Lexapro® (escitalopram oxalate) tablets/oral solution

17.2 FDA-Approved Medication Guide
Medication Guide
3. Severe allergic reactions:
Lexapro® (leks-a-pro) trouble breathing (escitalopram oxalate) swelling of the face, tongue, eyes or mouth Tablets/Oral Solution rash, itchy welts (hives) or blisters, alone or with fever or joint pain Read the Medication Guide that comes with Lexapro before Abnormal bleeding: Lexapro and other antidepressant
medicines may increase your risk of bleeding or bruising, you start taking it and each time you get a refill. There may especially if you take the blood thinner warfarin be new information. This Medication Guide does not take the (Coumadin®, Jantoven®), a non-steroidal anti- place of talking to your healthcare provider about your inflammatory drug (NSAIDs, like ibuprofen or naproxen), medical condition or treatment. Talk with your healthcare provider if there is something you do not understand or want to learn more about. Seizures or convulsions
6. Manic episodes:
What is the most important information I should know
greatly increased energy about Lexapro?
severe trouble sleeping Lexapro and other antidepressant medicines may cause reckless behavior serious side effects, including: unusually grand ideas excessive happiness or irritability 1. Suicidal thoughts or actions:
talking more or faster than usual Lexapro and other antidepressant medicines may
7. Changes in appetite or weight. Children and
increase suicidal thoughts or actions in some
adolescents should have height and weight monitored children, teenagers, or young adults within the first few
during treatment. months of treatment or when the dose is changed.
8. Low salt (sodium) levels in the blood. Elderly people
Depression or other serious mental illnesses are the most may be at greater risk for this. Symptoms may include: important causes of suicidal thoughts or actions. Watch for these changes and call your healthcare weakness or feeling unsteady provider right away if you notice: confusion, problems concentrating or thinking or New or sudden changes in mood, behavior, actions, thoughts, or feelings, especially if severe. 9. Visual problems
Pay particular attention to such changes when Lexapro is started or when the dose is changed. changes in vision Keep all follow-up visits with your healthcare provider swelling or redness in or around the eye and call between visits if you are worried about symptoms. Only some people are at risk for these problems. You may want to undergo an eye examination to see if you are at risk Call your healthcare provider right away if you have
and receive preventative treatment if you are. any of the following symptoms, or call 911 if an
emergency, especially if they are new, worse, or
Do not stop Lexapro without first talking to your
worry you:
healthcare provider. Stopping Lexapro too quickly may
cause serious symptoms including: attempts to commit suicide anxiety, irritability, high or low mood, feeling restless or acting on dangerous impulses changes in sleep habits acting aggressive or violent headache, sweating, nausea, dizziness thoughts about suicide or dying electric shock-like sensations, shaking, confusion new or worse depression new or worse anxiety or panic attacks What is Lexapro?
feeling agitated, restless, angry or irritable trouble sleeping Lexapro is a prescription medicine used to treat depression. an increase in activity or talking more than what It is important to talk with your healthcare provider about the is normal for you risks of treating depression and also the risks of not treating other unusual changes in behavior or mood it. You should discuss all treatment choices with your healthcare provider. Lexapro is also used to treat: Call your healthcare provider right away if you have
any of the following symptoms, or call 911 if an
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) emergency. Lexapro may be associated with these
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) serious side effects:
Talk to your healthcare provider if you do not think that your condition is getting better with Lexapro treatment. 2. Serotonin Syndrome. This condition can be life-
threatening and may include:
Who should not take Lexapro?
agitation, hallucinations, coma or other changes in mental status Do not take Lexapro if you: coordination problems or muscle twitching  are allergic to escitalopram oxalate or citalopram (overactive reflexes) hydrobromide or any of the ingredients in Lexapro. See racing heartbeat, high or low blood pressure the end of this Medication Guide for a complete list of sweating or fever ingredients in Lexapro. nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea Reference ID: 3651522  take a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI). Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you are not sure if How should I take Lexapro?
you take an MAOI, including the antibiotic linezolid.  Do not take an MAOI within 2 weeks of stopping Take Lexapro exactly as prescribed. Your healthcare Lexapro unless directed to do so by your physician. provider may need to change the dose of Lexapro until it  Do not start Lexapro if you stopped taking an MAOI in the is the right dose for you. last 2 weeks unless directed to do so by your physician. Lexapro may be taken with or without food. If you miss a dose of Lexapro, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time. Do not take two doses of Lexapro at the People who take Lexapro close in time to an MAOI
