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Lexapro
escitalopram
Black Box Warnings .
Suicidality
antidepressants incr. suicidality risk in peds and young adult pts in short-term studies; monitor closely for clinical worsening and suicidality; advise families and caregivers of need for close observation and communication w/ prescriber; not approved for peds pts <7 yo
Adult Dosing .
Dosage forms: TAB: 5 mg, 10 mg, 20 mg
major depressive disorder
- [10 mg PO qd]
- Start: 10 mg PO qd, may incr. to 20 mg PO qd after at least 1wk; Max: 20 mg/day; Info: max 10 mg/day in elderly pts; taper dose gradually to D/C
generalized anxiety disorder
- [10-20 mg PO qd]
- Start: 10 mg PO qd, may incr. to 20 mg PO qd after at least 1wk; Max: 20 mg/day; Info: max 10 mg/day in elderly pts; taper dose gradually to D/C
vasomotor sx, mod-severe menopausal (off-label)
- [10-20 mg PO qd]
- Start: 10 mg PO qd, may incr. to 20 mg PO qd after at least 1wk; Max: 20 mg/day; Info: start 5 mg PO qd in elderly pts; taper dose gradually to D/C
renal dosing
- [see below]
- CrCl >20: no adjustment; CrCl <20: not defined
- HD/PD: not defined
hepatic dosing
- [adjust dose amount]
- hepatic impairment: max 10 mg/day
Peds Dosing .
- Dosage forms: TAB: 5 mg, 10 mg, 20 mg
major depressive disorder
- [7-11 yo (off-label)]
- Dose: 10 mg PO qd; Start: 5 mg PO qd, incr. to 10 mg PO qd after at least 3wk; Max: 20 mg/day; Info: taper dose gradually to D/C
- [12-17 yo]
- Dose: 10 mg PO qd; Start: 10 mg PO qd, may incr. to 20 mg PO qd after at least 3wk; Max: 20 mg/day; Info: taper dose gradually to D/C
generalized anxiety disorder
- [7 yo and older]
- Dose: 10-20 mg PO qd; Start: 10 mg PO qd, may incr. to 20 mg PO qd after at least 2wk; Max: 20 mg/day; Info: taper dose gradually to D/C
social anxiety disorder (off-label)
- [10-17 yo]
- Dose: 10 mg PO qd; Start: 5 mg PO qd, incr. by 5 mg/day qwk; Max: 20 mg/day; Info: taper dose gradually to D/C
autism (off-label)
- [6-17 yo]
- Dose: 5-10 mg PO qd; Start: 2.5 mg PO qd, incr. by 5 mg/day qwk; Max: 20 mg/day; Info: taper dose gradually to D/C
renal dosing
- [not defined]
- renal impairment: consider adult renal dosing for guidance
- HD/PD: not defined
hepatic dosing
- [not defined]
- hepatic impairment: consider adult hepatic dosing for guidance
Contraindications / Cautions .
- hypersensitivity to drug or ingredient
- hypersensitivity to citalopram
- MAO inhibitor use w/in 14 days
- abrupt withdrawal
- caution: CNS depressant use, concurrent
- caution: alcohol use, concurrent
- caution: pts <25 yo
- caution: elderly pts
- caution: hepatic impairment
- caution: QT prolongation
- caution: QT prolongation family hx
- caution: long QT syndrome, congenital
- caution: torsades de pointes hx
- caution: ventricular arrhythmia
- caution: bradycardia
- caution: MI, recent
- caution: CHF
- caution: electrolyte abnormalities
- caution: bleeding risk
- caution: hypomania hx
- caution: mania hx
- caution: glaucoma, angle-closure
- caution: seizure hx
- caution: volume depletion
Drug Interactions .
