Precipra

by Pfizer

Active ingredient: Escitalopram

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About Escitalopram

Antidepressant

Uses

Depression, panic disorder with or without agoraphobia.

How to take it

Adults: Depression: Usually 10 mg once daily, increasing if necessary to max 20 mg once daily. Continue treatment for minimum 6 mth. Panic disorder: Initially 5 mg once daily for 1st wk then 10 mg once daily; max 20 mg once daily. Elderly: Reduce initial and max dose. 10 mg once daily. Children: Not recommended.

Side effects

Nausea, sweating, somnolence, dizziness, insomnia, GI upset, reduced appetite, sexual dysfunction, fatigue, pyrexia, sinusitis, yawning, nausea, headache, wt gain, dry mouth, sexual dysfunction, anxiety, agitation, abnormal dreams, paraesthesia, tremor, arthralgia, myalgia.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Pregnancy: Risk cannot be ruled out. Lactation: Contraindicated or not recommended. Contraindications: Serotonin syndrome. Unstable epilepsy. Within 2 weeks of stopping MAOIs or 1 day of stopping moclobemide. Precautions: Hepatic or severe renal impairment, diabetes, cardiac disease, stable epilepsy, psychosis, ECT, mania, risk of bleeding, narrow-angle glaucoma, or history of glaucoma. Monitor for suicidal ideation. Risk factors for QT prolongation or torsade de pointes. Advise patients to report cardiovascular symptoms. Dose increases may be detrimental in patients who develop akathisia. Poor CYP2C19 metabolisers. Elderly. Withdraw gradually.

Advice

Take with or without meals. Do not stop taking medication abruptly, gradually lower the dose and then stop. Contact prescriber if there is severe headache, nightmares, lack of sleep, irritability, confusion, impaired concentration, abdominal disturbances, change in vision, ringing in ears, unusual cough, chest pain, palpitations, menstrual cramps, muscle pain, cramps or tremor. Do not take other stimulants, caffeine and alcohol. On start of therapy or change of dosage, patient should be watched carefully for suicidal tendency by caregiver or family.

Full information on Escitalopram →

Interactions with Escitalopram

MAOIs, lithium, tryptophan, pimozide, other neuroleptics, St. John's Wort, other SSRls, SNRIs, 5HT1 agonists, triptans, other serotonergic drugs, linezolid, drugs that prolong QT interval, tramadol, anticoagulants, NSAIDs and other drugs affecting platelet function. CYP2D6 substrates (e.g., metoprolol), CYP2C19 inhibitors (e.g., PPIs), cimetidine, drugs that reduce seizure threshold. Drugs that induce hypokalaemia, hyponatraemia or hypomagnesaemia. Alcohol.

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Compiled by Healify Pharmacy from published drug references. How we compile it →

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