LEXAPRO TABLET 15 mg

TABLET, FILM COATED

**4.2 Posology and method of administration** Safety of daily doses above 20 mg has not been demonstrated. Lexapro 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. 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. Generalised anxiety disorder Usual dosage is 10 mg once daily. Depending on individual patient response, the dose may be increased to a maximum of 20 mg daily. Treatment for 3 months is recommended to consolidate response. Long-term treatment of responders for 6 months has been shown to prevent relapse and can be considered on an individual basis; treatment benefits should be re-evaluated at regular intervals. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) Usual dosage is 10 mg once daily. Depending on individual patient response, the dose may be increased to 20 mg daily. Long-term treatment has been studied for a maximum of 40 weeks. Patients responding to a 16-week open-label treatment phase were randomized to a 24-week placebo-controlled relapse prevention phase, receiving 10 or 20 mg escitalopram daily. As OCD is a chronic disease, patients should be treated for a sufficient period to ensure that they are symptom free. This period may be several months or even longer. Elderly patients (> 65 years of age) Initial treatment with half the usually recommended dose and a lower maximum dose should be considered (see section 5.2 – _please refer to the Product Insert/Patient Information Leaflet published on HSA for the full drug information_). Children and adolescents (<18 years) Lexapro should not be used in the treatment of children and adolescents under the age of 18 years (see section 4.4 – _please refer to the Product Insert/Patient Information Leaflet published on HSA for the full drug information_). 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.) (see section 5.2 – _please refer to the Product Insert/Patient Information Leaflet published on HSA for the full drug information_). Reduced hepatic function An initial dose of 5 mg daily for the first two weeks of treatment is recommended. Depending on individual patient response, the dose may be increased to 10 mg daily (see section 5.2 – _please refer to the Product Insert/Patient Information Leaflet published on HSA for the full drug information_). 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 section 5.2 – _please refer to the Product Insert/Patient Information Leaflet published on HSA for the full drug information_). Discontinuation symptoms When stopping treatment with Lexapro the dose should be gradually reduced over a period of at least one to two weeks in order to avoid possible discontinuations symptoms (see sections 4.4 and 4.8 – _please refer to the Product Insert/Patient Information Leaflet published on HSA for the full drug information_).