EXCELSA TABLET

Description

Pharmaceutical form
Film coated tablets.
Clinical particulars
Therapeutic indications
– Treatment of major depressive episodes.
– Treatment of panic disorder with or without agoraphobia.
– Treatment of social anxiety disorder (social phobia).
– Treatment of generalized anxiety disorder.
– Treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Posology and method of administration
– Maximum dose for adults under 65 years is 20 mg / day.
– Excelsa is administered as a single daily dose and may be taken with or without food.
– 10 mg per day is the maximum recommended dose for patients with hepatic impairment, who are greater than 65 years of age who are CYP2C19 poor metabolizers, or who are taking concomitant cimetidine because these drugs factors lead to increased blood levels of escitalopram, increasing risk of QT- interval prolongation and Torsade de pointes
Major depressive episodes
Usual dosage is 10 mg once daily. Depending on individual patient response, the dose may be increased to a maximum of 20 mg daily.
Usually 2-4 weeks are necessary to obtain antidepressant response. After the symptoms resolve, treatment for at least 6 months is required for consolidation of the response.
Panic disorder with or without agoraphobia
An initial dose of 5 mg is recommended for the first week before increasing the dose to 10 mg daily. The dose may be further increased, up to a maximum of 20 mg daily, dependent on individual patient response.
Maximum effectiveness is reached after about 3 months. The treatment lasts several months.
Social anxiety disorder
Usual dosage is 10 mg once daily. Usually 2-4 weeks are necessary to obtain symptom relief. The dose may subsequently, depending on individual patient response, be decreased to 5 mg or increased to a maximum of 20 mg daily.
Social anxiety disorder is a disease with a chronic course, and treatment for 12 weeks is recommended to consolidate response. Long-term treatment of responders has been studied for 6 months and can be considered on an individual basis to prevent relapse; treatment benefits should be re-evaluated at regular intervals.
Social anxiety disorder is a well-defined diagnostic terminology of a specific disorder, which should not be confounded with excessive shyness. Pharmacotherapy is only indicated if the disorder interferes significantly with professional and social activities.
The place of this treatment compared to cognitive behavioral therapy has not been assessed. Pharmacotherapy is part of an overall therapeutic strategy.
Generalized anxiety disorder
Initial dosage is 10 mg once daily. Depending on the individual patient response, the dose may be increased to a maximum of 20 mg daily.
Long-term treatment of responders has been studied for at least 6 months in patients receiving 20 mg daily. Treatment benefits and dose should be re-evaluated at regular intervals.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Initial dosage is 10 mg once daily. Depending on the individual patient response, the dose may be increased for adults less than 65 years to a maximum of 20 mg daily.
As OCD is a chronic disease, patients should be treated for a sufficient period to ensure that they are symptom free.
Treatment benefits and dose should be re-evaluated at regular intervals.
Elderly patients (> 65 years of age)
Initial dosage is 5 mg once daily. Depending on individual patient response the dose may be increased to 10 mg daily.
The efficacy of Excelsa in social anxiety disorder has not been studied in elderly patients.
