Escitalopram 20 mg (Escitalopram Oxalate)

Adult dosage

The safety of doses exceeding 20mg per day has not been established. This medicine is administered once daily, in the morning or evening, regardless of meals. Adults Major depressive disorder: The usual dose is 10mg once daily. The dose may be increased to a maximum of 20mg per day, depending on the patient's response. If increasing the dose of this medicine to 20mg, the dose should be increased at intervals of at least 1 week. In general, 2-4 weeks are needed for antidepressant effects to occur. Even after symptoms have resolved, drug treatment for at least 6 months is necessary to ensure a therapeutic effect. 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, depending on the patient's response. The maximum effect appears after approximately 3 months. The safety and efficacy of long-term administration of this medicine for more than 10 weeks in the treatment of panic disorder have not been systematically studied. The physician should periodically reassess each patient to determine the need for continued treatment. Social anxiety disorder: The usual dose is 10mg once daily. In general, 2-4 weeks are needed for symptoms to improve. Thereafter, depending on the patient's response, the dose may be reduced to 5mg per day or increased to a maximum of 20mg per day. 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 patients who responded has been studied for 6 months, and should be considered for each patient to prevent relapse. The usefulness of long-term treatment should be reassessed regularly. Generalized anxiety disorder: The initial dose is 10mg once daily. Depending on the patient's response, the dose may be increased to a maximum of 20mg per day after at least 1 week of treatment. A long-term treatment 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 regularly reassess the usefulness of long-term treatment with this medicine for each patient. Obsessive-compulsive disorder: The usual dose is 10mg once daily. The dose may be increased to a maximum of 20mg per day, depending on the patient's response. A long-term treatment 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 symptom relief. When this medicine is used long term, the usefulness and dose should be regularly reassessed for each patient. 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). 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, depending on the patient's response. Discontinuation: When discontinuing this medicine, the dose should be gradually reduced over at least 1-2 weeks to avoid the possibility of withdrawal symptoms. Switching from MAO inhibitors used to treat psychiatric disorders: When discontinuing an MAO inhibitor used to treat psychiatric disorders and starting treatment with this medicine, an interval of at least 14 days must be allowed. Conversely, at least 14 days must elapse after discontinuing this medicine before starting an MAO inhibitor for the treatment of psychiatric disorders. Other MAO inhibitors, such as linezolid or methylene blue: Patients receiving linezolid or intravenous methylene blue should not start treatment with this medicine because of the increased risk of serotonin syndrome. For patients requiring treatment of a more urgent psychiatric condition, including hospitalization and other interventional procedures, treatment should be considered. It may be necessary to urgently administer linezolid or intravenous methylene blue to a patient already receiving this medicine. 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 medicine may be discontinued immediately and linezolid or intravenous methylene blue administered. Patients 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 comes first. Treatment with this medicine may be restarted 24 hours after the last dose of linezolid or intravenous methylene blue. The risk associated with administration of methylene blue by non-intravenous routes (oral tablets or local injection), or with intravenous injection of 1mg/kg or less of this medicine, is 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. During the use of this medication, especially among young individuals aged 18 to 24, there may be an increased risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior; therefore, doctors should carefully evaluate the risks and benefits when prescribing this medication. Additionally, safety and efficacy have not been established for pediatric and adolescent patients, so use is not recommended. Patients who are allergic to this medication's active ingredient or other components, or those taking certain other medications (such as MAO inhibitors, Pimozide, etc.), should not use this medication. Patients with ophthalmic conditions such as closed-angle glaucoma or a history of glaucoma should use this medication with caution. During the first 1-2 weeks of treatment, side effects such as anxiety, insomnia, dizziness, and nausea may commonly occur, but these symptoms often decrease over time. This medication may affect heart rhythms and cause QT interval prolongation; therefore, special caution is required for patients with heart disease or those with a prolonged QT interval. While taking this medication, abnormal behavioral changes such as suicidal thoughts or actions, aggressiveness, and impulsivity may occur, so patients and their families should closely monitor for signs of this and consult a doctor if any unusual symptoms are observed. Suddenly stopping the medication can lead to withdrawal symptoms such as dizziness, anxiety, and sleep disturbances, so the dosage should be gradually reduced according to a doctor's instructions. This medication may interact with other drugs; therefore, if patients are taking any other medications, they must inform their doctor or pharmacist. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should carefully decide after consulting a doctor since taking this medication may affect the newborn. Elderly patients should start with a lower dosage than younger adults, and caution is advised when driving or operating machinery. In case of overdose, symptoms such as dizziness, tremors, nausea, and heart abnormalities may occur, so care should be taken not to exceed the recommended dosage. Finally, this medication should be stored out of reach of children, and it is advisable not to transfer it to other containers.

Thrombocytopenia, anaphylactic reaction, inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone, hyperprolactinemia, decreased appetite, increased appetite, weight gain, weight loss, hyponatremia, anorexia, anxiety, restlessness, abnormal dreams, decreased libido, sexual dysfunction, bruxism, agitation, nervousness, panic attacks, confusion, aggression, derealization, hallucination, mania, suicidal thoughts, suicidal behavior, insomnia, drowsiness, dizziness, perceptual disturbances, tremors, taste disorder, sleep disturbances, syncope, serotonin syndrome, movement disorders, motor dysfunction, convulsions, psychomotor agitation, akathisia, mydriasis, visual impairment, tinnitus, tachycardia, bradycardia, ECG QT prolongation, polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, ventricular arrhythmia, orthostatic hypotension, sinusitis, yawning, epistaxis, nausea, diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, thirst, gastrointestinal bleeding, hepatitis, abnormal liver function tests, increased sweating, urticaria, hair loss, rash, itching, petechiae, angioedema, arthralgia, myalgia, rhabdomyolysis, urinary retention, ejaculation dysfunction, erectile dysfunction, uterine bleeding, menorrhagia, galactorrhea, postpartum hemorrhage, fatigue, fever, edema, headache, dry mouth, abdominal pain, dyspepsia, gastroenteritis, sensory disturbances, cough, asthma, shortness of breath, palpitations, paralysis, extrapyramidal symptoms, migraine, fracture, hypertension, chest pain, drowsiness, aggressive reaction, anorexia, hallucination, sexual dysfunction, insomnia, anxiety, sedation, tremor, dry mouth, frequent urination, abdominal discomfort, visual hallucinations, withdrawal symptoms (dizziness, sleep disturbances, anxiety, nausea, vomiting, tremors, confusion, sweating, headache, diarrhea, palpitations, emotional instability, irritability, visual impairment), hypokalemia, hyponatremia, hypomagnesemia

This medication should be stored in a tightly closed container that blocks light, at a temperature between 1 and 30 degrees Celsius. Proper storage will help maintain the medication's effectiveness and prevent deterioration.

Appearance

White oval film-coated tablet

Package unit

30 tablets/bottle, 100 tablets/bottle