From the Guidelines
Escitalopram (Lexapro) is primarily used to treat depression and anxiety disorders.
Uses of Escitalopram
- Depression: Escitalopram is used to treat major depressive disorder (MDD) in adults and adolescents, as evidenced by studies showing its efficacy in improving depression symptoms, depression symptom severity, and global functioning in adolescents 1.
- Anxiety: While second-generation antidepressants, including escitalopram, did not differ in efficacy in treating accompanying anxiety in patients with depression, escitalopram has been shown to improve sleep scores, which can be beneficial for patients with anxiety 1.
- Insomnia: Research has shown that escitalopram can improve sleep scores, making it a potential treatment option for patients with depression and insomnia 1.
Dosage and Administration
The dosage of escitalopram varies depending on the patient's age and condition. For example, in one study, escitalopram was compared to placebo in children and adolescents with MDD, and the results showed that escitalopram was superior to placebo in improving depression symptoms, depression symptom severity, and global functioning in adolescents 1.
Important Considerations
When treating patients with escitalopram, it is essential to consider the potential benefits and harms, as well as the patient's individual needs and circumstances. For instance, one study found that escitalopram was more effective in improving depression symptoms in adolescents than in children 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
1.1 Major Depressive Disorder Escitalopram is indicated for the acute and maintenance treatment of major depressive disorder in adults and in adolescents 12 to 17 years of age 1.2 Generalized Anxiety Disorder Escitalopram is indicated for the acute treatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) in adults Escitalopram tablets are prescription medicines used to treat depression Escitalopram tablets are also used to treat: • Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) • Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Escitalopram (Lexapro) is used for:
- Major Depressive Disorder (MDD): acute and maintenance treatment in adults and adolescents 12 to 17 years of age
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): acute treatment in adults 2 2
From the Research
Uses of Escitalopram (Lexapro)
- Escitalopram is used for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) 3, 4, 5, 6
- It is also used for the treatment of anxiety disorder 4, 6
- Specifically, escitalopram has been shown to be effective in treating generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and social anxiety disorder 6
- Escitalopram is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) that works by inhibiting the reuptake of serotonin into presynaptic nerve endings, thereby enhancing the activity of serotonin in the central nervous system 4, 5, 6
Efficacy of Escitalopram
- Escitalopram has been shown to be more effective than placebo in the treatment of major depressive disorder 3, 4, 5, 6
- It is at least as effective as other SSRIs, such as citalopram, paroxetine, fluoxetine, and sertraline 3, 4, 5
- Escitalopram has also been shown to be effective in preventing relapse and recurrence of major depressive disorder 4, 5
- In a double-blind comparison study, escitalopram was found to be better tolerated and at least as effective as the serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor duloxetine in the treatment of major depressive disorder 7
Safety and Tolerability of Escitalopram
- Escitalopram is generally well tolerated, with a low incidence of adverse effects or drug interactions 3, 4, 5, 6
- The most common adverse events associated with escitalopram include nausea, insomnia, ejaculation disorder, diarrhea, dry mouth, and somnolence 6
- Escitalopram has a low propensity for drug interactions, due to its negligible effects on cytochrome P450 drug-metabolising enzymes 6