{"ok":true,"entry":{"slug":"escitalopram","kind":"medication","name":"escitalopram","aliases":["Lexapro","Cipralex"],"brands_sg":["Lexapro","Lepax","S-Oropram","Cilentra"],"class":"SSRI","tags":["mental-health"],"use_for":"depression, ocd, gad, social anxiety and panic (nhs)","use_after":"once a day · nhs: with or without food","use_duration":null,"take_with":"water · healthhub: with or after food","pros":["nhs: once a day, with or without food","tablets, orodispersible tablets and drops exist (nhs)","label ceiling is 20 mg once daily for adults"],"cons":["prescription-only in sg — all 8 register rows","nausea, poor sleep and sexual side effects (nhs)","heart-rhythm risk — nhs and healthhub both flag it"],"dose_note":"the us lexapro label gives the adult ceiling as 'the maximum recommended dosage of 20 mg once daily' for major depressive disorder and generalised anxiety disorder, and states that 'the recommended dosage for most elderly patients and patients with hepatic impairment is 10 mg once daily'; no singapore-facing source prints a number: healthhub gives none and nhs says only 'how much you need to take depends on why you're taking it'; singapore registrations are 5 mg, 10 mg, 15 mg and 20 mg tablets, all prescription only; as directed on the label or by your doctor or pharmacist","dosage":null,"ul_status":null,"sg_class":"prescription-only","cautions":["under 25 — healthhub flags new or worsening self-harm thoughts","heart rhythm problems — nhs says it may not be suitable","kidney or liver problems, epilepsy, glaucoma or diabetes — nhs","past mania or bipolar — nhs and healthhub both list it"],"clashes":[{"src":["nhs_esc_int"],"note":"nhs lists maois among medicines that may not mix well with escitalopram","with":"maoi antidepressants (moclobemide, selegiline)"},{"src":["nhs_esc_int","healthhub_esc_rare"],"note":"nhs lists them; healthhub separately flags prolonged qtc as a rare serious effect","with":"medicines for heart rhythm problems"},{"src":["nhs_esc_int","healthhub_esc_rare"],"note":"nhs lists both groups; healthhub flags unusual bruising or bleeding","with":"anticoagulants (warfarin) and nsaids (aspirin, ibuprofen)"},{"src":["nhs_esc_int","healthhub_esc_warn"],"note":"nhs lists the herbal supplement; healthhub names it among things to declare","with":"st john's wort"},{"src":["nhs_esc_food","healthhub_esc_int"],"food":true,"note":"nhs says it can raise the risk of side effects; healthhub links it to worse low mood and sleepiness","with":"alcohol"}],"sources":[{"id":"nhs_esc","url":"https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/escitalopram/","label":"NHS — Escitalopram (common brands: Cipralex), 'What escitalopram is for' (page last reviewed 18 June 2026)","quote":"Escitalopram can be used to treat mental health conditions such as: depression … obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) … generalised anxiety disorder … social anxiety disorder … panic disorder … It's a type of antidepressant called a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI).","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"nhs_esc_how","url":"https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/escitalopram/","label":"NHS — Escitalopram, 'How to take escitalopram' (same page)","quote":"Escitalopram comes as tablets you swallow, tablets you let dissolve in your mouth (orodispersible tablets) or liquid drops. You usually take escitalopram once a day. How much you need to take depends on why you're taking it","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"nhs_esc_food","url":"https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/escitalopram/","label":"NHS — Escitalopram, administration and 'Food, drink and alcohol with escitalopram' (same page)","quote":"you can take escitalopram with or without food … You can eat and drink normally when taking escitalopram. It's best not to drink alcohol while taking escitalopram as it can increase the risk of side effects","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"nhs_esc_who","url":"https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/escitalopram/","label":"NHS — Escitalopram, 'Who can and cannot take escitalopram' (same page)","quote":"it may not be suitable if you have: … heart rhythm problems … a bleeding disorder (especially bleeding in the digestive system) … kidney or liver problems … diabetes … epilepsy … glaucoma … had high moods caused by a mental health condition (mania) before","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"nhs_esc_se","url":"https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/escitalopram/","label":"NHS — Escitalopram, common side effects (same page)","quote":"Common side effects of escitalopram include: headaches … feeling sick (nausea) and being sick (vomiting) … sweating … diarrhoea or constipation … problems sleeping … sexual problems, such as low sex drive (loss of libido)","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"nhs_esc_se_serious","url":"https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/escitalopram/","label":"NHS — Escitalopram, serious side effects (same page)","quote":"a rare but life-threatening condition that causes a fast, irregular heartbeat, light-headedness and fainting (torsades de pointes) … internal bleeding … serotonin syndrome … feeling very low and having suicidal