Children and adolescents (<18 years) Excelsa should not be used in the treatment of children and adolescents under the age of 18 years. Reduced renal function Dosage adjustment is not necessary in patients with mild or moderate renal impairment. Caution is advised in patients with severely reduced renal function (CLCR less than 30 ml/min.). Reduced hepatic function An initial dose of 5 mg daily for the first two weeks of treatment is recommended in patients with mild or moderate hepatic impairment. Depending on individual patient response, the dose may be increased to 10 mg daily. Caution and extra careful dose titration is advised in patients with severely reduced hepatic function. Poor metabolisers of CYP2C19 For patients who are known to be poor metabolizers with respect to CYP2C19, an initial dose of 5 mg daily during the first two weeks of treatment is recommended. Depending on individual patient response, the dose may be increased to 10 mg daily. Discontinuation symptoms seen when stopping treatment Abrupt discontinuation should be avoided. When stopping treatment with escitalopram the dose should be gradually reduced over a period of at least one to two weeks in order to reduce the risk of discontinuation symptoms. If intolerable symptoms occur following a decrease in the dose or upon discontinuation of treatment, then resuming the previously prescribed dose may be considered. Subsequently, the physician may continue decreasing the dose, but at a more gradual rate. Contraindications Hypersensitivity to the active substance, or to any of the excipients. Concomitant treatment with non-selective, irreversible monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAO-inhibitors) is contraindicated due to the risk of serotonin syndrome with agitation, tremor, hyperthermia etc. The combination of escitalopram with reversible MAO-A inhibitors (e.g. moclobemide) or the reversible non-selective MAO-inhibitor linezolid is contraindicated due to the risk of onset of a serotonin syndrome. Escitalopram is contraindicated in patients with known QT interval prolongation or congenital long QT syndrome. Escitalopram is contraindicated together with medicinal products that are known to prolong the QT interval. Special warnings and precautions for use The following special warnings and precautions apply to the therapeutic class of SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors). Use in children and adolescents under 18 years of age Excelsa should not be used in the treatment of children and adolescents under the age of 18 years. Suicide related behaviors (suicide attempt and suicidal thoughts), and hostility (predominately aggression, oppositional behavior and anger) were more frequently observed in clinical trials among children and adolescents treated with antidepressants compared to those treated with placebo. If, based on clinical need, a decision to treat is nevertheless taken; the patient should be carefully monitored for the appearance of suicidal symptoms. In addition, long-term safety data in children and adolescents concerning growth, maturation and cognitive and behavioral development are lacking. - Antidepressant drugs increase risk compared to placebo of suicidal thinking and behavior in children adolescents and young adults in short term studies of major depressive disorders (MMD) and (suicidality) other psychiatric disorders. Paradoxical anxiety Some patients with panic disorder may experience increased anxiety symptoms at the beginning of treatment with antidepressants. This paradoxical reaction usually subsides within two weeks during continued treatment. A low starting dose is advised to reduce the likelihood of an anxiogenic effect. Seizures Escitalopram should be discontinued if a patient develops seizures for the first time, or if there is an increase in seizure frequency (in patients with a previous diagnosis of epilepsy). SSRIs should be avoided in patients with unstable epilepsy, and patients with controlled epilepsy should be closely monitored. Mania SSRIs should be used with caution in patients with a history of mania/hypomania. SSRIs should be discontinued in any patient entering a manic phase. Diabetes In patients with diabetes, treatment with an SSRI may alter glycaemic control (hypoglycaemia or hyperglycaemia). Insulin and/or oral hypoglycaemic dosage may need to be adjusted. Suicide/suicidal thoughts or clinical worsening Depression is associated with an increased risk of suicidal thoughts, self harm and suicide (suicide-related events). This risk persists until significant remission occurs. As improvement may not occur during the first few weeks or more of treatment, patients should be closely monitored until such improvement occurs. It is general clinical experience that the risk of suicide may increase in the early stages of recovery. Other psychiatric conditions for which Escitalopram is prescribed can also be associated with an increased risk of suicide-related events. In addition, these conditions may be co-morbid with major