Lexatin Tablets (Escitalopram Oxalate)

Adult dosage

The safety of doses exceeding 20mg per day has not been established. This drug is administered once daily, in the morning or evening, with or without food. (1) Major depressive disorder: The usual dose is 10mg once daily. The dose may be increased to a maximum of 20mg per day according to the patient's response. If the dose is to be increased to 20mg, it should be increased at intervals of at least 1 week. In general, 2-4 weeks are needed for antidepressant effects to become apparent. Even after symptoms have resolved, drug treatment for at least 6 months is required to ensure a therapeutic effect. (2) Panic disorder with or without agoraphobia: It is recommended to administer an initial dose of 5mg per day for 1 week, then increase to 10mg per day. The dose may be increased to a maximum of 20mg per day according to the patient's response. The maximum effect appears after approximately 3 months. The safety and efficacy of long-term administration of this drug for more than 10 weeks in the treatment of panic disorder have not been systematically studied. The physician should periodically reevaluate each patient to determine the need for continued treatment. (3) Social anxiety disorder: The usual dose is 10mg once daily. In general, 2-4 weeks are needed for symptoms to improve. Thereafter, the dose may be reduced to 5mg per day or increased to a maximum of 20mg per day, according to the patient's response. Social anxiety disorder is a condition with a chronic course, and continued treatment for 12 weeks is recommended to ensure a therapeutic effect. Long-term treatment in responding patients has been studied for 6 months and should be considered on an individual patient basis to prevent relapse. The usefulness of long-term treatment should be reevaluated periodically. (4) Generalized anxiety disorder: The initial dose is 10mg once daily. The dose may be increased to a maximum of 20mg per day after at least 1 week of treatment, according to the patient's response. A long-term study was conducted in patients who responded to 12 weeks of open-label treatment, administering 20mg per day for at least 6 months. The physician should periodically reevaluate the usefulness of long-term treatment with this drug for each patient. (5) Obsessive-compulsive disorder: The usual dose is 10mg once daily. The dose may be increased to a maximum of 20mg per day according to the patient's response. A long-term study was conducted in patients who responded to 16 weeks of open-label treatment, administering 10mg or 20mg per day for at least 24 weeks. Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a chronic condition; treatment should be continued for a sufficient period to ensure resolution of symptoms. When this drug is administered long term, the benefit and dose should be reevaluated periodically for each patient. 2) Patients with renal impairment No dose adjustment is necessary in patients with mild or moderate renal impairment. Caution should be exercised in patients with severe renal impairment (CLCR < 30㎖/min). 3) Patients with hepatic impairment An initial dose of 5mg per day for the first 2 weeks is recommended. The dose may be increased to 10mg per day according to the patient's response. 4) Discontinuation When discontinuing this drug, the dose should be gradually reduced over at least 1-2 weeks to avoid the possibility of withdrawal symptoms. 5) Switching from MAO inhibitors for the treatment of psychiatric disorders When discontinuing an MAO inhibitor used to treat psychiatric disorders and starting treatment with this drug, an interval of at least 14 days must be allowed. Conversely, at least 14 days must elapse after discontinuing this drug before starting an MAO inhibitor for the treatment of psychiatric disorders. 6) Other MAO inhibitors, such as linezolid or methylene blue Patients receiving linezolid or intravenous methylene blue must not start treatment with this drug because of the increased risk of serotonin syndrome. For patients requiring more urgent treatment for a psychiatric condition, including hospitalization, other interventions should be considered. It may be necessary to urgently administer linezolid or intravenous methylene blue to a patient already receiving this drug. If no alternative to linezolid or intravenous methylene blue is available and, for a particular patient, the benefits of treatment with linezolid or intravenous methylene blue are judged to outweigh the risk of serotonin syndrome, this drug may be discontinued immediately and linezolid or intravenous methylene blue administered. The patient should be monitored for symptoms of serotonin syndrome for 2 weeks after administration of linezolid or intravenous methylene blue, or until 24 hours after the last dose, whichever occurs first. Treatment with this drug may be resumed 24 hours after the last dose of linezolid or intravenous methylene blue. The risks associated with administration of methylene blue by nonintravenous routes (oral tablets or local injection), or intravenous doses of this drug of 1mg/kg or less, are unclear. Nevertheless, clinicians should be aware of the possibility of emergency symptoms of serotonin syndrome with these uses.

