What to Know About Cipralex (Escitalopram)

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHow It WorksUsesBefore TakingDosageSide Effects

Table of ContentsView All

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Table of Contents

How It Works

Uses

Before Taking

Dosage

Side Effects

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What is the most important information I should know about Cipralex (escitalopram)?You should not take Cipralex if you take MAOIs, medications for heart rhythm problems, or other drugs that affect heart rhythm.You should not stop taking your medication without talking to your physician first since abruptly halting your medication can cause withdrawal symptoms.

What is the most important information I should know about Cipralex (escitalopram)?

You should not take Cipralex if you take MAOIs, medications for heart rhythm problems, or other drugs that affect heart rhythm.You should not stop taking your medication without talking to your physician first since abruptly halting your medication can cause withdrawal symptoms.

Cipralex is available in tablet and liquid form. It belongs to a group of drugs known asselective serotonin reuptake inhibitors(SSRIs).Learn more about the uses of Cipralex, as well as potential side effects. We also discuss dosage information and precautions you should understand before taking this medication.

How Cipralex Works

While current research does not suggest that chemical imbalances are the cause of depression,balancing serotonin levels with SSRIs such as Cipralex may play a role in relieving symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Cipralex Uses

Cipralex is used to treat a form of depression calledmajor depressive disorder(MDD) andgeneralized anxiety disorder(GAD). Research suggests that escitalopram, the active ingredient in Cipralex, may also be effective for helping with:

It can take a couple of weeks to feel better once you start taking Cipralex. You also may not experience the full benefits of the medication until you’ve been following a recommended treatment plan for several months.

How Long Does Cipralex Take to Work for Anxiety?After starting escitalopram, you may feel physical changes in one to two weeks (such as improved sleep, energy, and appetite). Changes in mood may take longer—between six and eight weeks.

How Long Does Cipralex Take to Work for Anxiety?

After starting escitalopram, you may feel physical changes in one to two weeks (such as improved sleep, energy, and appetite). Changes in mood may take longer—between six and eight weeks.

Before Taking Cipralex

Talk to your healthcare provider about all medications, supplements, and vitamins you currently take. While some drugs pose minor interaction risks, others may contraindicate use or prompt careful consideration as to whether the pros of treatment outweigh the cons in your case.

Precautions and Contraindications

You should not take Cipralex if you are allergic to escitalopram, takemonoamine oxidase inhibitors(MAOIs), or take medicines for heart rhythm problems or other drugs that may affect your heart’s rhythm, such as:

Additionally, you should tell your physician if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. As with most antidepressants, you should not take Cipralex if you are pregnant or breastfeeding unless you and your care provider have discussed the risks and benefits involved.

Prior to starting Cipralex, it’s important to tell the prescribing physician if you have any of the following conditions or illnesses, as they may need to take this into consideration:

Cipralex Dosage

Cipralex comes in tablets and a liquid solution. Check your prescription and talk to your physician to make sure you are taking the right Cipralex dose for you.

Oral Tablets

Cipralex tablets are available in 5 milligrams (mg), 10 mg, and 20 mg strengths. The following listed dosages are according to the drug manufacturer:

Oral Drops Solution

Cipralex liquid oral solution comes in a strength of 20 mg per milliliter (ml). The following listed dosages are according to the drug manufacturer:

How to Take and Store

Cipralex tablets can be taken with or without food. As with all medicines, combining Cipralex tablets with alcohol is not advised.

When taking Cipralex oral drops solution, count the required number of drops into your drink (water, orange juice, or apple juice), stir it briefly, and then drink all of it. Do not mix the Cipralex with other liquids and do not mix it with other medicinal products.

Side Effects of Cipralex

Most people only experience a few mild side effects when taking Cipralex. As your body adjusts to the drug, the side effects should go away. If you notice they are getting worse or are interfering with your quality of life, talk to your physician.