depressive disorder. The same precautions observed when treating patients with major depressive disorder should therefore be observed when treating patients with other psychiatric disorders. Patients with a history of suicide-related events, or those exhibiting a significant degree of suicidal ideation prior to commencement of treatment, are known to be at greater risk of suicidal thoughts or suicide attempts, and should receive careful monitoring during treatment. A meta analysis of placebo controlled clinical trials of antidepressant drugs in adult patients with psychiatric disorders showed an increased risk of suicidal behavior with antidepressants compared to placebo in patients less than 25 years old. Close supervision of patients and in particular those at high risk should accompany drug therapy especially in early treatment and following dose changes. Patients (and caregivers of patients) should be alerted about the need to monitor for any clinical worsening, suicidal behavior or thoughts and unusual changes in behavior and to seek medical advice immediately if these symptoms present. Akathisia/psychomotor restlessness The use of SSRIs/SNRIs has been associated with the development of akathisia, characterized by a subjectively unpleasant or distressing restlessness and need to move often accompanied by an inability to sit or stand still. This is most likely to occur within the first few weeks of treatment. In patients who develop these symptoms, increasing the dose may be detrimental. Hyponatraemia Hyponatraemia, probably due to inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH), has been reported rarely with the use of SSRIs and generally resolves on discontinuation of therapy. Caution should be exercised in patients at risk, such as the elderly, or patients with cirrhosis, or if used in combination with other medications which may cause hyponatraemia. Hypokalemia and hypomagnesaemia Hypokalemia and hypomagnesaemia should be corrected before administering escitalapram. Electrolytes should be monitored as clinically indicated. Haemorrhage There have been reports of cutaneous bleeding abnormalities, such as ecchymoses and purpura, with SSRIs. Caution is advised in patients taking SSRIs, particularly in concomitant use with oral anticoagulants, with medicinal products known to affect platelet function (e.g. atypical antipsychotics and phenothiazines, most tricyclic antidepressants, acetylsalicylic acid and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicinal products (NSAIDs), ticlopidine and dipyridamole) and in patients with known bleeding tendencies. ECT (electroconvulsive therapy) There is limited clinical experience of concurrent administration of SSRIs and ECT, therefore caution is advisable. Serotonin syndrome Caution is advisable if escitalopram is used concomitantly with medicinal products with serotonergic effects such as sumatriptan or other triptans, tramadol and tryptophan. In rare cases, serotonin syndrome has been reported in patients using SSRIs concomitantly with serotonergic medicinal products. A combination of symptoms, such as agitation, tremor, myoclonus and hyperthermia may indicate the development of this condition. If this occurs treatment with the SSRI and the serotonergic medicinal product should be discontinued immediately and symptomatic treatment initiated. - A life-threatening condition called serotonin syndrome can happen when medicines called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and medicines used to treat migraine headaches known as hydroxytryptamine receptor agonists (triptans), are used together. - Serotonin syndrome is characterized by the development of at least three of the following clinical features after a recent change in a treatment regimen involving: agitation, ataxia, diarrhoea, fever, hyperreflexia, myoclonus, diaphoresis, shivering, changes in mental statusmental status. St. John's wort Concomitant use of SSRIs and herbal remedies containing St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) may result in an increased incidence of adverse reactions. Discontinuation symptoms seen when stopping treatment Discontinuation symptoms when stopping treatment are common, particularly if discontinuation is abrupt. In clinical trials adverse events seen on treatment discontinuation occurred in approximately 25% of patients treated with escitalopram and 15% of patients taking placebo. The risk of discontinuation symptoms may be dependent on several factors including the duration and dose of therapy and the rate of dose reduction. Dizziness, sensory disturbances (including paraesthesia and electric shock sensations), sleep disturbances (including insomnia and intense dreams), agitation or anxiety, nausea and/or vomiting, tremor, confusion, sweating, headache, diarrhoea, palpitations, emotional instability, irritability, and visual disturbances are the most commonly reported reactions. Generally these symptoms are mild to moderate; however, in some patients they may be severe in intensity. They usually occur within the first few days of discontinuing treatment, but there have been very rare reports of such symptoms in patients who have inadvertently missed a dose. Generally these symptoms are self-limiting and usually resolve within 2 weeks, though in some individuals they may be prolonged (2-3 months or more). It is therefore advised that escitalopram should be gradually tapered when discontinuing treatment over a period of several weeks or months, according to the patient's needs (should not be discontinued abruptly) as withdrawal symptoms may occur. Coronary heart disease  Due to limited clinical experience, caution is advised in patients with coronary heart disease.  