Can You Take Lexapro During a 12-Hour In-Home Fasting Test?
Yes, you can and should take Lexapro (escitalopram) during a 12-hour in-home fasting test, as medications are generally continued during fasting periods unless specifically contraindicated.
Medication Administration During Fasting
Continue taking Lexapro at your usual time during the fasting period. Clear liquids (including water to take medications) are permitted up to 2 hours before medical procedures requiring anesthesia, and a 12-hour home fasting test does not require the same restrictions as preoperative fasting 1. For diabetes-related fasting protocols, medications are typically adjusted for timing but not discontinued 1.
Escitalopram Pharmacokinetics Support Continued Use
- Escitalopram absorption is not affected by food intake, making it suitable for administration during fasting 2
- The drug reaches maximum plasma concentrations in 3-4 hours after administration regardless of food status 2
- Escitalopram has a long elimination half-life of 27-33 hours, meaning missing a single dose would not immediately affect therapeutic levels, but maintaining consistent dosing is still recommended 2, 3
- Steady-state concentrations are maintained with once-daily dosing, and interrupting this schedule is unnecessary for fasting tests 4, 5
Practical Administration Guidelines
- Take Lexapro with water at your regular scheduled time, even during the fasting window 1
- Water intake for medication administration does not break a medical fast for most diagnostic testing purposes 1
- If your fasting test requires complete NPO (nothing by mouth) status, this would be explicitly stated in your testing instructions—standard 12-hour fasting tests for metabolic panels or lipid testing do not require medication discontinuation 1
Important Caveats
- Do not discontinue escitalopram abruptly, as SSRIs require consistent dosing to maintain therapeutic effect and avoid discontinuation symptoms 4, 3
- If your specific test protocol explicitly prohibits all oral intake including medications, contact the ordering physician or testing facility for clarification before withholding your dose
- For fasting glucose or metabolic testing, escitalopram does not significantly interfere with test results and should be continued 6