Common Side Effects

Like all medicines, Cipralex can cause side effects. The most common side effects for escitalopram include:

Severe Side Effects

Seek immediate help if you experience any of the following unusual but serious side effects:

If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

13 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Lexapro (escitalopram) label.Kirino E.Antidepressant efficacy of escitalopram in major depressive disorder. In:Melatonin, Neuroprotective Agents and Antidepressant Therapy. doi:10.1007/978-81-322-2803-5_30Pourhamzeh M, Ghasemi Morevej F, Arabi M, et al.The roles of serotonin in neuropsychiatric disorders.Cell Mol Neurobiol. 2022;42:1671-1692. doi:10.1007/s10571-021-01064-9Moncrieff J, Cooper RE, Stockmann T, Amendola S, Hengartner MP, Horowitz MA.The serotonin theory of depression: A systematic umbrella review of the evidence.Mol Psychiatry. 2022;28:3243-3256. doi:10.1038/s41380-022-01661-0Del Casale A, Sorice S, Padovano A, et al.Psychopharmacological treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).Curr Neuropharmacol. 2019;17(8):710-736. doi:10.2174/1570159X16666180813155017Vork L, Mujagic Z, Drukker M, et al.The experience sampling method—evaluation of treatment effect of escitalopram in IBS with comorbid panic disorder.Neurogastroent Motility. 2018;31(1):e13515. doi:10.1111/nmo.13515Qi W, Gevonden M, Shalev A.Efficacy and tolerability of high-dose escitalopram in posttraumatic stress disorder.J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2017;37(1):89-93. doi:10.1097.JCP0000000000000626Carlini SV, Deligiannidis KM.Evidence-based treatment of premenstrual dysphoric disorder: a concise review.J Clin Psychiatry. 2020;81(2):19ac13071. doi:10.4088/JCP.19ac13071Baldwin DS, Asakura S, Koyama T, et al.Efficacy of escitalopram in the treatment of social anxiety disorder: A meta-analysisversusplacebo.Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 2016;26(6):1062-1069. doi:10.1016/j.euroneuro.2016.02.013National Alliance on Mental Illness.Escitalopram (Lexapro).Lundbeck Canada Inc.Cipralex tablet label.Electronic medicines compendium.Cipralex oral drops solution.National Library of Medicine.Escitalopram.

13 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Lexapro (escitalopram) label.Kirino E.Antidepressant efficacy of escitalopram in major depressive disorder. In:Melatonin, Neuroprotective Agents and Antidepressant Therapy. doi:10.1007/978-81-322-2803-5_30Pourhamzeh M, Ghasemi Morevej F, Arabi M, et al.The roles of serotonin in neuropsychiatric disorders.Cell Mol Neurobiol. 2022;42:1671-1692. doi:10.1007/s10571-021-01064-9Moncrieff J, Cooper RE, Stockmann T, Amendola S, Hengartner MP, Horowitz MA.The serotonin theory of depression: A systematic umbrella review of the evidence.Mol Psychiatry. 2022;28:3243-3256. doi:10.1038/s41380-022-01661-0Del Casale A, Sorice S, Padovano A, et al.Psychopharmacological treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).Curr Neuropharmacol. 2019;17(8):710-736. doi:10.2174/1570159X16666180813155017Vork L, Mujagic Z, Drukker M, et al.The experience sampling method—evaluation of treatment effect of escitalopram in IBS with comorbid panic disorder.Neurogastroent Motility. 2018;31(1):e13515. doi:10.1111/nmo.13515Qi W, Gevonden M, Shalev A.Efficacy and tolerability of high-dose escitalopram in posttraumatic stress disorder.J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2017;37(1):89-93. doi:10.1097.JCP0000000000000626Carlini SV, Deligiannidis KM.Evidence-based treatment of premenstrual dysphoric disorder: a concise review.J Clin Psychiatry. 2020;81(2):19ac13071. doi:10.4088/JCP.19ac13071Baldwin DS, Asakura S, Koyama T, et al.Efficacy of escitalopram in the treatment of social anxiety disorder: A meta-analysisversusplacebo.Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 2016;26(6):1062-1069. doi:10.1016/j.euroneuro.2016.02.013National Alliance on Mental Illness.Escitalopram (Lexapro).Lundbeck Canada Inc.Cipralex tablet label.Electronic medicines compendium.Cipralex oral drops solution.National Library of Medicine.Escitalopram.