Patients with congestive heart failure. Bradyarrhythmias, myocardial infarction or predisposition to hypokalemia or hypomagnesaemia because of concomitant illness or drugs, are at higher risk of developing Torsade de pointes.  Healthcare professionals should consider more frequent electrocadiogram (ECG) monitoring in patients with congestive heart failure, bradycardia.  Patients should contact a healthcare professional immediately if they experience signs and symptoms of an abnormal heart rate or rhythm while taking escitalapram. QT interval prolongation Escitalopram has been found to cause a dose-dependent prolongation of the QT interval. Cases of QT interval prolongation and ventricular arrhythmia including torsade de pointes have been reported during the post-marketing period, predominantly in patients of female gender, with hypokalaemia, or with pre-existing QT interval prolongation or other cardiac diseases. Caution is advised in patients with significant bradycardia; or in patients with recent acute myocardial infarction or uncompensated heart failure. Electrolyte disturbances such as hypokalaemia and hypomagnesaemia increase the risk for malignant arrhythmias and should be corrected before treatment with escitalopram is started. If patients with stable cardiac disease are treated, an ECG review should be considered before treatment is started. If signs of cardiac arrhythmia occur during treatment with escitalopram, the treatment should be withdrawn and an ECG should be performed. Angle-Closure Glaucoma SSRIs including escitalopram may have an effect on pupil size resulting in mydriasis. This mydriatic effect has the potential to narrow the eye angle resulting in increased intraocular pressure and angle-closure glaucoma, especially in patients pre-disposed. Escitalopram should therefore be used with caution in patients with angle-closure glaucoma or history of glaucoma. Patients with sugar intolerance should take caution when taking this product as it contains lactose. Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction Pharmacodynamic interactions Contraindicated combinations: Irreversible non-selective MAOIs Cases of serious reactions have been reported in patients receiving an SSRI in combination with a non-selective, irreversible monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI), and in patients who have recently discontinued SSRI treatment and have been started on such MAOI treatment. In some cases, the patient developed serotonin syndrome. Escitalopram is contraindicated in combination with non-selective, irreversible MAOIs. Escitalopram may be started 14 days after discontinuing treatment with an irreversible MAOI. At least 7 days should elapse after discontinuing escitalopram treatment, before starting a non-selective, irreversible MAOI. Reversible, selective MAO-A inhibitor (moclobemide) Due to the risk of serotonin syndrome, the combination of escitalopram with a MAO-A inhibitor such as moclobemide is contraindicated. If the combination proves necessary, it should be started at the minimum recommended dosage and clinical monitoring should be reinforced. Reversible, non-selective MAO-inhibitor (linezolid) The antibiotic linezolid is a reversible non-selective MAO-inhibitor and should not be given to patients treated with escitalopram. If the combination proves necessary, it should be given with minimum dosages and under close clinical monitoring. Irreversible, selective MAO-B inhibitor (selegiline) In combination with selegiline (irreversible MAO-B inhibitor), caution is required due to the risk of developing serotonin syndrome. Selegiline doses up to 10 mg/day have been safely co-administered with racemic citalopram. QT interval prolongation Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies of escitalopram combined with other medicinal products that prolong the QT interval have not been performed. An additive effect of escitalopram and these medicinal products cannot be excluded. Therefore, co-administration of escitalopram with medicinal products that prolong the QT interval, such as Class IA and III antiarrhythmics, antipsychotics (e.g. phenothiazine derivatives, pimozide, haloperidol), tricyclic antidepressants, certain antimicrobial agents (e.g. sparfloxacin, moxifloxacin, erythromycin IV, pentamidine, anti-malarial treatment particularly halofantrine), certain