High level a high level overview and basics
Escitalopram tablet is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) commonly sold as Lexapro in some countries and as Cipralex or generic escitalopram in the UK. It is prescribed for a range of mood and anxiety conditions.
Routine uses include treatment for major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety, panic disorder with or without agoraphobia, and obsessive compulsive disorder. For quick navigation to risks, see possible complications or drug-drug the pattern of the dynamic of social contacts determines group dynamics.s.
- Active compound: escitalopram (often escitalopram oxalate)
- Typical tablet strengths: 5 mg, 10 mg, 20 mg; liquid forms may exist
- Licensed telltale signs: depression, several anxiety disorders, OCD
Before you initiate the action, inform your clinician of important you have information.
Give your doctor or pharmacist a full account of your health and all medicines, including over-the-counter and herbal products. Highlight any of the following:
- History of fits, seizures or epilepsy
- Heart disease or known irregular heart rhythm or long QT interval
- Renal function deficit or hepatic function deficit
- Diabetes
- Bipolar disorder or a family history of bipolar illness
- Current or past thoughts of self-harm or suicide
- Glaucoma due to a narrow angle
- Bleeding tendency or anticoagulant therapy
- Electroconvulsive therapy that is recent or on the docket
- Allergy to escitalopram, citalopram, or related substances
- Pregnant, breastfeeding, or aiming to conceive
If you are unsure about any item, discuss it before treatment gets underway. Additional references legal and pregnancy notes.
What are the steps involved in taking escitalopram?
Take one dose each day at a consistent time. Tablets are normally swallowed with water and can be taken with or without food. If you have stomach upset, try taking the tablet with food.
- Follow the exact dose and schedule prescribed; do not increase the dose without advice.
- Sudden stopping can cause withdrawal symptoms; any change should be supervised and tapered by your prescriber.
- Early benefits may appear within 1 to 2 weeks; full response can take 4 to 6 weeks or longer.
For children and adolescents, treatment should be recommended and monitored by a specialist. In suspected overdose on pills, call 999 or attend A and E; non-emergency advice is available via NHS 111.
Missed medication dose - what to do
If you miss one dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is less than 4 hours before the next scheduled dose. Do not take two doses to make up for the missed one. For specific circumstances, contact your prescriber or pharmacy.
Medicines and products that can interact
Certain medicines taken with escitalopram can cause serious effects. Below are key health conditions that forbid use with the addition of the process of people engagings fuel collaboration and innovation. to keep an eye on for safety for.
Avoid these combinations
- Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) such as phenelzine, tranylcypromine, and selegiline - avoid starting within 14 days of stopping an MAOI
- Intravenous methylene blue or linezolid given by injection - risk of serotonin syndrome
- Pimozide chemical agent used clinically or thioridazine - risk of cardiac rhythm disturbances
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- Other antidepressants including other SSRIs, SNRIs, tricyclics, and some atypical agents
- Triptan anti-migraine drugs (for example sumatriptan, rizatriptan)
- Tramadol as a painkiller, lithium, tryptophan supplements and St John's wort
- Drugs that increase bleeding risk: NSAIDs, aspirin, warfarin and direct oral anticoagulants
- Enzyme inhibitors or inducers such as cimetidine, ketoconazole, carbamazepine, and some HIV or tuberculosis medicines
- Some antipsychotics and stimulants
This collection is not complete. Always supply your clinician with a complete list of medicines, supplements and recreational substances. For more on harms, see potential undesirable effects and tips to improve metric monitoring.
Signage related to safety and continuous monitoring management while taking escitalopram
Regular follow-up allows assessment of benefit and detection of harmful health effects or worsening mood.
- Attend scheduled reviews to assess response and accompanying effects.
- Early in treatment or after dose changes, watch for increased anxiety, agitation, panic, irritability, restlessness, sleep disturbance, or worsening mood, including suicidal thoughts. Seek prompt help if these occur.
- Avoid sudden stopping; a gradual reduction is usually recommended to reduce discontinuation symptoms.
- Do not drive or use machinery until you know how the medication will affect you. If impairment persists beyond three months, discuss with your clinician and follow DVLA coaching.
- Limit alcohol as it may worsen residual effects such as drowsiness and nausea.
