Escitalopram
About
Escitalopram is a type of antidepressant which belongs to the class of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) and is primarily used in the treatment of depression and other mental health conditions which include anxiety, panic disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Depression is a mood disorder that affects day to day life of a person. A person may have symptoms such as feeling sad or feeling of loss and might have mood swings. Anxiety is defined as an emotion that is characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts, and symptoms like increased blood pressure. Anxiety disorder also includes panic disorder which is characterized by sudden feelings of terror. In Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), a person feels the need to think or perform things repeatedly.
Escitalopram works by increasing serotonin levels. Serotonin is a chemical messenger in the brain which is responsible for improving the mood and physical symptoms of depression. It is also responsible for relieving symptoms of anxiety, panic attacks, and obsessive-compulsive disorders.
You can take Escitalopram with or without food. It should be swallowed whole with a glass of water. Do not chew, bite, or break it. Your doctor will advise you on how often you take your tablets based on your medical condition. In some cases, you may experience a decreased or increased appetite, weight gain, pain, sweating, fatigue, or high fever. Most of these side effects of Escitalopram do not require medical attention and gradually resolve over time. However, if the side effects are persistent, reach out to your doctor.
Try not to stop taking Escitalopram of your own as it may lead to unpleasant side effects. Let your doctor know about this, as it may cause withdrawal symptoms. let your doctor know if you have epilepsy (seizure disorder or fits), diabetes, liver or kidney disease, any heart problems, or are currently taking medicines for depression known as MAO inhibitors (such as Isocarboxazid, Phenelzine, Selegiline) or problems with alcohol or other prescription drugs. These may affect your treatment also Inform your doctor if you are allergic to Escitalopram.
Uses of Escitalopram
Medicinal Benefits
Escitalopram is a type of antidepressant which belongs to the class of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) and is primarily used in the treatment of depression and other mental health conditions which include anxiety, panic disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Escitalopram works by increasing serotonin levels. Serotonin is a chemical messenger in the brain which is responsible for improving the mood and physical symptoms of depression. It is also responsible for relieving symptoms of anxiety, panic attacks, and obsessive-compulsive disorders.
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Escitalopram
- Nausea
- Headache
- Blocked or runny nose (sinusitis)
- Increased or decreased appetite
- Anxiety
- Restlessness
In-Depth Precautions and Warning
Drug Warnings
Taking Escitalopram should be avoided in patients having epilepsy (Brain disorder in which brain activity becomes abnormal, causing seizures), impaired liver or kidney function, diabetes, decreased level of sodium in the blood, tendency to easily develop bleedings or bruises, patients receiving electroconvulsive treatment, having coronary heart disease, suffering or have suffered from heart problems or have recently had a heart attack, having a low resting heart-rate, prolonged severe diarrhoea, and vomiting (Being sick) or using diuretics (water tablets), experiencing a fast or irregular heartbeat, fainting, collapse, or dizziness on standing up, which may indicate abnormal functioning of the heart rate, having or previously had eye problems, such as certain kinds of glaucoma (increased pressure in the eye).
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interaction: This medicine may have an interaction with anti-depressants such as phenelzine, iproniazid and tranylcypromine, medicines used to treat Parkinson's disease such as selegiline. Taking this medicine with Escitalopram can increase the risk of side effects, antibiotic linezolid, lithium (used in the treatment of manic-depressive disorder) and tryptophan, anti-depressants such as Imipramine and desipramine, medicines used to treat migraines such as Sumatriptan, medicines used for severe pain such as tramadol, medicines used for stomach ulcers such as Cimetidine, lansoprazole, and omeprazole, medicines used to treat fungal infections such as fluconazole, medicines used to reduce the risk of strokes such as ticlopidine, blood-thinning medicines (warfarin, dipyridamole, and phenprocoumon) and pain killers, antimalarials such as mefloquine, medicines used for heart diseases such as flecainide, propafenone. Medicines that decrease blood levels of potassium or magnesium, as these increase the risk of life-threatening heart rhythm disorder.
Drug-Food Interaction: Escitalopram may interact with multi-mineral or other herbal/ayurvedic supplements. So, if you are using any of the OTC items please tell your doctor.
Drug-Disease Interaction: People affected with bipolar disorder (manic depression), bleeding or blood clotting disorder, drug addiction or suicidal thoughts, liver or kidney disease, seizures, low levels of sodium in your blood, cardiovascular disorders like high blood pressure, chest pain (angina), and coronary artery disease should avoid intake of Escitalopram.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
unsafeIt is not recommended to take alcohol with Escitalopram to avoid unpleasant side-effects.
Pregnancy
unsafeEscitalopram is not recommended in pregnancy. However, if you were already taking this medicine before becoming pregnant, do not stop taking it without consulting your doctor. It can pose a small risk of problems for an unborn baby. Your doctor might prescribe you this medicine in pregnancy depending upon your condition as it is important to stay well in pregnancy.
Breast Feeding
unsafeEscitalopram passes into breast milk in very small amounts and might cause side effects in breastfed babies. It can be prescribed if the baby is healthy. However, if after taking Escitalopram, the baby isn't feeding well as usual, or is sleeping a lot than normal, please consult your doctor.
