Escitalopram Tablets

ESCITALOPRAM (es sye TAL oh pram) treats depression and anxiety. It increases the amount of serotonin in the brain, a hormone that helps regulate mood. It belongs to a group of medications called SSRIs.

Take this medication by mouth with a glass of water. Take it as directed on the prescription label at the same time every day. You can take it with or without food. If it upsets your stomach, take it with food. Do not take it more often than directed. Do not stop taking this medication suddenly except upon the advice of your care team. Stopping this medication too quickly may cause serious side effects or your condition may worsen.

A special MedGuide will be given to you by the pharmacist with each prescription and refill. Be sure to read this information carefully each time.

Talk to your care team about the use of this medication in children. Special care may be needed.

Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:

• Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
• Bleeding—bloody or black, tar-like stools, red or dark brown urine, vomiting blood or brown material that looks like coffee grounds, small, red or purple spots on skin, unusual bleeding or bruising
• Heart rhythm changes—fast or irregular heartbeat, dizziness, feeling faint or lightheaded, chest pain, trouble breathing
• Low sodium level—muscle weakness, fatigue, dizziness, headache, confusion
• Serotonin syndrome—irritability, confusion, fast or irregular heartbeat, muscle stiffness, twitching muscles, sweating, high fever, seizure, chills, vomiting, diarrhea
• Sudden eye pain or change in vision such as blurry vision, seeing halos around lights, vision loss
• Thoughts of suicide or self-harm, worsening mood, feelings of depression

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):

• Change in sex drive or performance
• Diarrhea
• Excessive sweating
• Nausea
• Tremors or shaking
• Upset stomach

Keep out of reach of children and pets.

Store at room temperature between 15 and 30 degrees C (59 and 86 degrees F). Throw away any unused medication after the expiration date.

They need to know if you have any of these conditions:

• Bipolar disorder or a family history of bipolar disorder
• Diabetes
• Glaucoma
• Heart disease
• Kidney disease
• Liver disease
• Receiving electroconvulsive therapy
• Seizures
• Suicidal thoughts, plans, or attempt by you or a family member
• An unusual or allergic reaction to escitalopram, other medications, foods, dyes, or preservatives
• Pregnant or trying to become pregnant
• Breastfeeding

Do not take this medication with any of the following:

• Certain medications for fungal infections, such as fluconazole, itraconazole, ketoconazole, posaconazole, voriconazole
• Cisapride
• Citalopram
• Dronedarone
• Linezolid
• MAOIs, such as Carbex, Eldepryl, Marplan, Nardil, and Parnate
• Methylene blue (injected into a vein)
• Pimozide
• Thioridazine

This medication may also interact with the following:

• Alcohol
• Amphetamines
• Aspirin and aspirin-like medications
• Carbamazepine
• Certain medications for mental health conditions
• Certain medications for migraine headache, such as almotriptan, eletriptan, frovatriptan, naratriptan, rizatriptan, sumatriptan, zolmitriptan
• Certain medications for sleep
• Certain medications that treat or prevent blood clots, such as warfarin, enoxaparin, dalteparin
• Cimetidine
• Diuretics
• Dofetilide
• Fentanyl
• Furazolidone
• Isoniazid
• Lithium
• Metoprolol
• NSAIDs, medications for pain and inflammation, such as ibuprofen or naproxen
• Other medications that cause heart rhythm changes
• Procarbazine
• Rasagiline
• Supplements, such as St. John's wort, kava kava, valerian
• Tramadol
• Tryptophan
• Ziprasidone

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, take only that dose. Do not take double or extra doses.

Tell your care team if your symptoms do not get better or if they get worse. Visit your care team for regular checks on your progress. Because it may take several weeks to see the full effects of this medication, it is important to continue your treatment as prescribed by your care team.

Watch for new or worsening thoughts of suicide or depression. This includes sudden changes in mood, behaviors, or thoughts. These changes can happen at any time but are more common in the beginning of treatment or after a change in dose. Call your care team right away if you experience these thoughts or worsening depression.

This medication may cause mood and behavior changes, such as anxiety, nervousness, irritability, hostility, restlessness, excitability, hyperactivity, or trouble sleeping. These changes can happen at any time but are more common in the beginning of treatment or after a change in dose. Call your care team right away if you notice any of these symptoms.

This medication may affect your coordination, reaction time, or judgment. Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you. Sit up or stand slowly to reduce the risk of dizzy or fainting spells. Drinking alcohol with this medication can increase the risk of these side effects.

Your mouth may get dry. Chewing sugarless gum or sucking hard candy and drinking plenty of water may help. Contact your care team if the problem does not go away or is severe.