Overview
escitalopram
SSRI
- CYP2C19 substrate
- CYP3A4 substrate
- CYP2D6 inhibitor, weak
- antiplatelet effects
- CNS depression
- hyponatremia
- lowers seizure threshold
- prolongs QT interval (conditional)
- serotonergic effects
- add MAO inhibitor to Interaction Check if recent (14 days) use
Contraindicated
- eliglustat
- isocarboxazid
- linezolid
- methylene blue injection
- phenelzine
- pimozide
- selegiline transdermal
- thioridazine
- tranylcypromine
Avoid/Use Alternative
- 5-HTP
- aldesleukin
- alfentanil
- almotriptan
- amifampridine
- amitriptyline
- amoxapine
- amphetamine
- arsenic trioxide
- artemether/lumefantrine
- bedaquiline
- bromocriptine
- buprenorphine
- buspirone
- butalbital
- butorphanol
- carbamazepine
- cisapride
- citalopram
- clomipramine
- clonidine
- cocaine
- codeine
- crizotinib
- cyclobenzaprine
- desipramine
- desvenlafaxine
- dexmethylphenidate
- dextroamphetamine
- dextromethorphan
- dihydrocodeine
- dihydroergotamine
- domperidone
- doxepin
- doxepin topical
- doxylamine
- dronedarone
- duloxetine
- edoxaban
- eletriptan
- enoxaparin
- ephedra
- ergotamine
- escitalopram
- ethanol
- fenfluramine
- fentanyl
- fexinidazole
- fluoxetine
- fluvoxamine
- fondaparinux
- frovatriptan
- gepirone
- granisetron
- hydrocodone
- hydromorphone
- hydroxychloroquine
- imipramine
- iohexol
- isoniazid
- kava
- kratom
- lasmiditan
- lefamulin
- levomilnacipran
- levorphanol
- lisdexamfetamine
- lithium
- lonafarnib
- meperidine
- metaxalone
- methadone
- methamphetamine
- methylene blue oral
- methylergonovine
- methylphenidate
- metoclopramide
- midazolam
- milnacipran
- mirtazapine
- mobocertinib
- morphine
- nalbuphine
- naratriptan
- nefazodone
- nilotinib
- nortriptyline
- oliceridine
- ondansetron
- opium
- oxybate
- oxycodone
- oxymorphone
- palonosetron
- paroxetine
- pentazocine
- phentermine
- procarbazine
- promethazine
- propafenone
- protriptyline
- quizartinib
- rasagiline
- remifentanil
- rizatriptan
- ropeginterferon alfa-2b
- SAMe
- selegiline
- sertraline
- sotalol
- St. John's wort
- sufentanil
- sumatriptan
- tapentadol
- thalidomide
- toremifene
- tramadol
- trazodone
- trimethobenzamide
- trimipramine
- vandetanib
- venlafaxine
- vilazodone
- vortioxetine
- yohimbe
- ziprasidone
- zolmitriptan
Monitor/Modify Tx
- abrocitinib
- acalabrutinib
- adagrasib
- ado-trastuzumab emtansine
- afatinib
- alprazolam
- alteplase
- amiloride
- amiodarone
- anacaulase topical
- anagrelide
- antithrombin
- apalutamide
- apixaban
- apomorphine
- argatroban
- asenapine
- asparaginase
- aspirin
- avapritinib
- axitinib
- azithromycin
- baclofen intrathecal
- bevacizumab
- binimetinib
- bivalirudin
- brentuximab vedotin
- bromelain
- bromfenac ophthalmic
- bumetanide
- bupropion
- cabazitaxel
- cabozantinib
- calaspargase
- cangrelor
- caplacizumab
- carfilzomib
- celecoxib
- ceritinib
- chlordiazepoxide
- chloroquine
- chlorothiazide
- chlorpromazine
- chlorthalidone
- cilostazol
- cisplatin
- clarithromycin
- clobazam
- clofazimine
- clonazepam
- clopidogrel
- clorazepate
- clozapine
- collagenase clostridium histolyticum
- cyclophosphamide
- cysteamine
- dabigatran
- dalteparin
- danshen
- daridorexant
- dasatinib
- deferasirox
- defibrotide
- degarelix
- desflurane
- desmopressin
- deuruxolitinib
- dexmedetomidine
- dexmedetomidine injection
- diazepam
- diclofenac
- diclofenac ophthalmic
- diclofenac topical
- diflunisal
- dimethyl fumarate
- dinutuximab
- diosmin
- dipyridamole
- diroximel fumarate
- disopyramide
- dofetilide
- donepezil
- droperidol
- encorafenib
- epirubicin
- epoprostenol
- eptifibatide
- eribulin
- erlotinib
- erythromycin
- esketamine
