ESCITALOPRAM

(EE sye TAL o pram) Brand: Lexapro

What is the most significant information I must know about escitalopram?

• You must not use this medication if you also take pimozide, or if you are being treated with methylene blue injection.

• Some young people have thoughts about suicide when first taking an antidepressant. Your doctor will need to check your progress at regular visits while you are using escitalopram. Your family or another caregivers must also be alert to changes in your mood or symptoms.

• Escitalopram must not be given to a baby younger than 12 years old.

What is escitalopram?

• Escitalopram is an antidepressant in a group of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Escitalopram affects chemicals in the brain that may become unbalanced and reason depression or anxiety.

• Escitalopram is used to treat anxiety in adults. Escitalopram is also used to treat major depressive mess in adults and adolescents who are at least 12 years old.

• Escitalopram may also be used for purposes not listed in this medicine guide.

What must I discuss with my healthcare provider till taking escitalopram?

• It is dangerous to try and purchase escitalopram on the Internet or from vendors external of the United States. Medications distributed from Internet sales may contain dangerous ingredients, or may not be distributed by a licensed pharmacy. Samples of escitalopram purchased on the Internet have been found to contain haloperidol (Haldol), a potent antipsychotic drug with dangerous side effects. For more information, contact the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or visit www.fda.gov/buyonlineguide.

• You must not use this medication if you are allergic to escitalopram or citalopram (Celexa), or if:

· you also take pimozide; or

· you are being treated with methylene blue injection.

• Do not use escitalopram if you have taken an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur. MAO inhibitors include isocarboxazid, linezolid, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, and tranylcypromine. After you stop taking escitalopram, you should wait at least 14 days till you start taking an MAOI.

• To create certain escitalopram is safety for you, speak your doctor if you have:

· liver or kidney disease;

· seizures or epilepsy;

· diabetes;

· heart disease;

· bipolar mess (manic depression); or

· a history of drug abuse or suicidal thoughts.

• FDA pregnancy category C. Taking an SSRI antidepressant during pregnancy may reason serious lung problems or another complications in the child. However, you may have a relapse of depression if you stop taking your antidepressant. Speak your doctor right away if you become pregnant while taking escitalopram. Do not start or stop taking this medication during pregnancy without your doctor's advice.

• Escitalopram can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing child. Speak your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

• Escitalopram must not be given to a baby younger than 12 years old.

How must I take escitalopram?

• Follow all directions on your prescription label. Your doctor may occasionally change your doze to create certain you get the excellent results. Do not take this medication in larger or less amounts or for longer than recommended.

• Try to take the medication at the same time every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

• Measure liquid medication with a particular dose-measuring spoon or medication cup. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one.

• It may take up to 4 weeks or longer till your symptoms improve. Hold using the medicine as directed and speak your doctor if your symptoms do not improve.

• Do not stop using escitalopram suddenly, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Follow your doctor's instructions about tapering your dose.

• Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

• Take the missed doze as soon as you remember. Skip the missed doze if it is nearly time for your following scheduled doze. Do not take extra medication to create up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

• Search abnormal medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

What must I avoid while taking escitalopram?

• Avoid taking tryptophan while you are taking escitalopram.

• Ask your doctor till taking a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) for pain, arthritis, fever, or swelling. This includes aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), celecoxib (Celebrex), diclofenac, indomethacin, meloxicam, and others. Using an NSAID with escitalopram may reason you to bruise or bleed easily.

• Drinking alcohol can magnify determined side effects of escitalopram.

• Escitalopram may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.

What are the possible side effects of escitalopram?

• Get abnormal medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: skin rash or hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your person, lips, tongue, or throat.

• Report any new or worsening symptoms to your doctor, such as: mood or behavior changes, anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, or if you feel impulsive, irritable, agitated, hostile, aggressive, restless, hyperactive (mentally or physically), more depressed, or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself.

• Call your doctor at once if you have:

· very stiff (rigid) muscles, tall fever, sweating, quick or uneven heartbeats, tremors, feeling like you might pass out;

· nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, feeling unsteady, loss of coordination;

· racing thoughts, unusual risk-taking behavior, feelings of extreme happiness or sadness; or

· headache, trouble concentrating, memory problems, weakness, confusion, hallucinations, fainting, seizure, shallow breathing or breathing that stops.

• General side effects may include:

· drowsiness, weary feeling;

· sleep problems (insomnia);

· mild nausea, gas, heartburn, upset stomach, constipation;

· weight changes;

· decreased sex drive, impotence, or difficulty having an orgasm; or

· heighten sweating.

• This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may message side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What another drugs will affect escitalopram?

• Taking escitalopram with another drugs that create you sleepy or slow your breathing can magnify these effects. Ask your doctor till taking escitalopram with a sleeping pill, narcotic pain medication, muscle relaxer, or medication for anxiety, depression, or seizures.

• Speak your doctor about all medicines you use, and those you start or stop using during your treatment with escitalopram, especially:

· any another antidepressant;

· buspirone;

· lithium;

· St. John's wort;

· tryptophan (sometimes called L-tryptophan);

· a blood thinner such as warfarin, Coumadin;

· migraine headache medication--sumatriptan, rizatriptan, and others; or

· pain medication--fentanyl or tramadol.

• This list is not complete. Another drugs may interact with escitalopram, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal commodity. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medicine manual.

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist can provide more information about escitalopram.

Remember, hold this and all another medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medicine only for the indication prescribed.

Disclaim: Each effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses external of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way must be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safety, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the help of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

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