antihistamines (e.g. astemizole, mizolastine), is contraindicated. Combinations requiring precautions for use: Serotonergic medicinal products Co-administration with serotonergic medicinal products (e.g. tramadol, sumatriptan and other triptans) may lead to serotonin syndrome. Medicinal products lowering the seizure threshold SSRIs can lower the seizure threshold. Caution is advised when concomitantly using other medicinal products capable of lowering the seizure threshold (e.g antidepressants (tricyclics, SSRIs), neuroleptics (phenothiazines, thioxanthenes and butyrophenones), mefloquin, bupropion and tramadol). Lithium, tryptophan There have been reports of enhanced effects when SSRIs have been given together with lithium or tryptophan, therefore concomitant use of SSRIs with these medicinal products should be undertaken with caution. St. John's wort Concomitant use of SSRIs and herbal remedies containing St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) may result in an increased incidence of adverse reactions. Haemorrhage Altered anti-coagulant effects may occur when escitalopram is combined with oral anticoagulants. Patients receiving oral anticoagulant therapy should receive careful coagulation monitoring when escitalopram is started or stopped. Concomitant use of non-steriodal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may increase bleeding-tendency. Alcohol No pharmacodynamic or pharmacokinetic interactions are expected between escitalopram and alcohol. However, as with other psychotropic medicinal products, the combination with alcohol is not advisable. Medicinal products inducing hypokalaemia/hypomagnesaemia Caution is warranted for concomitant use of hypokalaemia/hypomagnesaemia inducing medicinal products as these conditions increase the risk of malignant arrhythmias. Pharmacokinetic interactions Influence of other medicinal products on the pharmacokinetics of escitalopram The metabolism of escitalopram is mainly mediated by CYP2C19. CYP3A4 and CYP2D6 may also contribute to the metabolism although to a smaller extent. The metabolism of the major metabolite S-DCT (demethylated escitalopram) seems to be partly catalyzed by CYP2D6. Co-administration of escitalopram with omeprazole 30 mg once daily (a CYP2C19 inhibitor) resulted in moderate (approximately 50%) increase in the plasma concentrations of escitalopram. Co-administration of escitalopram with cimetidine 400 mg twice daily (moderately potent general enzyme-inhibitor) resulted in a moderate (approximately 70%) increase in the plasma concentrations of escitalopram. Caution is advised when administering escitalopram in combination with cimetidine. Dose adjustment may be warranted. Thus, caution should be exercised when used concomitantly with CYP2C19 inhibitors (e.g. omeprazole, esomeprazole, fluvoxamine, lansoprazole, ticlopidine) or cimetidine. A reduction in the dose of escitalopram may be necessary based on monitoring of side-effects during concomitant treatment. Effect of escitalopram on the pharmacokinetics of other medicinal products Escitalopram is an inhibitor of the enzyme CYP2D6. Caution is recommended when escitalopram is co-administered with medicinal products that are mainly metabolized by this enzyme, and that have a narrow therapeutic index, e.g. flecainide, propafenone and metoprolol (when used in cardiac failure), or some CNS acting medicinal products that are mainly metabolized by CYP2D6, e.g. antidepressants such as desipramine, clomipramine and nortriptyline or antipsychotics like risperidone, thioridazine and haloperidol. Dosage adjustment may be warranted. Co-administration with desipramine or metoprolol resulted in both cases in a twofold increase in the plasma levels of these two CYP2D6 substrates. In vitro studies have demonstrated that escitalopram may also cause weak inhibition of CYP2C19. Caution is recommended with concomitant use of medicinal products that are metabolized by CYP2C19. Fertility, pregnancy and lactation Pregnancy For escitalopram only limited clinical data are available regarding exposed pregnancies. Animal studies have shown reproductive toxicity. Excelsa should not be used during pregnancy unless clearly necessary and only after careful consideration of the risk/benefit. Neonates should be observed if maternal use of escitalopram continues into the later stages of pregnancy, particularly in the third trimester. Abrupt discontinuation should be avoided during pregnancy. - Infant born to mother who took selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) after the 20th week of pregnancy were more likely to have persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPHN) than infant born to mother who did not take antidepressants during pregnancy. - The risk of major congenital malformation particularly cardiac malformation in infants born to women who take SSRI during the first trimester may be approximately twice as high as for women taking other antidepressants. The following symptoms may occur in the neonate after maternal