Escitalopram Orion
Escitalopram Orion is a medicine used to treat depression and anxiety disorders by increasing serotonin levels in the brain.
Form
tabletti, kalvopäällysteinen
Strength
20 mg
Active Ingredient
Escitalopram oxalate
Manufacturer
Orion Corporation
How to Use
Dosage
The usual starting dose for adults is 10 mg once a day. Your doctor may adjust this dose, up to a maximum of 20 mg per day. For elderly patients or those with liver problems, the starting dose is usually 5 mg per day, which can be increased to 10 mg per day.
Method
Take the tablet whole with water, with or without food. Do not chew it as it tastes bitter. If your tablet has a score line, you can break it in half by pressing on both sides.
Important
Do not take more than 20 mg in one day, unless your doctor tells you to.
Possible Side Effects
COMMON
- •Nausea
- •Headache
- •Stuffy or runny nose (sinusitis)
- •Decreased or increased appetite
- •Anxiety, restlessness, unusual dreams, difficulty falling asleep, drowsiness, dizziness, yawning, tremor, tingling sensation on the skin
- •Diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, dry mouth
- •Increased sweating
- •Muscle and joint pain
- •Sexual problems (e.g., delayed ejaculation, erection problems, decreased sex drive, difficulty reaching orgasm for women)
- •Fatigue, fever
- •Weight gain
RARE
- •Hives, rash, itching
- •Teeth grinding, restlessness, nervousness, panic attack, confusion
- •Sleep disturbance, taste disturbance, fainting
- •Enlarged pupils, vision problems, ringing in the ears
- •Hair loss
- •Heavy menstrual bleeding
- •Irregular bleeding between periods
- •Weight loss
- •Fast heartbeat
- •Swelling of arms or legs
- •Nosebleed
- •Aggression, feeling detached from oneself, hallucinations
- •Slow heartbeat
- •Low sodium levels in the blood (symptoms include nausea, feeling unwell, muscle weakness, or confusion)
- •Dizziness when standing up due to low blood pressure (orthostatic hypotension)
- •Abnormal liver function test results (increased liver enzymes in the blood)
- •Movement disorders (involuntary muscle movements)
- •Painful erections (priapism)
- •Bleeding disorders, including bleeding under the skin or mucous membranes (bruising) and low platelet count
- •Increased secretion of ADH, leading to water retention, thinning of blood, and low sodium levels
- •Increased prolactin levels in the blood
- •Milk secretion in men and non-breastfeeding women
- •Mania
- •Increased risk of bone fractures in patients taking this type of medicine
- •Change in heart rhythm (prolonged QT interval seen on ECG)
- •Very heavy vaginal bleeding shortly after childbirth
- •Motor restlessness (akathisia)
- •Loss of appetite
Important Warnings
- Do not take if you are allergic to escitalopram or any other ingredients in this medicine.
- Do not take if you are taking other medicines called MAO inhibitors (e.g., selegiline for Parkinson's disease, moclobemide for depression, linezolid an antibiotic).
- Do not take if you have a congenital or abnormal heart rhythm (seen on an ECG).
- Do not take if you are taking medicines for heart rhythm problems or medicines that can affect your heart rhythm.
- Seek medical help immediately if you experience unusual bleeding, including bleeding in the stomach or intestines.
Show 11 more warnings
- Seek medical help immediately if you experience swelling of the skin, tongue, lips, throat or face, hives, or difficulty breathing or swallowing (severe allergic reaction).
- Seek medical help immediately if you experience high fever, restlessness, confusion, shaking, and sudden muscle jerks (serotonin syndrome).
- Seek medical help immediately if you have difficulty urinating.
- Seek medical help immediately if you have seizures (convulsions).
- Seek medical help immediately if your skin and the whites of your eyes turn yellow (signs of liver problems or hepatitis).
- Seek medical help immediately if you have a fast, irregular heartbeat or faint (signs of a life-threatening heart rhythm disorder called Torsade de Pointes).
- Contact your doctor immediately or go to a hospital if you have thoughts of harming yourself or committing suicide.
- Seek medical help immediately if you experience sudden swelling of the skin or mucous membranes (angioedema).
- If you take this medicine during the last 3 months of pregnancy, your newborn baby may experience breathing difficulties, bluish skin, seizures, and other serious symptoms. Contact your doctor immediately if your baby has any of these symptoms.
- This medicine is generally not recommended for children and adolescents under 18 years old due to an increased risk of side effects like suicide attempts, suicidal thoughts, and hostility.
- Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how this medicine affects you.
Use in Elderly Patients
Category C
Suitable for older adults, with specific precautions. Serotonergic. Risk of QT prolongation. A significant adverse effect is low serum sodium level. Increases risk of falls. Consider potential interactions especially with preparations that increase risk of bleeding. (updated 12.2.2024)