Driving
unsafeIt is not recommended to drive after taking Escitalopram as it may cause drowsiness and interfere with your driving ability.
Liver
cautionEscitalopram to be taken with caution, especially if you have a history of liver diseases/conditions. The dose may have to be adjusted by your doctor.
Kidney
cautionEscitalopram to be taken with caution, especially if you have a history of kidney diseases/conditions as dose adjustment might be required.
Children
unsafeEscitalopram is not recommended in children below 12 years of age.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Doing regular exercise can help lower anxiety by releasing endorphins and improving sleep.
- Find humour in your daily life. Try to watch light-hearted shows to help relieve stress.
- You can try increasing your mindfulness by including yoga, meditation, cognitive therapy, and mindfulness-based stress reduction.
- Drink enough water to stay hydrated, and limit or avoid alcohol and caffeine to relieve anxiety.
- Include a diet rich in whole grains, vegetables, and fruits. This is a healthier option than eating many simple carbohydrates in processed foods.
- Herbs like turmeric, ginger, and chamomile contain anti-inflammatory properties. Including these stuff in meals can reduce inflammation caused due to anxiety disorder.
- Reduce your alcohol, caffeine, added sugar, high salt, and high fat intake. Significantly transfat may help also help reduce inflammation.
- You can include antioxidants in your daily diet, like ashwagandha, omega-3 fatty acids, green tea, and lemon balm.
- Try to spend time with your friends and family. Having a solid social network may help you lower your risk of anxiety.
Special Advise
- Escitalopram causes drowsiness. Avoid doing activities that require your complete focus and attention like driving when on this drug.
- An abrupt stoppage of Escitalopram can lead to significant withdrawal symptoms. Always discuss with your doctor about decreasing the dosage before completely stopping its usage.
- Avoid consuming alcohol while on this medication as it can lead to dangerous side effects.
- Escitalopram is unsafe for usage if you're pregnant or are planning to get pregnant. Discuss with your doctor in such situations about changing/replacing the medicine with safer alternatives.
- Do not self-medicate.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Depression: It is a mood disorder that affects day to day life of a person. A person may have symptoms such as feeling sad or feeling of loss and might have mood swings.
Anxiety: It is defined as an emotion that is characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts, and symptoms like increased blood pressure. Anxiety disorder also includes panic disorder which is characterized by sudden feelings of terror.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD): In this disorder, a person feels the need to think or perform things repeatedly.
FAQs
It takes about 2-4 weeks before you start feeling better. It is advised not to stop this medicine without consulting your doctor as may lead to unpleasant side-effects.
Escitalopram is not advised in cases if a person is allergic to Escitalopram, has epilepsy, or are having electroconvulsive treatment as Escitalopram may increase your risk of having a seizure. Escitalopram should not be taken by a person having heart problems as taking Escitalopram can speed up or change the heartbeat. It should not be given to a person having a low heart rate along with symptoms of diarrhoea and vomiting, pregnant women, trying to get pregnant, breastfeeding, having eye problems such as glaucoma. In diabetics, it can cause difficulty in keeping stable blood sugar levels.
Escitalopram should be preferably taken in the morning as taking it at night can keep you awake till late. It is better to take it at a fixed time.
Certain side-effects of Escitalopram can be dealt with simple tips such as if you experience dry mouth, you can chew sugar-free gum or take sugar-free sweets. If you are sweating a lot while taking Escitalopram, wear loose clothing, and use a strong antiperspirant. If you are unable to sleep after taking Escitalopram, prefer to take it in the morning to avoid sleep disturbances. If you feel sleepy after taking Escitalopram, avoid taking it in the evening and limit your alcohol intake. If you feel tired or weak after taking Escitalopram, sit or lie down until you feel better. If you feel that the side-effects are worsening, please consult your doctor.
Taking Escitalopram in more than the recommended dose can cause unpleasant side-effects such as dizziness, tremor, agitation, convulsion, coma, nausea, vomiting, changes in heart rhythm, decreased blood pressure, and change in body fluid/salt balance.
Initially, Escitalopram can make you feel less hungry which can make you lose weight. After some days, you might gain weight as your appetite returns. If you experience too much weight loss or gain, please consult your doctor.
Yes, Escitalopram might cause memory problems along with headache, confusion, trouble concentrating, weakness, or unsteadiness.
Escitalopram should be taken as per the advice of your doctor. Once you start feeling better, you might have to continue it for several months to prevent the symptoms from returning back. Your doctor will advise you on how much time you need to continue Escitalopram depending upon the type and severity of your symptoms.
In case you miss a dose of Escitalopram, do not take a double dose of Escitalopram. If you remember the missed dose before sleeping, take it at that time and take Escitalopram at the same time the next day which were you taking earlier. If you remember the missed dose the next day, leave the skipped dose, and continue with the next dose.
Yes, it is very important to inform your doctor if you are planning to get pregnant and are taking Escitalopram. It is not advised to take this medicine in pregnancy as it might pose a risk to the unborn baby. However, please consult your doctor before you stop taking Escitalopram as the sudden stoppage of this medicine can lead to unpleasant side-effects.