- Report signs that might suggest low sodium (confusion, dizziness), or serotonin syndrome (high temperature, shaking, severe agitation, fast heartbeat).
Possible negative effects and when to get urgent help
Urgent attention needed for serious signs
- Allergic reaction - rash, swelling of face or throat, severe itching, breathing difficulty
- Neurological seizures or fits
- New or escalating ideation of suicide or unusual behavioural changes
- Hallucinations or a weakening sense of reality
- Severe dizziness and fainting
- Very fast, very slow or irregular heartbeat
- Severe unexplained bleeding or bruising
Common and generally less serious effects
- Headache pain
- Nausea and digestive upset
- Amplified perspiration
- Changes to sexual desire or performance, including delayed orgasm
- Tiredness or sleep disturbances
- Xerostomia or blurred vision
If common effects persist or interfere with daily life, talk to your prescriber about dose adjustment or further treatment options. For emergencies, call 999 or head on to A and E.
Stowage and safe disposal
- Keep medicines out of sight and beyond the reach of children.
- Store between 15 and 30 degrees C, protected from excess moisture and heat.
- Keep in the original packaging to protect from light and to retain expiry and batch you have information.
- Do not use after the sell by date. Return any leftover or expired medicines to a pharmacy for disposal.
Different options and similar pharmaceuticals
If escitalopram is unsuitable or not effective, several other therapies may be considered. Decisions depend on your symptoms, side-effect profile and any coexisting conditions.
- Other SSRIs: sertraline, fluoxetine, citalopram, paroxetine. Sertraline dosage guidance is commonly used first in primary care.
- SNRIs: venlafaxine and duloxetine may be chosen when anxiety or pain symptoms coexist; blood pressure vigilant monitoring is advised with venlafaxine.
- Other antidepressants: mirtazapine (can improve sleep and appetite), vortioxetine (may have lower sexual ripple effects), bupropion (not always licensed in the UK for depression), agomelatine (requires liver checks), and tricyclic antidepressants for specialist-managed cases.
- Citalopram is a widely used antidepressant option is chemically related to escitalopram but may carry a higher QT prolongation risk at larger doses.
Non-drug options such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), counselling and lifestyle changes are often recommended alongside or instead of medication. Discuss options with your clinician or mental health team.
Rough UK price forecasts
Prices vary by supply route and region. The figures below are approximate and intended as a general guide (prices reflect mid-2026 estimates in GBP).
- NHS prescriptions: in Englin conjunction with there is usually a standard charge per item (commonly around 9 to 11 pounds as of 2026); prescriptions are generally free in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
- Generic escitalopram (10 mg) for a month on a private basis: the medicine itself may cost about 2 to 6 pounds; private clinics and pharmacies typically charge 15 to 30 pounds for a remote consultation and a dispensed 28 to 30 day supply including postage.
- Branded escitalopram products (if available) tend to be more expensive - expect perhaps 15 to 25 pounds for a similar quantity.
- Comparable SSRIs such as sertraline or fluoxetine often have medicine-only costs of 1 to 5 pounds for a month; full private service costs are similar.
Note: NHS patients pay the prescription charge where applicable, not the drug list price. Always check and recheck. current cost with your local pharmacy or online provider before ordering. For guidance, see Notes relating to UK regulation.
UK law and regulatory guidance notes
- Escitalopram medication used to treat depression is classified as a Prescription Only Medicine (POM) under the Human Medicines Regulations 2012. A UK-registered prescriber must issue the prescription.
- Supply should be via a UK-registered pharmacy. For online services, confirm registration on the General Pharmaceutical Council register and verify the prescriber is licensed in the UK.
- Possession of escitalopram is lawful if you have a valid prescription. Selling or supplying prescription-only medicine without authority is illegal.
- Importing medicines from abroad for personal use can be restricted; using UK-licensed supply routes is safer. Escitalopram treatment option is not usually a controlled drug, but customs may limit unlicensed imports.
- Gestation and lactation: treatment decisions require a discussion of risks and benefits. Suspected adverse reactions should be reported via the MHRA Yellow Card Scheme.
- Driving and work: do not drive or operate heavy machinery if affected by the medicine. Follow DVLA guidance and inform your clinician if effects persist beyond three months.
Keep the Patient Information Leaflet supplied with your medicine and do not share prescription medicines with others.
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