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What Are The Side Effects Of Escitalopram?

Posted on Tue, 5 May 2015

Question: Hi , I have been taking half tablet of escigress 0.5 ( esctiloparam 10mg + clonozepam 0.5) in the morning from past 4 days. i am waking up early in the morning like 4:30 am and not able to sleep after that. is it good to take this tablet in the night? half would do?

Answered by Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (16 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Yes the drug will be safe even if you take the drug in evening hours

Detailed Answer:
Hello Welcome to HCM and thanks for asking

You are taking Escitalopram 10 and Clonazepam 0.5 in day time. Escitalopram is a SSRI drug and the drug usually results in decrease in sleep in most of individuals while in some this causes drowsiness. I usually prefer to advise this drug to be taken in morning time to my patients.

You are taking the drug with combination of Clonazepam and this should help in good sleep. If you are not able sleep properly after starting the drug. In such case as per my opinion you can take the drug in evening hours. It is good to take the drug in evening no need to worry. If that doesn't result in improvement in sleep then you can discuss with your doctor and can start with low dose benzodiazepines for some time. But in my opinion your sleep will improve with shifting of drug doses in evening/night hours.

No need to divide doses in half. Shift the doses in evening hours as per your prescription.

Thanks, I hope this helps you. Please don't hesitate to ask again for more doubts.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (22 minutes later)

Thanks Doctor.

i have another strange question, some where i read that SSRI s cause testicular cancer thats why i am so hesitant to take this SSRis

is Escigress 0.5 CR is considered low dosage? or is it good to take half of it so that i can easily go off the medicine.

Answered by Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (3 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
SSRIs are not associated with testicular cancer.

Detailed Answer:
Hello again and thanks for a follow up

"NO" SSRIs are not associated with any risk of testicular cancer as per available literature, so no need to worry.

Escigress is a low dose but after intake for long for tapering doses should be halved. Take the drug without any worry, this will help in improvement.

Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (20 minutes later)

Thanks Doctor.

my doctor originally prescribed this medicine to be taken at the night. i have used it for a month and stopped it.

after a month started it 4 days back. so i will try taking it in the evening at 7PM.

Answered by Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (2 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Thanks, and take the drug as per your prescribed doses

Detailed Answer:
Hello again

Please take the drug regularly as per prescription. No need to worry about sleep. Your sleep will improve with drug.

Thanks, if you have more doubts to ask you can ask again at any time.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (22 hours later)

Hi Doctor,

I took this tablet at 11:30 AM yesterday , could not sleep well yesterday night. i dont know if i was completely asleep. got some weird dreams, will it take some time to act. today i will try to take it in the evening

Answered by Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (29 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Start taking the drug in evening after dinner

Detailed Answer:
Hello again and thanks for asking a follow up question

Please wait for some days to see effect of drug. If you are not able to sleep properly as we discussed start taking it in evening time after dinner. Don't worry about poor sleep, it will improve with proper dosing and time.

Thanks. Take care. Still have more doubts please ask again.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (5 minutes later)

can I start with half dose from today? escigross 0.5 from today?

Answered by Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (2 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Yes you can start from today only

Detailed Answer:
Hello again

Yes sure you can start with today only, but you have to wait for few days to see effects, don't worry about this. Don't take the doses more than your prescribed doses.

Thanks

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (2 minutes later)

I am actually planning to take half of the prescribed dose. Which is half tablet of escigress 0.5 CR

Answered by Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (6 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
You can take half the tablet

Detailed Answer:
Hello

Cita-S Plus, Nexito Plus are available with Escitalopram 5 mg doses. Even tablet can be halved in case of Escigress, this will provide half strength. But as per my opinion take the drug as per your prescription, this would help in early relief.

Thanks

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar