Escitalopram Oxalate 5 mg Tablets

Adult dosage

Safety has not been established for doses exceeding 20mg per day. This medicine is administered once daily, in the morning or evening, regardless of meals. (1) 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 increase should be made 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, medication treatment for at least 6 months is necessary to ensure the therapeutic effect. (2) Panic disorder with or without agoraphobia: It is recommended to administer 5mg once daily as the initial dose for 1 week, then increase to 10mg once daily. 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 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 to improve symptoms. Thereafter, the dose may be reduced to 5mg per day or increased to a maximum of 20mg per day, depending on the patient's response. Social anxiety disorder is a condition with a chronic course, and continuing treatment for 12 weeks is recommended to ensure the therapeutic effect. Long-term treatment in patients who responded 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 reevaluated regularly. (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 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 reevaluate the usefulness of long-term treatment with this medicine 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 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; therefore, this medicine should be administered for a sufficient period to ensure recovery from symptoms. When this medicine is administered long term, its usefulness and dose should be regularly reevaluated 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 depending on the patient's response. 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 must be allowed. Conversely, when starting an MAO inhibitor to treat 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 this medicine because of the increased risk of serotonin syndrome. For patients requiring more urgent treatment of 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 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 for 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 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 methylene blue administered by a non-intravenous route (oral tablets or local injection) or with intravenous administration of this medicine at 1mg/kg or less is unclear. Nevertheless, clinicians should be aware of the possibility of acute symptoms of serotonin syndrome with these uses.

This medication is an antidepressant used to treat psychiatric disorders such as major depression. It is necessary to carefully monitor young patients aged 18 to 24 during treatment with this medication for the increased risk of suicidal thoughts or behaviors. This medication should not be taken with certain drugs, particularly MAO inhibitors or pimozide, as serious side effects can occur. Patients with heart issues or a prolonged QT interval may face a risk of cardiac arrhythmias while using this medication, so caution is necessary. Psychiatric symptoms such as anxiety, restlessness, and insomnia may worsen during the initial dose, so patients should consult their doctor if symptoms worsen. This medication may worsen seizures, so patients with epilepsy must consult their doctor before taking it. Pregnant or breastfeeding women should carefully consider the influence this medication may have on their fetus or newborn before taking it. Abruptly stopping this medication can lead to withdrawal symptoms such as dizziness, anxiety, and sleep disturbances, so dosage should be gradually reduced according to a doctor's instructions. This medication can affect blood coagulation, hence patients on anticoagulants should take care regarding the risk of bleeding. Consuming alcohol with this medication may exacerbate side effects, so it is advisable to avoid drinking. Elderly patients should start on a lower dosage compared to normal adults for safety. Caution is required when driving or operating machinery, and patients should make judgments according to their symptoms. In overdose situations, central nervous system and cardiovascular symptoms may occur, necessitating immediate contact with medical institutions. This medication is not recommended for children or adolescents as its safety and efficacy have not been established. During treatment, families or guardians should closely observe changes in the patient's behavior and immediately notify a doctor of any unusual signs.

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

This medication is sensitive to light and should be stored in a container that blocks light. It is advisable to keep the medication at room temperature between 1 and 30 degrees Celsius to maintain its effectiveness safely.

Appearance

White round film-coated tablets

Package unit

30 tablets/bottle, 100 tablets/bottle