Escitalopram
Uses
How it Works
Common Side effects
Patients who take Escitalopram may suffer from such side effects;
Headache,
Nausea,
Abdominal pail,
COnstipation,
Dry mouth,
Insomnia,
Fatigue
Introduction
The drug citalopram is an oral medication to counter depression in psychiatric patients. It is prescribed in many cases of depressed targets because of the need to keep the depressive episodes under control. In many parts of the world, this drug has been widely utilized for manic depressive disorders, especially to manage the depression aspect. Being active in the neurotransmitters acting in the brain tissue, it has specific functions to counter the depressive episodes and fares better than many other older drugs. Available in tablet form, it has some side effects apart from having lots of positive effects on depressive patients.
Use
There are plenty of drugs prescribed for psychiatric conditions but the newer drugs that are being manufactured are more efficacious and preferred in the modern day scenario. Some studies have shown this drug to be far better than the other drugs and it is even used in some cases involving children. Some physicians or psychiatrists also prescribe it to deal with obsessive compulsive disorder, anxiety, or panic attacks. It helps relieve the negative symptoms and elevates the mood, manages insomnia, fatigue, loss of appetite and other symptoms. It can be used in depressive patients for the long term, sometimes for months continuously.
Dosage and administration
It can be taken once or twice daily along with food, or as prescribed by the physician. Treatment starts with the 20 mg dosage per day with a permissible dose increase to about 40 mg per day if required. Maintenance dose can be given at 20 mg or less according to the improvements seen in the patients. Many studies have shown the efficacy of this drug for use for more than a year.
Warning
Any hypersensitivities to other drugs should also be reported to the treating physician.
Patients with irregular heart beat should be prescribed the drug with care and other drug interactions should be considered.
Suicidal tendencies may surface when using this particular drug thus necessary precautions should be adopted.
Side effects
Drowsiness
Nausea
Weight changes
Increased teeth clenching and rubbing against each other
Anxiety
Mood changes
Major side effects include:
Convulsions
Allergic manifestations or photosensitivity thus resulting in the withdrawal of the drug from the regimen.
Sudden withdrawal of the drug can also be a problem for the patients thus the drug is usually stopped gradually by decreasing the dosage through time.