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Escitalopram Patient Tips

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on Sep 8, 2025.

1. How it works

2. Upsides

3. Downsides

If you are between the ages of 18 and 60, take no other medication or have no other medical conditions, side effects you are more likely to experience include:

Note: In general, seniors or children, people with certain medical conditions (such as liver or kidney problems, heart disease, diabetes, seizures) or people who take other medications are more at risk of developing a wider range of side effects. View complete list of side effects

4. Bottom Line

Escitalopram is used to treat major depressive disorder in adults and children 12 years and older and generalized anxiety disorder in adults. Common side effects include drowsiness, insomnia, diarrhea, headache, sexual dysfunction, and nausea. These are typically mild and temporary, occurring most frequently in the first two weeks. Escitalopram may cause fewer side effects than the related drug citalopram.

5. Tips

6. Response and effectiveness

7. Interactions

Medicines that interact with escitalopram may either decrease its effect, affect how long it works, increase side effects, or have less of an effect when taken with escitalopram. An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of the medications; however, sometimes it does. Speak to your doctor about how drug interactions should be managed.

Common medications that may interact with escitalopram include:

Note that this list is not all-inclusive and includes only common medications that may interact with escitalopram. You should refer to the prescribing information for escitalopram for a complete list of interactions.

Related/similar drugs

Frequently asked questions

References

Further information

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use escitalopram only for the indication prescribed.

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

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