Sandoz Escitalopram Tablets 20 Milligrams

Adult dosage

Safety has not been established for doses exceeding 20mg per day. This medication is administered once daily in the morning or evening, regardless of meals. 1) Adults (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 increasing the dose to 20mg, it should be done at intervals of at least 1 week. In general, 2-4 weeks are needed for antidepressant effects to appear. Even after symptoms resolve, medication treatment for at least 6 months is required to ensure the therapeutic effect. (2) Panic disorder with or without agoraphobia: It is recommended to administer 5mg per day for 1 week as the initial dose, 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 administering this medication 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. (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 chronic condition, and it is recommended that treatment continue for 12 weeks to ensure the therapeutic effect. Long-term treatment of responding patients has been studied for 6 months and should be considered individually for each patient to prevent relapse. The usefulness of long-term treatment should be reassessed periodically. Social anxiety disorder is a well-defined diagnostic term for a specific disorder and should not be confused with excessive shyness. Drug treatment should be given only when social anxiety disorder significantly interferes with occupational and social activities. Drug treatment has not been compared with cognitive behavioral therapy. Drug treatment is one part of an overall treatment strategy. (4) Generalized anxiety disorder: The initial dose is 10mg once daily. The dose may be increased to a maximum of 20mg per day according to the patient's response after at least 1 week of treatment. A long-term study administering 20mg per day for at least 6 months was conducted in patients who responded to 12 weeks of open-label treatment. The physician should periodically reassess the usefulness of long-term treatment with this medication 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 administering 10mg or 20mg per day for at least 24 weeks was conducted in patients who responded to 16 weeks of open-label treatment. Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a chronic condition, so treatment should be continued for a sufficient period to ensure symptom recovery. When this medication is used long-term, its usefulness and dose should be reassessed periodically for each patient. 2) Patients with renal impairment No dose adjustment is necessary for 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 It is recommended to administer an initial dose of 5mg per day for the first 2 weeks. The dose may be increased to 10mg per day according to the patient's response. 4) Discontinuation When discontinuing this medication, 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 medication, an interval of at least 14 days should be allowed. Conversely, when starting an MAO inhibitor for the treatment of psychiatric disorders, at least 14 days must have elapsed after discontinuing this medication. 6) Other MAO inhibitors, such as linezolid or methylene blue Patients receiving linezolid or intravenous methylene blue should not start this medication because of the increased risk of serotonin syndrome. For patients requiring other interventional procedures, including hospitalization, or treatment for a more urgent psychiatric condition, administration should be considered. It may be necessary to urgently administer linezolid or intravenous methylene blue to a patient already receiving this medication. 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 medication may be stopped immediately and linezolid or intravenous methylene blue administered. The patient should be monitored for symptoms of serotonin syndrome for 2 weeks after starting linezolid or intravenous methylene blue, or until 24 hours after the last dose, whichever comes first. Treatment with this medication may be resumed 24 hours after the last dose of linezolid or intravenous methylene blue. The risk associated with methylene blue administered by a non-intravenous route (oral tablets or local injection) or with intravenous administration of this medication at 1mg/kg or less is unclear. Nevertheless, clinicians should be aware of the possibility of emergency symptoms of serotonin syndrome with these uses.

This drug is primarily used as an antidepressant for the treatment of psychiatric disorders such as depression. This drug is not recommended for use in children and adolescents under 18 years of age, as its safety and efficacy have not been sufficiently demonstrated. When administered to young adults aged 18 to 24, there may be an increased risk of suicidal thoughts or suicidal behavior, so physicians should carefully assess the necessity and risks of treatment. While taking this medication, careful observations for worsening symptoms of depression, suicidal thoughts, abnormal behavioral changes such as aggression and anger should be monitored, and family members or guardians should carefully watch the patient and consult healthcare professionals immediately if any unusual symptoms appear. This medication should not be taken with certain drugs, so it is essential to inform your doctor or pharmacist about any medications you are currently taking. In particular, great care should be taken when co-administering with MAO inhibitors, pimozide, and drugs that prolong the QT interval, as serious side effects may occur. Patients with a history of closed-angle glaucoma or glaucoma should use this medication cautiously due to the risk of increased intraocular pressure caused by its mydriatic effects. During the initial 1-2 weeks of administration, various side effects such as anxiety, headache, dizziness, nausea, and insomnia may occur, most of which tend to diminish over time. Additionally, this drug may cause side effects including sexual dysfunction, weight changes, increased bleeding tendency, and hyponatremia, and if any unusual symptoms occur, patients should consult a healthcare provider. When discontinuing the drug, do not stop suddenly; gradually reduce the dosage according to the physician's instructions to avoid withdrawal symptoms such as dizziness, anxiety, and sleep disturbances. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should consult a doctor before taking this drug and may need to discontinue breastfeeding if necessary. Elderly patients should start with a lower dosage and increase carefully, and caution is also needed if there is a history of heart disease or electrolyte imbalance. Care should be taken when driving or operating machinery as this drug may affect psychomotor function. In cases of overdose, central nervous system symptoms and cardiac arrhythmias may occur, so immediate medical attention is required, and there is no specific antidote, thus symptomatic treatment is necessary. This medication must be kept out of reach of children, and transferring it to another container should be avoided as it may adversely affect product quality.

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, irritability, panic attack, confusion, aggression, depersonalization, hallucinations, mania, suicidal thoughts, suicidal behavior, insomnia, drowsiness, dizziness, perceptual disturbances, tremors, taste disorders, sleep disorders, syncope, serotonin syndrome, movement disorders, motor dysfunction, seizures, psychomotor agitation, inability to sit still, mydriasis, visual impairment, tinnitus, tachycardia, bradycardia, QT interval prolongation, polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, ventricular arrhythmia, orthostatic hypotension, sinusitis, yawning, nosebleed, 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 disorders, erectile dysfunction, uterine bleeding, menorrhagia, galactorrhea, postpartum hemorrhage, fatigue, fever, edema, headache, dry mouth, abdominal pain, dyspepsia, enteritis, sensory disturbances, cough, asthma, dyspnea, fractures, palpitations, hypertension, paralysis, extrapyramidal disorders, migraine, sexual dysfunction

This drug should be stored in a tightly sealed container protected from light, and it is best to keep it at a temperature between 1 degree Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius. Storing it in this manner helps maintain the drug's effectiveness for a long time.

Appearance

White round film-coated tablets

Package unit

30 tablets/bottle, 100 tablets/bottle