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Depression and anxietyPatient guide

Escitalopram

Brands include Lexapro and generic versions

A once-a-day antidepressant for depression, ongoing worry and social anxiety that works gradually over several weeks.

Print two-page guide Side effects & how common they are When to get help
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The evidence

Australian product information, safety updates and original research.

Sources
11
Checked
3 October 2026

Transparent by design

Follow the evidence.

Numbered sources connect the guide to the research behind it.

  1. Sponsor information via Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care

    Lexapro (escitalopram): Australian Product Information and Consumer Medicine Information

    PI §§4.1–4.8, 5.1–5.2 (MIMS revision 1 October 2023) and tablet CMI (August 2023): indications, dosing, contraindications, precautions, interactions, pregnancy, missed dose and red flags. Adults.

    Accessed 3 October 2026Cited inThe big pictureHow it worksWhat can I expect?If you are taking it for depressionIf you are taking it for anxietyTaking it each dayIf you miss a doseSide effects: what to expectWhen to get helpStopping or changing treatmentImportant conversationsPregnancy and breastfeedingReviews and follow-upBefore prescribing: indications and contraindicationsCautions, baseline assessment and monitoringInteractions and switchingAdverse effects: technical overviewUrgent red flags and clinical actionSerotonin transporter inhibitionHow it compares with sertralineLabelling, overseas guidance and uncertainty

  2. Sponsor PI via Medsinfo

    Lexapro Australian Product Information (full sponsor PI)

    35-page sponsor PI, section 10 revision 23 August 2023: dosing (pp1–4), contraindications and MAOI washout (pp4, 15), QT text. No later revision verified; recheck the dispensed brand.

    Accessed 3 October 2026Cited inThe big pictureHow it worksIf you are taking it for anxietyTaking it each dayBefore prescribing: indications and contraindicationsCautions, baseline assessment and monitoringSerotonin transporter inhibitionHow it compares with sertralineLabelling, overseas guidance and uncertainty

  3. Therapeutic Goods Administration

    Updated warnings about persistent sexual dysfunction with antidepressants

    23 May 2024 Australian safety update. Sexual dysfunction may persist after stopping; prevalence unknown and likely under-reported.

    Accessed 3 October 2026Cited inSide effects: what to expectCautions, baseline assessment and monitoringAdverse effects: technical overviewLabelling, overseas guidance and uncertainty

  4. US Food and Drug Administration

    Lexapro (escitalopram) prescribing information, 2024

    §6.1 Tables 2–3 (PDF pp10–12): adult placebo-controlled MDD (n=715 vs 592) and GAD (n=429 vs 427) pools, 10–20 mg/day; short-term. US label used for rates only, not Australian prescribing rules.

    Accessed 3 October 2026Cited inSide effects: what to expectAdverse effects: technical overviewLabelling, overseas guidance and uncertainty

  5. Burke et al., 2002 · PubMed record

    Eight-week fixed-dose escitalopram trial in outpatients with major depression

    Eight-week fixed-dose MDD RCT, N=491: escitalopram 10 or 20 mg, citalopram 40 mg or placebo. Abstract/indexed report inspected; full outcome tables not verified.

    Accessed 3 October 2026Cited inWhat can I expect?Read the outcomes in context

  6. Bose et al., 2008 · PubMed record

    Escitalopram versus venlafaxine XR and placebo in generalised anxiety disorder: eight-week RCT

    Eight-week GAD RCT: escitalopram 10–20 mg/day n=127, venlafaxine XR n=129, placebo n=136. Abstract/indexed report inspected.

    Accessed 3 October 2026Cited inWhat can I expect?Read the outcomes in context

  7. Kasper et al. · British Journal of Psychiatry, 2005

    Escitalopram in the treatment of social anxiety disorder

    12-week social anxiety disorder RCT (DOI 10.1192/bjp.186.3.222). Primary report located; exact response estimates not extracted.

    Accessed 3 October 2026Cited inWhat can I expect?Read the outcomes in context

  8. Stahl et al., 2003 · PubMed record

    Escitalopram in panic disorder: ten-week randomised placebo-controlled trial

    Ten-week panic disorder RCT (DOI 10.4088/jcp.v64n1107). Panic disorder is off-label for escitalopram in Australia. Abstract/indexed report inspected.

    Accessed 3 October 2026Cited inIf you are taking it for anxietyBefore prescribing: indications and contraindicationsRead the outcomes in context

  9. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (UK)

    Depression in adults: treatment and management (NG222) – recommendations

    Published 29 June 2022. Early review intervals, first-line choices for less severe depression, continuation and symptom-led tapering. UK guidance, not Australian labelling.

    Accessed 3 October 2026Cited inIf you are taking it for depressionWhen to get helpStopping or changing treatmentReviews and follow-upBefore prescribing: indications and contraindicationsCautions, baseline assessment and monitoringAdverse effects: technical overviewUrgent red flags and clinical actionRead the outcomes in contextHow it compares with sertralineLabelling, overseas guidance and uncertainty

  10. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (UK)

    Generalised anxiety disorder and panic disorder in adults: management (CG113) – recommendations

    Last major update 15 June 2020. GAD/panic management; UK panic licensing does not transfer to Australia.

    Accessed 3 October 2026Cited inIf you are taking it for anxietyRead the outcomes in contextLabelling, overseas guidance and uncertainty

  11. Sponsor PI via Medsinfo

    Zoloft (sertraline) Australian Product Information

    Section 10 revision 30 June 2026, §§4.1–4.5, 5.2. Used only for the comparison with sertraline: indications, dosing and MAOI washout differences.

    Accessed 3 October 2026Cited inInteractions and switchingHow it compares with sertraline