Avestalo 10 mg

Indication

Avestalo (Escitalopram 10 mg) is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant used to treat major depressive disorder (MDD), generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

Ingredients

• Escitalopram

Direction

Adults: The recommended starting dose is 10 mg once daily (morning or evening), which may be increased to 20 mg daily after a minimum of 1 week if clinically needed. Swallow whole, with or without food. Continue treatment for at least 6 months after remission of depression.

Side effects

• Nausea
• dry mouth
• diarrhoea — common.
• Insomnia
• somnolence
• dizziness
• sweating — common.
• Sexual dysfunction (decreased libido
• ejaculatory delay
• anorgasmia) — common.
• Headache
• fatigue — common.
• QT prolongation — uncommon.
• Serotonin syndrome (with overdose or drug interaction) — rare.
• Hyponatraemia (low sodium)
• especially in elderly — uncommon.

Precautions

• Do not use with MAO inhibitors — allow at least 14 days between stopping an MAOI and starting escitalopram.
• Increased risk of suicidal thinking in children
• adolescents
• and young adults under 25 years at treatment initiation.
• May cause QT prolongation — caution in patients with cardiac arrhythmias or those taking QT
• prolonging drugs.
• Serotonin syndrome risk if combined with other serotonergic drugs.
• Avoid abrupt discontinuation — taper dose gradually to prevent discontinuation syndrome.
• Use with caution in epilepsy
• renal or hepatic impairment.
• Contains serotonergic activity — increased bleeding risk with NSAIDs or anticoagulants.
• Consult a doctor before use in pregnancy or breastfeeding.
• Keep out of reach of children.