SSRI/SNRI use in later stages of pregnancy: respiratory distress, cyanosis, apnoea, seizures, temperature instability, feeding difficulty, vomiting, hypoglycaemia, hypertonia, hypotonia, hyperreflexia, tremor, jitteriness, irritability, lethargy, constant crying, somnolence and difficulty sleeping. These symptoms could be due to either serotonergic effects or discontinuation symptoms. In a majority of instances the complications begin immediately or soon (<24 hours) after delivery. Epidemiological data have suggested that the use of SSRIs in pregnancy, particularly in late pregnancy, may increase the risk of persistent pulmonary hypertension in the newborn (PPHN). The observed risk was approximately 5 cases per 1000 pregnancies. In the general population 1 to 2 cases of PPHN per 1000 pregnancies occur. Breast-feeding It is expected that escitalopram will be excreted into human milk. Consequently, breast-feeding is not recommended during treatment. Fertility Animal data have shown that citalopram may affect sperm quality. Human case reports with some SSRIs have shown that an effect on sperm quality is reversible. Impact on human fertility has not been observed so far. Effects on ability to drive and use machines Although escitalopram has been shown not to affect intellectual function or psychomotor performance, any psychoactive medicinal product may impair judgment or skills. Patients should be cautioned about the potential risk of an influence on their ability to drive a car and operate machinery. Undesirable effects Adverse reactions are most frequent during the first or second week of treatment and usually decrease in intensity and frequency with continued treatment. Tabulated list of adverse reactions Adverse reactions known for SSRIs and also reported for escitalopram in either placebo-controlled clinical studies or as spontaneous post-marketing events are listed below by system organ class and frequency. Frequencies are taken from clinical studies; they are not placebo-corrected. Frequencies are defined as: very common (≥1/10), common (≥1/100 to <1/10), uncommon (≥1/1,000 to <1/100), rare (≥1/10,000 to <1/1,000), very rare (<1/10,000), or not known (cannot be estimated from the available data). System organ class Frequency Undesirable Effect Blood and lymphatic system disorders Not known Thrombocytopenia Immune system disorders Rare Anaphylactic reaction Endocrine disorders Not known Inappropriate ADH secretion Metabolism and nutrition disorders Common Decreased appetite, increased appetite, weight increased Uncommon Weight decreased Not known Hyponatraemia, anorexia1 Psychiatric disorders Common Anxiety, restlessness, abnormal dreams libido decreased Female: anorgasmia Uncommon Bruxism, agitation, nervousness, panic attack, confusional state Rare Aggression, depersonalisation, hallucination Not known Mania, suicidal ideation, suicidal behaviour2 Nervous system disorders Very common Headache Common Insomnia, somnolence, dizziness, paraesthesia, tremor Uncommon Taste disturbance, sleep disorder, syncope Rare Serotonin syndrome Not known Dyskinesia, movement disorder, convulsion, psychomotor restlessness/akathisia1 Eye disorders Uncommon Mydriasis, visual disturbance Ear and labyrinth disorders Uncommon Tinnitus Cardiac disorders Uncommon Tachycardia Rare Bradycardia Not known Electrocardiogram QT prolonged Ventricular arrhythmia including torsade de pointes Vascular disorders Not known Orthostatic hypotension Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders Common Sinusitis, yawning Uncommon Epistaxis Gastrointestinal disorders Very common Nausea Common Diarrhoea, constipation, vomiting, dry mouth Uncommon Gastrointestinal haemorrhages (including rectal haemorrhage) Hepatobiliary disorders Not known Hepatitis, liver function test abnormal Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders Common Sweating increased Uncommon Urticaria, alopecia, rash, pruritus Not known Ecchymosis, angioedemas Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders Common Arthralgia, myalgia Renal and urinary disorders Not known Urinary retention Reproductive system and breast disorders Common Male: ejaculation disorder, impotence Uncommon Female: metrorrhagia, menorrhagia Not known Galactorrhoea Male: priapism General disorders and administration site conditions Common Fatigue, pyrexia Uncommon Oedema 1 These events have been reported for the therapeutic class of SSRIs. 