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Lexapro (escitalopram) label.Kirino E.Antidepressant efficacy of escitalopram in major depressive disorder. In:Melatonin, Neuroprotective Agents and Antidepressant Therapy. doi:10.1007/978-81-322-2803-5_30Pourhamzeh M, Ghasemi Morevej F, Arabi M, et al.The roles of serotonin in neuropsychiatric disorders.Cell Mol Neurobiol. 2022;42:1671-1692. doi:10.1007/s10571-021-01064-9Moncrieff J, Cooper RE, Stockmann T, Amendola S, Hengartner MP, Horowitz MA.The serotonin theory of depression: A systematic umbrella review of the evidence.Mol Psychiatry. 2022;28:3243-3256. doi:10.1038/s41380-022-01661-0Del Casale A, Sorice S, Padovano A, et al.Psychopharmacological treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).Curr Neuropharmacol. 2019;17(8):710-736. doi:10.2174/1570159X16666180813155017Vork L, Mujagic Z, Drukker M, et al.The experience sampling method—evaluation of treatment effect of escitalopram in IBS with comorbid panic disorder.Neurogastroent Motility. 2018;31(1):e13515. doi:10.1111/nmo.13515Qi W, Gevonden M, Shalev A.Efficacy and tolerability of high-dose escitalopram in posttraumatic stress disorder.J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2017;37(1):89-93. doi:10.1097.JCP0000000000000626Carlini SV, Deligiannidis KM.Evidence-based treatment of premenstrual dysphoric disorder: a concise review.J Clin Psychiatry. 2020;81(2):19ac13071. doi:10.4088/JCP.19ac13071Baldwin DS, Asakura S, Koyama T, et al.Efficacy of escitalopram in the treatment of social anxiety disorder: A meta-analysisversusplacebo.Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 2016;26(6):1062-1069. doi:10.1016/j.euroneuro.2016.02.013National Alliance on Mental Illness.Escitalopram (Lexapro).Lundbeck Canada Inc.Cipralex tablet label.Electronic medicines compendium.Cipralex oral drops solution.National Library of Medicine.Escitalopram.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Lexapro (escitalopram) label.

Kirino E.Antidepressant efficacy of escitalopram in major depressive disorder. In:Melatonin, Neuroprotective Agents and Antidepressant Therapy. doi:10.1007/978-81-322-2803-5_30

Pourhamzeh M, Ghasemi Morevej F, Arabi M, et al.The roles of serotonin in neuropsychiatric disorders.Cell Mol Neurobiol. 2022;42:1671-1692. doi:10.1007/s10571-021-01064-9

Moncrieff J, Cooper RE, Stockmann T, Amendola S, Hengartner MP, Horowitz MA.The serotonin theory of depression: A systematic umbrella review of the evidence.Mol Psychiatry. 2022;28:3243-3256. doi:10.1038/s41380-022-01661-0

Del Casale A, Sorice S, Padovano A, et al.Psychopharmacological treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).Curr Neuropharmacol. 2019;17(8):710-736. doi:10.2174/1570159X16666180813155017

Vork L, Mujagic Z, Drukker M, et al.The experience sampling method—evaluation of treatment effect of escitalopram in IBS with comorbid panic disorder.Neurogastroent Motility. 2018;31(1):e13515. doi:10.1111/nmo.13515

Qi W, Gevonden M, Shalev A.Efficacy and tolerability of high-dose escitalopram in posttraumatic stress disorder.J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2017;37(1):89-93. doi:10.1097.JCP0000000000000626

Carlini SV, Deligiannidis KM.Evidence-based treatment of premenstrual dysphoric disorder: a concise review.J Clin Psychiatry. 2020;81(2):19ac13071. doi:10.4088/JCP.19ac13071

Baldwin DS, Asakura S, Koyama T, et al.Efficacy of escitalopram in the treatment of social anxiety disorder: A meta-analysisversusplacebo.Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 2016;26(6):1062-1069. doi:10.1016/j.euroneuro.2016.02.013

National Alliance on Mental Illness.Escitalopram (Lexapro).

Lundbeck Canada Inc.Cipralex tablet label.

Electronic medicines compendium.Cipralex oral drops solution.

National Library of Medicine.Escitalopram.

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