Escitalopram Dose

Your healthcare provider will typically start you on an escitalopram dose of 10 mg once daily for the treatment of depression or generalized anxiety disorder. However, if your symptoms continue or if side effects occur during the treatment process, your healthcare provider may choose to alter your dosage. Escitalopram may be taken with or without food, but should be taken at the same time each day to maintain an even level of the drug in your blood.

Escitalopram Dose: An Introduction

The dose of escitalopram oxalate (Lexapro®) that your healthcare provider prescribes will vary depending on a number of factors, including:
 
  • Your age
  • The medical condition you are being treated for
  • Other medical conditions you may have
  • Other medications you may be currently taking.
     
As always, do not adjust your escitalopram dose unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.
 

Escitalopram Dosage Recommendations

The recommended starting dosage of escitalopram for adults or adolescents (age 12 to 17 years old) with depression or adults with generalized anxiety disorder is escitalopram 10 mg once a day. Your healthcare provider may choose to increase the escitalopram dosage if symptoms continue or decrease the dose if side effects occur. In general, people will take escitalopram for several months or longer.
 
Individual dosages of escitalopram can range from 10 mg to 20 mg once a day. For elderly people or people with liver problems, the maximum dose of escitalopram is escitalopram 10 mg once daily.
 

General Escitalopram Dose Information

Some considerations for people taking escitalopram include:
 
 
  • It usually takes several weeks (and may even take longer than a month) to feel the beneficial effects of escitalopram. Try not to be discouraged if escitalopram does not work right away for you.
     
  • If escitalopram makes you drowsy, try taking your escitalopram before bedtime. If escitalopram causes insomnia for you, try taking it in the morning.

 

  • You can take escitalopram with or without food. If escitalopram bothers your stomach, try taking it with food.

 

  • Escitalopram should be taken at the same time each day to maintain an even level of the drug in your blood.

 

  • Abruptly stopping medications like escitalopram can result in withdrawal symptoms (see Lexapro Withdrawal for more information).

 

  • For escitalopram to work properly, you have to take it as prescribed. Escitalopram will not work if you take it in a way other than how your healthcare provider prescribed it.

 

  • If you are unsure about anything related to escitalopram or your escitalopram dose, please talk with your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist. Do not stop taking escitalopram without first discussing it with your healthcare provider.

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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;
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