This medication is an antidepressant used for the treatment of psychiatric disorders such as major depression. The risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior may increase in children, adolescents, and young adults, so a doctor's careful judgment is required. For adults over 25 years, this risk does not significantly increase, and it tends to decrease in individuals over 65 years. During treatment, close observation for worsening depression symptoms, suicidal impulses, and abnormal behavior changes such as anger or aggression is necessary. Family or guardians should also monitor the patient closely and report any abnormal signs to the doctor. This medication should not be used in combination with certain drugs, particularly MAO inhibitors, pimozide, and drugs that prolong the QT interval, as this can be dangerous. Patients with closed-angle glaucoma or a history of glaucoma should also use this medication with caution due to the risk of increased intraocular pressure. During the initial 1-2 weeks of treatment, a variety of side effects such as insomnia, anxiety, dizziness, nausea, and headache may occur, but these symptoms often improve over time. However, in severe cases, immediate consultation with a doctor is necessary. This medication can cause serious side effects such as low sodium levels in the blood, increased bleeding tendency, cardiac arrhythmias, and serotonin syndrome, so high-risk patients should be especially careful. Sudden discontinuation may lead to withdrawal symptoms such as dizziness, anxiety, and sleep disturbances, so the dosage should be gradually reduced under the guidance of a physician. Pregnant or breastfeeding women should discuss the use of this medication with their doctor, especially as taking it in late pregnancy may affect the newborn. It is recommended for breastfeeding mothers to discontinue nursing while taking this medication. Elderly patients should start with half the dose for safety, and patients with heart disease or electrolyte imbalances should regularly monitor their cardiac condition. While this medication has minimal impact on mental function during driving or operating machinery, caution may still be necessary depending on the individual. In cases of overdose, symptoms such as central nervous system issues, gastrointestinal disturbances, and cardiovascular abnormalities may occur, requiring immediate medical attention. Finally, this medication is not recommended for children and adolescents due to the lack of established safety and efficacy.

Thrombocytopenia, anaphylactic reaction, inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone, hyperprolactinemia, decreased appetite, increased appetite, weight gain, weight loss, hyponatremia, loss of appetite, anxiety, restlessness, abnormal dreams, decreased libido, sexual dysfunction, bruxism, agitation, irritability, panic attacks, confusional state, aggression, depersonalization, hallucinations, mania, suicidal thoughts, suicidal behavior, insomnia, drowsiness, dizziness, paresthesia, tremor, taste disorder, sleep disturbance, syncope, serotonin syndrome, dyskinesia, movement disorders, seizures, psychomotor agitation, akathisia, mydriasis, visual impairment, tinnitus, tachycardia, bradycardia, ECG QT prolongation, polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, orthostatic hypotension, sinusitis, yawning, epistaxis, nausea, diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, dry mouth, gastrointestinal bleeding, hepatitis, abnormal liver function tests, increased sweating, urticaria, hair loss, rash, itching, petechiae, angioedema, arthralgia, myalgia, rhabdomyolysis, urinary retention, ejaculation disorder, erectile dysfunction, uterine bleeding, menorrhagia, galactorrhea, postpartum hemorrhage, fatigue, fever, edema, headache, dry mouth, abdominal pain, indigestion, enteritis, sensory disturbance, cough, asthma, dyspnea, fracture, palpitations, hypertension, paralysis, extrapyramidal disorder, migraine, chest pain, increased urinary frequency, tremor, dry mouth, sedation, heartburn, anxiety, visual hallucination, sexual dysfunction, decreased libido, loss of appetite, hallucinations, asthma, dyspnea, fracture, arthralgia, hypertension, dizziness, headache, drowsiness, gastrointestinal disturbance, sweating, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, palpitations, emotional instability, irritability, visual impairment

This medication is sensitive to light, so it should be stored in a container that blocks light. Additionally, it is important to maintain a temperature between 1 and 30 degrees Celsius when storing the medication, to ensure its effectiveness and safety.

Appearance

White oval film-coated tablet

Package unit

30 tablets/bottle, 100 tablets/bottle