- eslicarbazepine acetate
- esomeprazole
- estazolam
- eszopiclone
- ethacrynic acid
- ethanol (in some formulations)
- etodolac
- etomidate
- evening primrose oil
- fenoprofen
- fenugreek
- flecainide
- fluconazole
- fluorouracil
- fluphenazine
- flurazepam
- flurbiprofen
- flurbiprofen ophthalmic
- fruquintinib
- furosemide
- gabapentin
- gabapentin enacarbil
- garlic
- gefitinib
- gemtuzumab ozogamicin
- gilteritinib
- ginkgo
- glasdegib
- goserelin
- haloperidol
- heparin
- histrelin
- hydrochlorothiazide
- hydrocortisone
- hydroxyzine
- ibrutinib
- ibuprofen
- ibuprofen lysine
- ibutilide
- icosapent ethyl
- ifosfamide
- iloprost inhaled
- imatinib
- indapamide
- indomethacin
- inotuzumab ozogamicin
- iopamidol
- isoflurane
- ivosidenib
- ketamine
- ketoprofen
- ketorolac
- ketorolac ophthalmic
- lemborexant
- lenvatinib
- leuprolide
- levofloxacin
- levoketoconazole
- lifileucel
- lofexidine
- lorazepam
- macimorelin
- magnesium citrate
- magnesium salicylate
- mannitol
- meclofenamate
- mefenamic acid
- meloxicam
- methohexital
- methotrexate
- methyl salicylate topical
- metolazone
- mitotane
- monomethyl fumarate
- moxifloxacin
- mycophenolate mofetil
- mycophenolic acid
- nabumetone
- naproxen
- nattokinase
- nelarabine
- nepafenac ophthalmic
- niacin (vitamin B3)
- nintedanib
- nusinersen
- olanzapine
- omega-3-acid
- omeprazole
- opicapone
- osimertinib
- oxaliplatin
- oxaprozin
- oxazepam
- oxcarbazepine
- oxybutynin
- oxytocin
- pacritinib
- paliperidone
- panobinostat
- pasireotide
- pazopanib
- pegaspargase
- penicillin G
- pentamidine
- pentobarbital
- pentosan polysulfate sodium
- pentoxifylline
- perphenazine
- phenobarbital
- piperacillin
- piroxicam
- pirtobrutinib
- plasminogen, human
- polyethylene glycol
- polyethylene glycol/electrolytes
- ponatinib
- porfimer
- pralsetinib
- prasugrel
- pregabalin
- primidone
- procainamide
- propofol
- propranolol
- quazepam
- quinidine (antiarrhythmic)
- quinidine (CYP2D6 inhibitor)
- quinine
- ramucirumab
- ranibizumab
- regorafenib
- remimazolam
- resveratrol
- reteplase
- revakinagene taroretcel
- revumenib
- ribociclib
- rivaroxaban
- romidepsin
- rucaparib
- safinamide
- salsalate
- saw palmetto
- selinexor
- selpercatinib
- selumetinib
- sevoflurane
- sirolimus albumin-bound
- sorafenib
- sotatercept
- spironolactone
- sulfate bowel prep
- sulindac
- sunitinib
- suvorexant
- telavancin
- temazepam
- tenecteplase
- tetrabenazine
- thiothixene
- ticagrelor
- tipranavir
- tirofiban
- tisotumab vedotin
- tivozanib
- tolmetin
- torsemide
- tovorafenib
- trametinib
- treprostinil
- triamterene
- triazolam
- triclabendazole
- trifluridine
- triptorelin
- upadacitinib
- vadadustat
- valproic acid
- vasopressin
- vemurafenib
- vinpocetine
- vorapaxar
- warfarin
- willow bark
- zaleplon
- zanubrutinib
- ziconotide
- ziv-aflibercept
- zolpidem
Caution Advised
- acetazolamide
- allopurinol
- amantadine
- apraclonidine ophthalmic
- aripiprazole bimonthly injection
- aripiprazole lauroxil
- aripiprazole monthly injection
- aripiprazole oral
- baclofen
- bosentan
- brexpiprazole
- brimonidine ophthalmic
- brimonidine topical
- brivaracetam
- brompheniramine
- busulfan
- cannabidiol
- cannabis
- carbinoxamine
- cariprazine
- carisoprodol
- cenobamate
- cetirizine
- chamomile, German
- chlophedianol
- chlorambucil
- chlorpheniramine
- chlorzoxazone
- clemastine
- cyproheptadine
- dabrafenib
- dantrolene
- darifenacin
- deutetrabenazine
- dexbrompheniramine
- dexchlorpheniramine
- dichlorphenamide
- dicloxacillin
- difelikefalin
- difenoxin
- dimenhydrinate
- diphenhydramine
- diphenoxylate
- dronabinol
- efavirenz
- entacapone
- entrectinib