may have serious or even life-threatening side
If you take too much Lexapro, call your healthcare effects. Get medical help right away if you have
provider or poison control center right away, or get any of these symptoms:
emergency treatment. uncontrolled muscle spasms What should I avoid while taking Lexapro?
rapid changes in heart rate or blood pressure Lexapro can cause sleepiness or may affect your ability to make decisions, think clearly, or react quickly. You should not loss of consciousness (pass out) drive, operate heavy machinery, or do other dangerous  take the antipsychotic medicine pimozide (Orap®)
activities until you know how Lexapro affects you. Do not because taking this drug with Lexapro can cause
drink alcohol while using Lexapro. serious heart problems.
What are the possible side effects of Lexapro?
What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking
Lexapro? Ask if you are not sure.
Lexapro may cause serious side effects, including all of
Before starting Lexapro, tell your healthcare provider if you: those described in the section entitled "What is the most important information I should know about Lexapro?" Are taking certain drugs such as:  Triptans used to treat migraine headache Common possible side effects in people who take Lexapro Medicines used to treat mood, anxiety, psychotic or include:
thought disorders, including tricyclics, lithium, SSRIs, SNRIs, or antipsychotics Over-the-counter supplements such as tryptophan or  Feeling anxious have liver problems  Trouble sleeping have kidney problems  Sexual problems have heart problems have or had seizures or convulsions have bipolar disorder or mania  Not feeling hungry have low sodium levels in your blood have a history of a stroke  Constipation have high blood pressure have or had bleeding problems are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if Lexapro will harm your unborn baby. Talk to Other side effects in children and adolescents include: your healthcare provider about the benefits and risks of  increased thirst treating depression during pregnancy  abnormal increase in muscle movement or agitation are breast-feeding or plan to breast-feed. Some Lexapro may pass into your breast milk. Talk to your healthcare  difficult urination provider about the best way to feed your baby while  heavy menstrual periods possible slowed growth rate and weight change. Your child's height and weight should be monitored during treatment with Lexapro. Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines
that you take, including prescription and non-prescription
Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Lexapro and bothers you or that does not go away. These are not all the some medicines may interact with each other, may not work possible side effects of Lexapro. For more information, ask as well, or may cause serious side effects. your healthcare provider or pharmacist. Your healthcare provider or pharmacist can tell you if it is safe CALL YOUR DOCTOR FOR MEDICAL ADVICE ABOUT SIDE
to take Lexapro with your other medicines. Do not start or EFFECTS. YOU MAY REPORT SIDE EFFECTS TO THE FDA
stop any medicine while taking Lexapro without talking to AT 1-800-FDA-1088.
your healthcare provider first. How should I store Lexapro?
If you take Lexapro, you should not take any other medicines that contain escitalopram oxalate or citalopram hydrobromide Store Lexapro at 25°C (77°F); excursions permitted including: Celexa. to 15 - 30°C (59-86°F). Keep Lexapro bottle closed tightly. Reference ID: 3651522 Keep Lexapro and all medicines out of the reach of
and magnesium stearate. The film coating contains children.
hypromellose, titanium dioxide, and polyethylene glycol. General information about Lexapro
Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than
Oral Solution: sorbitol, purified water, citric acid,
those listed in a Medication Guide. Do not use Lexapro for a sodium citrate, malic acid, glycerin, propylene glycol, condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give methylparaben, propylparaben, and natural Lexapro to other people, even if they have the same peppermint flavor. condition. It may harm them. Forest Pharmaceuticals, Inc. This Medication Guide summarizes the most important information about Lexapro. If you would like more Subsidiary of Forest Laboratories, Inc. information, talk with your healthcare provider. You may ask St. Louis, MO 63045 USA your healthcare provider or pharmacist for information about Lexapro that is written for healthcare professionals. Licensed from H. Lundbeck A/S For more information about Lexapro call 1-800-678-1605 or

Revised: July 2014 What are the ingredients in Lexapro?
This Medication Guide has been approved by the U.S. Food Active ingredient: escitalopram oxalate and Drug Administration. Inactive ingredients: Tablets: talc, croscarmellose sodium,
2014 Forest Laboratories, Inc. microcrystalline cellulose/colloidal silicon dioxide, Reference ID: 3651522

Source: http://rxisk.org/wp-content/uploads/medguides/LexaproMedGuide.pdf