Elicea Dosage/Direction for Use

This product is intended for oral use.
Safety of daily doses above 20 mg has not been demonstrated.
Elicea is administered as a single daily dose and may be taken with or without food.
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.
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 (see Pharmacology: Pharmacokinetics under Actions).
Children and adolescents (<18 years): Elicea should not be used in the treatment of children and adolescents under the age of 18 years (see Precautions).
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 (CL_CR less than 30 ml/min.) (see Pharmacology: Pharmacokinetics under Actions).
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 (see Pharmacology: Pharmacokinetics under Actions).
Poor metabolisers of CYP2C19: For patients who are known to be poor metabolisers 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 (see Pharmacology: Pharmacokinetics under Actions).
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 (see Precautions and Adverse Reactions).