2 Cases of suicidal ideation and suicidal behaviors have been reported during escitalopram therapy or early after treatment discontinuation. QT interval prolongation Cases of QT interval prolongation and ventricular arrhythmia including torsade de pointes have been reported during the post-marketing period, predominantly in patients of female gender, with hypokalaemia, or with pre-existing QT interval prolongation or other cardiac diseases. Class effects Epidemiological studies, mainly conducted in patients 50 years of age and older, show an increased risk of bone fractures in patients receiving SSRIs and TCAs. The mechanism leading to this risk is unknown. Discontinuation symptoms seen when stopping treatment Discontinuation of SSRIs/SNRIs (particularly when abrupt) commonly leads to discontinuation symptoms. Dizziness, sensory disturbances (including paraesthesia and electric shock sensations), sleep disturbances (including insomnia and intense dreams), agitation or anxiety, nausea and/or vomiting, tremor, confusion, sweating, headache, diarrhoea, palpitations, emotional instability, irritability, and visual disturbances are the most commonly reported reactions. Generally these events are mild to moderate and are self-limiting; however, in some patients they may be severe and/or prolonged. It is therefore advised that when escitalopram treatment is no longer required, gradual discontinuation by dose tapering should be carried out. Overdose Toxicity Clinical data on escitalopram overdose are limited and many cases involve concomitant overdoses of other drugs. In the majority of cases mild or no symptoms have been reported. Fatal cases of escitalopram overdose have rarely been reported with escitalopram alone; the majority of cases have involved overdose with concomitant medications. Doses between 400 and 800 mg of escitalopram alone have been taken without any severe symptoms. Symptoms Symptoms seen in reported overdose of escitalopram include symptoms mainly related to the central nervous system (ranging from dizziness, tremor, and agitation to rare cases of serotonin syndrome, convulsion, and coma), the gastrointestinal system (nausea/vomiting), and the cardiovascular system (hypotension, tachycardia, QT interval prolongation, and arrhythmia) and electrolyte/fluid balance conditions (hypokalaemia, hyponatraemia). Management There is no specific antidote. Establish and maintain an airway, ensure adequate oxygenation and respiratory function. Gastric lavage and the use of activated charcoal should be considered. Gastric lavage should be carried out as soon as possible after oral ingestion. Cardiac and vital signs monitoring are recommended along with general symptomatic supportive measures. ECG monitoring is advised in case of overdose in patients with congestive heart failure/bradyarrhythmias, in patients using concomitant medications that prolong the QT interval, or in patients with altered metabolism, e.g. liver impairment. Pharmacological properties Pharmacodynamic properties Pharmacotherapeutic group: antidepressants, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors Mechanism of action Escitalopram is a selective inhibitor of serotonin (5-HT) re-uptake with high affinity for the primary binding site. It also binds to an allosteric site on the serotonin transporter, with a 1000 fold lower affinity. Escitalopram has no or low affinity for a number of receptors including 5-HT1A, 5-HT2, DA D1 and D2 receptors, α1-, α2-, β-adrenoceptors, histamine H1, muscarine cholinergic, benzodiazepine, and opioid receptors. The inhibition of 5-HT re-uptake is the only likely mechanism of action explaining the pharmacological and clinical effects of escitalopram. Pharmacokinetic properties Absorption Absorption is almost complete and independent of food intake. (Mean time to maximum concentration (mean Tmax) is 4 hours after multiple dosing). As with racemic citalopram, the absolute bioavailability of escitalopram is expected to be about 80%. Distribution The apparent volume of distribution (Vd,β/F) after oral administration is about 12 to 26 L/kg. The plasma protein binding is below 80% for escitalopram and its main metabolites. Biotransformation Escitalopram is metabolised in the liver to the demethylated and didemethylated metabolites. Both of these are pharmacologically active. Alternatively, the nitrogen may be oxidised to form the N-oxide metabolite. Both parent substance and metabolites are partly excreted as glucuronides. After multiple dosing the mean concentrations of the demethyl and didemethyl metabolites are usually 28-31% and <5%, respectively, of the escitalopram concentration. Biotransformation of escitalopram to the demethylated metabolite is mediated primarily by CYP2C19. Some contribution by the enzymes CYP3A4 and CYP2D6 is possible. Elimination The elimination half-life (t½β) after multiple dosing is about 30 hours and the oral plasma clearance (Cloral) are about 0.6 L/min. The major metabolites have a significantly longer half-life. Escitalopram and major metabolites are assumed to be eliminated by both the hepatic (metabolic) and the renal routes, with the major part of the dose excreted as metabolites in the urine. Linearity There is linear pharmacokinetics. Steady-state plasma levels are achieved in about 1 week. Average steady-state concentrations of 50 nmol/L (range 20 to 125 nmol/L) are achieved at a daily dose of 10 mg. Elderly patients (> 65 years)Escitalopram appears to be eliminated more slowly in elderly patients compared to younger patients. Systemic exposure (AUC) is about 50 % higher in elderly compared to young healthy volunteers.
