohol, antihistamines (such as cetirizine, diphenhydramine), drugs for sleep or anxiety (such as alprazolam, diazepam, zolpidem), muscle relaxants, and narcotic pain relievers (such as codeine).
• Many drugs besides escitalopram may affect the heart rhythm (QT prolongation), including amiodarone, pimozide, procainamide, quinidine, sotalol, among others.
• Escitalopram is very similar to citalopram. Do not use medications containing citalopram while using escitalopram.

Overdose

If overdose is suspected, contact a poison control center or emergency room immediately.

Notes

Do not share this medication with others.

Keep all regular medical and psychiatric appointments.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up.

Storage

Store at room temperature away from light and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medications away from children and pets.

Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company.

Brands

Available Brands:

Also marketed as