From the FDA Drug Label
Escitalopram tablets should be administered once daily, in the morning or evening, with or without food. The recommended dose of Escitalopram tablets is 10 mg once daily. A flexible-dose trial of Escitalopram (10 to 20 mg/day) demonstrated the effectiveness of Escitalopram If the dose is increased to 20 mg, this should occur after a minimum of three weeks for adolescents and one week for adults.
The dose of escitalopram is 10 mg once daily, with a possible increase to 20 mg once daily after a minimum of one week for adults or three weeks for adolescents 1.
- The recommended dose for adolescents is 10 mg once daily.
- The recommended dose for adults is 10 mg once daily.
- The recommended dose for elderly patients and patients with hepatic impairment is 10 mg/day 2.
From the Research
The typical starting dose of escitalopram for adults with depression or anxiety is 10 mg once daily, usually taken in the morning or evening. After 1-2 weeks, the dose may be increased to 20 mg daily if needed, which is the maximum recommended dose for most adults. For older adults (over 65) or those with liver impairment, a lower starting dose of 5 mg daily is recommended, with a maximum of 10 mg daily. Escitalopram is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) that works by increasing serotonin levels in the brain, which helps regulate mood. The medication typically takes 2-4 weeks to show full therapeutic effects, though some improvement may be noticed earlier. It's essential to take escitalopram regularly at the same time each day and not to stop suddenly without medical supervision, as this can cause withdrawal symptoms. Common side effects include nausea, insomnia, sexual dysfunction, and increased anxiety during the first few weeks of treatment.
According to a recent study 3, escitalopram has been shown to be effective in reducing psychological distress among adults with major depressive disorder, with 90.38% of patients reporting improved levels of psychological distress. Another study 4 found that escitalopram was not significantly different from other antidepressants in terms of effectiveness in geriatric depression. However, a study from 2015 5 suggested that escitalopram may have a numerically higher prophylactic efficacy than other SSRIs, such as paroxetine and sertraline, although the difference was not statistically significant.
Some key points to consider when prescribing escitalopram include:
- Starting with a low dose and gradually increasing as needed
- Monitoring for common side effects and adjusting the dose or switching to a different medication if necessary
- Considering concomitant psychotherapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), to enhance the prophylactic efficacy of escitalopram
- Being cautious when prescribing escitalopram to older adults or those with liver impairment, and starting with a lower dose if necessary.