Reduced hepatic function
In patients with mild or moderate hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh Criteria A and B), the half-life of escitalopram was about twice as long and the exposure was about 60% higher than in subjects with normal liver function.
Reduced renal function
With racemic citalopram, a longer half-life and a minor increase in exposure have been observed in patients with reduced kidney function (CLcr 10-53 ml/min). Plasma concentrations of the metabolites have not been studied, but they may be elevated.
Polymorphism
It has been observed that poor metabolisers with respect to CYP2C19 have twice as high a plasma concentration of escitalopram as extensive metabolisers. No significant change in exposure was observed in poor metabolisers with respect to CYP2D6.
Preclinical safety data
No complete conventional battery of preclinical studies was performed with escitalopram since the bridging toxicokinetic and toxicological studies conducted in rats with escitalopram and citalopram showed a similar profile. Therefore, all the citalopram information can be extrapolated to escitalopram.
In comparative toxicological studies in rats, escitalopram and citalopram caused cardiac toxicity, including congestive heart failure, after treatment for some weeks, when using dosages that caused general toxicity. The cardiotoxicity seemed to correlate with peak plasma concentrations rather than to systemic exposures (AUC). Peak plasma concentrations at no-effect-level were in excess (8-fold) of those achieved in clinical use, while AUC for escitalopram was only 3- to 4-fold higher than the exposure achieved in clinical use. For citalopram AUC values for the S-enantiomer were 6- to 7-fold higher than exposure achieved in clinical use. The findings are probably related to an exaggerated influence on biogenic amines i.e. secondary to the primary pharmacological effects, resulting in haemodynamic effects (reduction in coronary flow) and ischaemia. However, the exact mechanism of cardiotoxicity in rats is not clear. Clinical experience with citalopram, and the clinical trial experience with escitalopram, do not indicate that these findings have a clinical correlate.
Increased content of phospholipids has been observed in some tissues e.g. lung, epididymides and liver after treatment for longer periods with escitalopram and citalopram in rats. Findings in the epididymides and liver were seen at exposures similar to that in man. The effect is reversible after treatment cessation. Accumulation of phospholipids (phospholipidosis) in animals has been observed in connection with many cationic amphiphilic medicines. It is not known if this phenomenon has any significant relevance for man.
In the developmental toxicity study in the rat embryotoxic effects (reduced foetal weight and reversible delay of ossification) were observed at exposures in terms of AUC in excess of the exposure achieved during clinical use. No increased frequency of malformations was noted. A pre- and postnatal study showed reduced survival during the lactation period at exposures in terms of AUC in excess of the exposure achieved during clinical use.
Animal data have shown that citalopram induces a reduction of fertility index and pregnancy index, reduction in implantation number and abnormal sperm at exposure well in excess of human exposure. No animal data related to this aspect are available for escitalopram.
Pharmaceutical particulars
List of excipients
Colloidal silicon dioxide, Lactose monohydrate, Maize starch, Croscarmellose sodium, Magnesium stearate, Povidone K30, Hypromellose, Titanium dioxide, Talc powder, Quinoline yellow and Erythrosine lake.

Special precautions for storage
Keep out of reach and sight of children.
Keep at a temperature not exceeding 30°C, in dry place.

Nature and contents of container
A carton box containing 7 tablets in opaque PVC/Al stripe and an insert leaflet