thoughts","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"nhs_esc_int","url":"https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/escitalopram/","label":"NHS — Escitalopram, 'Taking escitalopram with other medicines, food and drink' (same page)","quote":"antidepressants called monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), such as moclobemide and selegiline … medicines to treat heart rhythm problems … anticoagulants, such as warfarin … NSAIDs, such as aspirin and ibuprofen … antihistamines … medicines used to treat stomach ulcers … St John's wort","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"healthhub_esc","url":"https://www.healthhub.sg/medication-devices-and-treatment/medications/escitalopram","label":"HealthHub (MOH Singapore) — Escitalopram medication information leaflet, uses section (article last reviewed 25 May 2026)","quote":"Escitalopram belongs to a class of medications known as Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI). It is used to treat symptoms of depression … It may also be used to treat symptoms of anxiety","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"healthhub_esc_how","url":"https://www.healthhub.sg/medication-devices-and-treatment/medications/escitalopram","label":"HealthHub (MOH Singapore) — Escitalopram leaflet, administration section (same page)","quote":"Escitalopram should be taken with or after food … Take your medication according to the instructions stated on the medication label … Do not stop taking or adjust the dose of this medication without checking with your doctor","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"healthhub_esc_warn","url":"https://www.healthhub.sg/medication-devices-and-treatment/medications/escitalopram","label":"HealthHub (MOH Singapore) — Escitalopram leaflet, precautions section (same page)","quote":"You are taking any other medications … supplements such as St John's Wort … You have or have ever had: … Heart, kidney or liver disease … increased eye pressure (glaucoma), low sodium in the blood (hyponatremia) or bleeding problems … bipolar disorder … mania","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"healthhub_esc_young","url":"https://www.healthhub.sg/medication-devices-and-treatment/medications/escitalopram","label":"HealthHub (MOH Singapore) — Escitalopram leaflet, 'IMPORTANT' box on under-25s (same page)","quote":"The following changes have been observed in some patients particularly below the age of 25 years taking this medication: New or worsening thoughts of harming yourself or ending your life … Worsening agitation, restlessness, violent behaviour","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"healthhub_esc_int","url":"https://www.healthhub.sg/medication-devices-and-treatment/medications/escitalopram","label":"HealthHub (MOH Singapore) — Escitalopram leaflet, food and medication interactions section (same page)","quote":"Avoid drinking alcohol while taking Escitalopram as it can worsen the symptoms of your depression and cause excessive sleepiness.","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"healthhub_esc_rare","url":"https://www.healthhub.sg/medication-devices-and-treatment/medications/escitalopram","label":"HealthHub (MOH Singapore) — Escitalopram leaflet, rare but serious side-effects section (same page)","quote":"Fast or irregular heartbeat, fainting episodes (signs and symptoms of an abnormal heart beating rhythm (e.g. prolonged QTc interval)) … Unusual bruising or bleeding … signs and symptoms of serotonin syndrome","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"fda_lexapro","url":"https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=13bb8267-1cab-43e5-acae-55a4d957630a","label":"DailyMed / FDA prescribing information (SPL) — Lexapro (escitalopram) tablets, Allergan Inc., Dosage and Administration; label effective 1 Oct 2023, retrieved via the openFDA drug-label API","quote":"dosage may be increased to the maximum recommended dosage of 20 mg once daily at an interval of no less than 1 week … The recommended dosage for most elderly patients and patients with hepatic impairment is 10 mg once daily","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"hsa_register_esc","url":"https://data.gov.sg/datasets/d_767279312753558cbf19d48344577084/view","label":"HSA — Listing of Registered Therapeutic Products (data.gov.sg open dataset d_767279312753558cbf19d48344577084, full 5,511-row dump pulled 27 Aug 26 and filtered locally; 8 escitalopram rows)","quote":"LEXAPRO TABLET 5 mg (Prescription Only); LEXAPRO TABLET 20 mg (Prescription Only); Lepax Film-Coated Tablet 10mg (Prescription Only); S-OROPRAM FC TABLET 10MG (Prescription Only); CILENTRA 10 ESCITALOPRAM OXALATE TABLET USP 10MG (Prescription Only)","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"hsa_reclass","url":"https://www.hsa.gov.sg/therapeutic-products/registration-of-therapeutic-products/variation-application/reclassification/list-of-reclassified-medicines/","label":"HSA — forensic classification definitions used by the register (Prescription Only Medicine / Pharmacy Only / General Sale List)","quote":"Prescription-Only Medicine (POM): … can only be obtained from a doctor or from a pharmacist with a valid prescription","accessed":"2026-08-27"}],"brand_certs":null,"updated_at":"2026-08-29T16:16:18.585742+08:00"},"disclaimer":"kozen-x is not a medical device and does not give medical advice. it lists what published sources have written down. absence of a record is not the same as safe."}