Image:Lexapro logo.pngescitalopram (free base) structure
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Lexapro

Escitalopram is a medication developed by the Danish pharmaceutical company Lundbeck, that acts as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor or SSRI. It is typically used as an antidepressant to treat depression associated with mood disorders although also may be used in the treatment of body dysmorphic disorder and anxiety. In the United States, the drug is marketed under the name Lexapro® by Forest Laboratories, Inc. In Canada and Europe, the drug is marketed under the name Cipralex® by Lundbeck Canada, Inc. more...

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Escitalopram oxalate is derived from the drug citalopram which is made up of two mirror-image isomers, only one of which is thought to be an effective medication. Lundbeck has split the isomers apart, taken the active isomer and has licensed it as the new drug escitalopram. Escitalopram is the pure S-enantiomer (single isomer) of the racemic bicyclic phthalane derivative citalopram.

Escitalopram was released shortly before the patent for citalopram was due to expire. The expiration of a patent means other companies can legally produce cheaper generic versions. Escitalopram is subject to a new patent. Critics have argued that escitalopram, and the subsequent marketing campaign to persuade mental health professionals to prescribe it, is a cynical ploy to promote sales of a virtually identical but considerably more expensive drug. In defence of the new drug, Lundbeck has claimed that the drug has additional benefits over the older citalopram and other antidepressant drugs on the market, mainly better tolerability .

Withdrawal symptoms

A possible withdrawal symptom from Escitalopram is a type of spontaneous nerve pulse, described by some patients as a feeling of small electric shocks, which may be accompanied by dizziness. These pulses may be short in duration, only milliseconds long, affect any region of the body, and recur up to several times a minute, throughout all waking hours. They can be increased by physical activity, but are not solely linked to muscular activity.

Read more at Wikipedia.org


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Expanded indication: Lexapro now approved to treat generalized anxiety disorder
From OB/GYN News, 4/15/04 by Deeanna Franklin

The Food and Drug Administration has approved escitalopram oxalate for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder.

Escitalopram (Lexapro), a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, was originally approved in August 2002 for the treatment of major depressive disorder.

The FDA based its approval on the results of three randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies that were conducted by Forest Laboratories, maker of Lexapro.

The studies involved about 850 patients, aged 18-80 years, who had been diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).

Participants were given 10 mg/day for 4 weeks and then flexibly dosed to a maximum of 20 mg/day. GAD symptoms were significantly improved in 68% of the patients receiving 10-20 mg daily, compared with 41% of the patients in the placebo group, as measured by the change in their scores from baseline on the Hamilton Anxiety Scale.

Patients in the escitalopram group also experienced an improvement in quality of life as measured by the Quality of Life scale when compared with patients on placebo.

By the end of 8 weeks 36% of the escitalopram patients were in remission compared with 16% of patients on placebo.

Escitalopram was well tolerated, and the most frequently reported adverse events were nausea, ejaculation disorder, insomnia, fatigue, decreased libido, and anorgasmia.

Generalized anxiety disorder is one of the most common mental illnesses in the United States, affecting approximately 4 million adults.

BY DEEANNA FRANKLIN

Senior Writer

COPYRIGHT 2004 International Medical News Group
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group

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