- enzalutamide
- ethosuximide
- etravirine
- felbamate
- fesoterodine
- flibanserin
- foslevodopa
- fosphenytoin
- ganaxolone
- glofitamab
- glycopyrrolate
- guanfacine
- hyoscyamine
- iloperidone
- lacosamide
- lamotrigine
- levetiracetam
- levocetirizine
- levodopa
- lindane topical
- lopinavir/ritonavir
- lorlatinib
- loxapine
- lumacaftor/ivacaftor
- lumateperone
- lurasidone
- mavacamten
- meclizine
- melatonin
- meprobamate
- methocarbamol
- methsuximide
- methyldopa
- metoprolol
- metyrapone
- metyrosine
- mitapivat
- modafinil
- molindone
- mosunetuzumab
- nafarelin
- nafcillin
- naltrexone
- orphenadrine
- passion flower
- perampanel
- pexidartinib
- pheniramine
- phenytoin
- pramipexole
- prochlorperazine
- pyrilamine
- quetiapine
- ramelteon
- repotrectinib
- rifabutin
- rifampin
- rifapentine
- risperidone
- ropinirole
- rotigotine transdermal
- rufinamide
- scopolamine
- sodium picosulfate
- solifenacin
- sotorasib
- stiripentol
- tasimelteon
- thiotepa
- tiagabine
- tizanidine
- tolcapone
- tolterodine
- topiramate
- treosulfan
- trifluoperazine
- trihexyphenidyl
- triprolidine
- trospium
- valbenazine
- valerian
- vigabatrin
- viloxazine
- zonisamide
- zuranolone
Adverse Reactions .
Serious Reactions
- suicidality
- depression exacerbation
- mania
- QT prolongation
- torsades de pointes
- serotonin syndrome
- bleeding
- anaphylaxis
- anaphylactoid rxn
- Stevens-Johnson syndrome
- toxic epidermal necrolysis
- drug rxn w/ eosinophilia and systemic sx
- glaucoma, angle-closure
- seizures
- hyponatremia
- SIADH
- priapism
- extrapyramidal sx
- withdrawal sx if abrupt D/C
Common Reactions
- headache
- nausea
- ejaculatory dysfxn
- insomnia
- diarrhea
- somnolence
- xerostomia
- diaphoresis
- fatigue
- dizziness
- libido decr.
- constipation
- anorgasmia
- dyspepsia
- influenza-like sx
- anorexia
- neck pain
- shoulder pain
- abnormal dreams
- anxiety
- impotence
- vomiting
- abdominal pain
- menstrual disorder
- paresthesia
- yawning
- flatulence
- back pain
- irritability
- anger
- sexual dysfxn
Safety/Monitoring .
Monitoring Parameters
sx suicidality, clinical worsening, and/or unusual behavior changes, especially during initial tx or after dose changes; ECG if QT prolongation risk; height, weight in children/adolescents
Look/Sound-Alike Drug Names
Lexapro confused with: Bextra; CeleXA; loxapine
escitalopram confused with: citalopram; enalapril; ezetimibe
Pregnancy/Lactation .
Pregnancy
Clinical Summary
weigh risk/benefit during pregnancy, esp. in 3rd trimester; risk of fetal harm low, though risk of neonatal withdrawal sx or serotonin syndrome based on human data; risk of neonatal persistent pulmonary HTN or autism inconclusive; risk of postpartum hemorrhage based on human data w/ SSRIs, esp. if used w/in 1mo before delivery
Pregnancy Registry
encourage pts to enroll in National Pregnancy Registry for Antidepressants at 1-866-961-2388 or www.womensmentalhealth.org/research/pregnancyregistry/antidepressants
Lactation
Clinical Summary
weigh risk/benefit while breastfeeding; low risk of infant harm based on human data; effects on milk production inconclusive based on conflicting human data
Pharmacology .
Metabolism: liver extensively; CYP450: 2C19 (primary), 2D6, 3A4 substrate
Excretion: urine; Half-life: 27-32h; Info: half-life incr. 50% in elderly pts
Subclass: Anxiolytics, Non-benzodiazepines ; Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), Gynecologic ; Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), Psychiatric
Mechanism of Action
selectively inhibits serotonin reuptake
Formulary .
No Formulary Selected
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