Lexapro

What you should know before using

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatrics

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated any benefit to using escitalopram in children with depression. Studies have shown that some children, teenagers, and young adults think about suicide or attempt suicide when taking the medicine. Because of this toxicity, use in children is not recommended.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatrics-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of escitalopram in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have age-related liver problems, which may require an adjustment in the dose for patients receiving escitalopram.

Breast Feeding

Studies in women breastfeeding have demonstrated harmful infant effects. An alternative to this medication should be prescribed or you should stop breastfeeding while using this medicine.

Drug Interactions

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

• Clorgyline
• Furazolidone
• Isocarboxazid
• Lazabemide
• Moclobemide
• Phenelzine
• Selegiline
• Tranylcypromine

Other Interactions

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Bipolar disorder (mental disease with cycles of elation and depression), history of, or
• Hyponatremia (low sodium in the blood) or
• Seizures (convulsions), history of—May make these conditions worse.

• Diseases affecting metabolism or diseases involving blood circulation—Caution should be used in patients with these medical problems.

• Drug Abuse, history of—Potential for increased dependence on medicine.

• Heart disease (unstable) or
• Myocardial infarction (heart attack) recent history of—The effects of escitalopram in patients with these conditions are not known.

• Kidney disease, severe or
• Liver disease—Use with caution. The effects may be increased because of slower removal of the medicine from the body.

• Mania or hypomania (history of)—Use of escitalopram may activate these conditions.