Lexagen 10 mg Tablets (Escitalopram Oxalate)

Adult administration

Safety has not been established for doses exceeding 20mg per day. This medicine is administered once daily in the morning or evening, with or without food. (1) Major depressive disorder: The usual dose is 10mg once daily. Depending on the patient's response, the dose may be increased to a maximum of 20mg per day. If increasing the dose of this medicine to 20mg, the dose should be increased at intervals of at least 1 week. Generally, 2-4 weeks are required for the effects of antidepressants 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 and then increase it to 10mg per day. Depending on the patient's response, the dose may be increased to a maximum of 20mg per day. 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 reevaluate each patient to determine the need for continued treatment. (3) Social anxiety disorder: The usual dose is 10mg once daily. Generally, 2-4 weeks are required 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 was studied for 6 months, and should be considered for each patient to prevent relapse. The usefulness of long-term treatment should be periodically reevaluated. 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. Depending on the patient's response, the dose may be increased to a maximum of 20mg per day after administration for at least 1 week. A long-term administration study was conducted in patients who responded to 12 weeks of open-label treatment, in which 20mg per day was administered for at least 6 months. The physician should periodically reevaluate the usefulness of long-term treatment with this medicine for each patient. (5) Obsessive-compulsive disorder: The usual dose is 10mg once daily. Depending on the patient's response, the dose may be increased to a maximum of 20mg per day. A long-term administration study was conducted in patients who responded to 16 weeks of open-label treatment, in which 10mg or 20mg per day was administered for at least 24 weeks. Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a chronic condition; therefore, treatment should be continued for a sufficient period to ensure recovery of symptoms. When this medicine is administered long term, its usefulness and dose should be periodically reevaluated for each patient. 2) Patients with renal impairment No dose adjustment is required for patients with mild or moderate renal impairment. Caution is advised in patients with severe renal impairment (CLCR < 30mL/min). 3) Patients with hepatic impairment An initial dose of 5mg per day for the first 2 weeks is recommended. Depending on the patient's response, the dose may be increased to 10mg per day. 4) Discontinuation of treatment When discontinuing this medicine, 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 medicine, 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 medicine. 6) 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 for a more urgent psychiatric condition, including hospitalization or other interventional procedures, treatment should be considered. It may be necessary to urgently administer linezolid or intravenous methylene blue to patients already receiving this medicine. If no alternative to linezolid or intravenous methylene blue is available and the benefits of treatment with linezolid or intravenous methylene blue are judged to outweigh the risk of serotonin syndrome in a particular patient, 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 occurs first. Treatment with this medicine may be resumed 24 hours after the last dose of linezolid or intravenous methylene blue. The risk associated with administration of methylene blue by nonintravenous routes (oral tablets or local injection) or intravenous administration of this medicine 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 medication is an antidepressant used to treat psychiatric disorders such as major depression. Careful monitoring and evaluation are necessary as there is an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in children, adolescents, and young adults. This drug may cause serious side effects when combined with certain medications, especially MAO inhibitors or pimozide. Patients with genetic lactose metabolism disorders should not take this medication. Patients with closed-angle glaucoma or a history of glaucoma should be cautious as this drug may cause pupil dilation and increased intraocular pressure. Common side effects during the initial 1-2 weeks of treatment may include insomnia, dizziness, nausea, and anxiety, but they tend to decrease over time. This drug can cause irregular heartbeats or prolong the QT interval; therefore, ECG testing is recommended for patients with heart disease before use. During antidepressant therapy, changes in behavior such as suicidal thoughts or actions, aggression, or other abnormal behavior changes should be monitored closely by family or caregivers. Sudden discontinuation of the medication can cause withdrawal symptoms such as dizziness, anxiety, or sleep disturbances; therefore, gradual tapering under a doctor's supervision is important. During pregnancy, careful consideration is required if the mother takes this medication as it may affect the newborn, and it is recommended to discontinue breastfeeding while on this medication. Elderly patients should start with a lower initial dose and be administered with caution; care should also be taken when driving or operating machinery. In cases of overdose, symptoms may arise from the central nervous system, cardiovascular system, and gastrointestinal system, and immediate medical attention is required. This medication is not recommended for children and adolescents due to established safety and efficacy concerns.

Thrombocytopenia, anaphylactic reaction, inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion, hyperprolactinemia, decreased appetite, increased appetite, weight gain, weight loss, hyponatremia, anorexia, anxiety, agitation, abnormal dreams, decreased libido, sexual dysfunction, bruxism, restlessness, nervousness, panic attack, confusion, aggression, depersonalization, hallucinations, mania, suicidal ideation, suicidal behavior, insomnia, drowsiness, dizziness, perceptual disturbances, tremors, taste disorders, sleep disorders, syncope, serotonin syndrome, dyskinesia, movement disorders, seizures, psychomotor agitation, mydriasis, visual disturbances, tinnitus, tachycardia, bradycardia, QT interval prolongation, polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, 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 disorder, erectile dysfunction, uterine bleeding, menorrhagia, galactorrhea, postpartum hemorrhage, priapism, fatigue, fever, edema, headache, dry mouth, abdominal pain, dyspepsia, enteritis, sensory disturbances, cough, asthma, dyspnea, fracture, palpitations, hypertension, frequency of urination, sedation, tremor, abdominal discomfort, anxiety, insomnia, visual hallucinations, paralysis, extrapyramidal disorder, migraine

This medication may be sensitive to light, so it should be stored in a tightly sealed container that blocks light. It is best to maintain a storage temperature between 1 and 30 degrees Celsius in a cool environment. This will help preserve the drug's effectiveness and safety over time.

Appearance

White oval film-coated tablets

Package unit

30 tablets/bottle