Lexapro Tablets (Escitalopram Oxalate)
Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information
Prescription RequiredQuick Facts
What Is Lexapro Tablets Used For?
Lexapro contains escitalopram oxalate and belongs to a group of medicines called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). These medications work by affecting brain chemicals called amines that help control mood.
Primary Uses
Lexapro is used to treat depression, which is longer lasting or more severe than normal ‘low moods’. It may also be used to treat patients who avoid or are fearful of social situations, those with excessive anxiety and worry, and those with irrational fears or obsessive-compulsive behaviors involving unwanted repetitive thoughts and actions.
How It Works
Depression is thought to be caused by a chemical imbalance in parts of the brain. This imbalance affects your whole body and can cause emotional and physical symptoms like feeling low, loss of interest in activities, poor appetite, disturbed sleep, loss of energy, and feeling guilty. Lexapro corrects this chemical imbalance and may help relieve these symptoms.
How to Take Lexapro Tablets
Your doctor will decide the right dose for you. Take Lexapro as a single dose either in the morning or evening, with or without food.
Dosage Instructions
The standard dose is 10 mg per day, which may be increased by your doctor to 20 mg per day. For elderly patients over 65, the maximum recommended dose is 10 mg per day. Patients with liver disease should start with 5 mg daily for the first two weeks, which may then be increased to 10 mg daily. Swallow tablets whole with a full glass of water – do not chew them. The 10 mg and 20 mg tablets can be divided into equal doses by placing the tablet on a flat surface with the score facing up and pressing down on each end.
What If You Miss a Dose?
If you remember within 12 hours of your usual time, take it straight away and then continue as normal. If it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose when scheduled. Never take a double dose to make up for a missed one.
Important: Never stop taking Lexapro suddenly or reduce the dose without telling your doctor. This must be done gradually over a couple of weeks to avoid withdrawal symptoms.
Side Effects
Like all medications, this medicine can cause side effects. Most are mild and temporary, but some require medical attention.
Common Side Effects
These side effects occur relatively frequently and usually don’t require emergency care:
- Decreased appetite or loss of appetite
- Dry mouth
- Diarrhea
- Nausea (feeling sick)
- Sleeplessness
- Fatigue, sleepiness or drowsiness
- Yawning
- Increased sweating
- Sexual disturbances (decreased sexual drive, problems with ejaculation or erection, difficulty achieving orgasm)
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
- Thoughts of harming yourself or suicide
- Serious allergic reaction (swelling of face, lips, mouth, throat, difficulty breathing, hives)
- High fever, agitation, confusion, trembling and muscle contractions (serotonin syndrome)
- Mania (elevated mood)
- Hallucinations
- Seizures
- Fast, irregular heartbeat
- Difficulties urinating
- Yellowing of skin and eyes (liver problems)
- Low sodium levels in blood
- Bleeding disorders and bruising
- Heavy vaginal bleeding after birth
Important Warnings
There are several important warnings and precautions to be aware of before and while taking Lexapro.
Who Should Not Take Lexapro Tablets
Do not use Lexapro if you are allergic to escitalopram oxalate, citalopram, or any other ingredients. Do not take with pimozide (used for mental disorders) or monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) like phenelzine, tranylcypromine, moclobemide, linezolid, or selegiline. You must wait 14 days after stopping most MAOIs before starting Lexapro, or one day after stopping moclobemide. After stopping Lexapro, wait 14 days before taking any MAOI.
Medical Conditions to Discuss
Tell your doctor if you have: tendency to bleed or bruise easily, diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, liver disease, bipolar disorder, history of seizures, restlessness, raised eye pressure or risk of angle-closure glaucoma, or if you’re receiving electroconvulsive therapy.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Check with your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Lexapro may reduce sperm quality and could affect fertility. When taken during pregnancy, especially in the last three months, it may affect your newborn and increase risk of persistent pulmonary hypertension, causing faster breathing and bluish appearance. There may be increased risk of heavy vaginal bleeding after birth. Never stop Lexapro abruptly during pregnancy. Lexapro passes into breast milk, so discuss risks and benefits with your doctor before breastfeeding.
Suicide Risk: People taking Lexapro may be more likely to think about or attempt suicide, especially when first starting or changing doses. This is more likely in young adults aged 18-24. Tell your doctor immediately about any thoughts of self-harm or suicide.
Drug Interactions
Many medications can interact with Lexapro and affect how it works. Always tell your doctor about all medicines, vitamins, and supplements you’re taking.
- Nicotine dependence medicines (bupropion)
- Reflux and ulcer medicines (cimetidine, omeprazole, esomeprazole, lansoprazole)
- NSAIDs and aspirin
- Blood thinners (ticlopidine, warfarin)
- Anti-fungal medicines (fluconazole)
- Anti-malaria medicines (mefloquine)
- Migraine medicines (sumatriptan)
- Pain medicines (tramadol)
- Heart medicines (flecainide, propafenone, metoprolol)
- Amino acids (tryptophan)
- Mood stabilizers (lithium)
- Antipsychotics (risperidone, thioridazine, haloperidol)
- Tricyclic antidepressants (imipramine, desipramine)
- St John’s Wort
- Other depression, anxiety, or OCD medicines
Alcohol & Driving
Be cautious with alcohol consumption and driving while taking Lexapro, as it can affect your ability to function safely.
Alcohol
Tell your doctor if you drink alcohol. It is not advisable to drink alcohol while being treated for depression with Lexapro.
Driving and Operating Machinery
Be careful before driving or using machines until you know how Lexapro affects you. Lexapro may cause visual disturbances (blurred vision), nausea, fatigue, and dizziness, especially early in treatment. If you experience these symptoms, do not drive, operate machinery, or do anything that could be dangerous.
Storage
Store Lexapro in a cool, dry place below 30°C, away from moisture, heat, and sunlight. Keep tablets in their original packaging and in a safe place away from children. Do not store in the bathroom, near a sink, in the car, or on windowsills. Take any unwanted or expired medicine to a pharmacy for safe disposal.
Overdose Information
If you think you have taken too much Lexapro, seek urgent medical attention immediately. Overdose symptoms may include dizziness, low blood pressure, nausea, vomiting, agitation, tremor, and rarely convulsions and coma. Call the Poisons Information Centre (13 11 26), contact your doctor, or go to the nearest hospital emergency department, even if you feel fine.
Frequently Asked Questions
It may take a few weeks before you feel any improvement in your condition. Continue taking Lexapro even if it takes some time to feel better, as individuals vary greatly in their response to the medication.
Yes, you can take Lexapro with or without food. Take it as a single dose either in the morning or evening, whichever works best for you.
Never stop Lexapro suddenly as this may cause withdrawal symptoms like dizziness, pins and needles, electric shock sensations, sleep disturbances, anxiety, headaches, nausea, vomiting, sweating, tremor, confusion, and visual disturbances. Your doctor will gradually reduce your dose over a couple of weeks.
It is not advisable to drink alcohol while being treated for depression with Lexapro. Tell your doctor if you drink alcohol so they can advise you properly.
The duration of treatment varies for each person but is usually at least 6 months. In some cases, your doctor may decide that longer treatment is necessary. Continue taking it for as long as your doctor tells you, even if you feel better, as stopping too soon may cause symptoms to return.
Yes, Lexapro can be given to elderly patients over 65 years of age, but with a reduced dose. The recommended maximum dose for elderly patients is 10 mg per day, compared to 20 mg for other adults.
No, do not give Lexapro to children or adolescents. There is no experience with its use in people under 18 years old.
Important Disclaimer
This information is intended for general educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or emergency services immediately.