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Last update 21 Sep 2025

Escitalopram

Last update 21 Sep 2025

Overview

R&D Status

Clinical Result

Translational Medicine

Overview

Basic Info

SummaryEscitalopram is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) used as an antidepressant and anxiolytic medication. It was developed in close cooperation between Lundbeck and Forest Laboratories. Escitalopram was first approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in August 2002, and the approval was granted to Forest Laboratories, which was later acquired by Allergan, now part of AbbVie. Now escitalopram is marketed under various brand names, including Lexapro, Cipralex, and Seroplex, and is available in tablet and oral solution forms. Its mechanism of action involves inhibition of the reuptake of the neurotransmitter serotonin in the brain, leading to increased levels of serotonin in the synaptic cleft and enhancement of serotonergic neurotransmission. This ultimately leads to improvement in mood and reduction in anxiety symptoms. Escitalopram was originally developed and approved for the treatment of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). It has since been approved for the treatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) as well.

Drug Type

Small molecule drug

Synonyms

Escitalopram (INN), 艾斯西酞普兰, ESCITALOPRAM

+ [1]

Target

SERT

Action-

Mechanism

Serotonin reuptake inhibitors

Therapeutic Areas

Nervous System Diseases

Active Indication-

Inactive Indication

Depressive Disorder

Originator Organization

Aquestive Therapeutics, Inc.

Active Organization

University of Oxford

Inactive Organization

Aquestive Therapeutics, Inc.

License Organization-

Drug Highest PhasePhase 1/2

First Approval Date-

Regulation-

Structure/Sequence

Molecular FormulaC20H21FN2O

InChIKeyWSEQXVZVJXJVFP-FQEVSTJZSA-N

CAS Registry128196-01-0

118

Clinical Trials associated with Escitalopram

ChiCTR2500107068

/ Not yet recruitingNot ApplicableIIT

Efficacy and mechanism of duloxetine and escitalopram in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome: a multi-center randomized double-blind double-simulated controlled trial in China

Start Date12 Aug 2025

Sponsor / Collaborator-

ChiCTR2500099466

/ Not yet recruitingPhase 4IIT

A multicenter, open-label, randomized controlled study of the efficacy and safety of zaleplon in combination with escitalopram in the treatment of mild to moderate depression with insomnia

Start Date01 Apr 2025

Sponsor / Collaborator

Jiangsu Nhwa Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

ChiCTR2500098072

/ Not yet recruitingEarly Phase 1IIT

Local application of esketamine in the treatment of catheter-related bladder irritation

Start Date01 Mar 2025

Sponsor / Collaborator-

100 Clinical Results associated with Escitalopram

100 Translational Medicine associated with Escitalopram

100 Patents (Medical) associated with Escitalopram

4,932

Literatures (Medical) associated with Escitalopram

01 Jan 2026·JOURNAL OF AFFECTIVE DISORDERS

Modeling the efficacy of a novel antidepressant zuranolone for major depressive disorder

Article

Author: Qian, Yudie ; Liu, Jianmin ; Lin, Weiwei ; Chen, Rui ; Hong, Limian

This research aimed to quantify the treatment potential of zuranolone-a novel positive allosteric GABA_A receptor modulator-in adults with major depressive disorder (MDD). Publicly available databases were systematically searched to identify randomized, placebo-controlled trials. We used changes in rating scale scores from baseline to perform a model-based meta-analysis, characterizing the progression of drug efficacy and placebo response over time and comparing zuranolone's efficacy and safety profiles with those of established antidepressants (escitalopram and amitriptyline). Pharmacokinetic modeling and meta-analysis frameworks were applied to assess efficacy and placebo response characteristics. A total of 37 trials (N = 8735 individuals) were incorporated in the final analysis. Zuranolone exhibited a rapid onset of action (k = 0.75 day^-1), 10-fold and 27.8-fold faster than amitriptyline (k = 0.075 day^-1) and escitalopram (k = 0.027 day^-1), respectively. Amitriptyline exhibited the highest pure efficacy, continuously increasing over time. The 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) of zuranolone and escitalopram overlapped, suggesting similar efficacy. Zuranolone achieved significant symptom improvement within two weeks of treatment (-6.64 %, 95 % CI: -9.77 % to -3.39 %) and sustained efficacy through four weeks post-treatment. The dropout rate was lower with zuranolone (2.4 %, 95 % CI: 1.5 to 3.3 %) than with escitalopram (4.5 %, 95 % CI: 3.0 to 5.9 %). Primary adverse events related to zuranolone included somnolence, headache, dizziness, and sedation, with no severe safety signals observed. Zuranolone demonstrates a safety profile comparable to escitalopram as well as rapid-onset antidepressant action, sustained clinical efficacy, and favorable tolerability, highlighting its potential as a promising therapeutic option for MDD.

01 Jan 2026·JOURNAL OF AFFECTIVE DISORDERS

Alternate-day dosing to taper antidepressants risks severe withdrawal effects: an in silico analysis

Article

Author: Taylor, David ; O'Neill, James R ; Sørensen, Anders ; Horowitz, Mark A

BACKGROUND:

Clinicians often recommend dosing antidepressants every other day when tapering to reduce 'average' daily doses. This is used in place of liquid formulations or other methods for obtaining smaller doses. There is limited evidence to support this approach. This paper explores variation of the inter-dose interval when tapering five widely used antidepressants: citalopram, escitalopram, sertraline, duloxetine, and mirtazapine. We analysed the resultant occupancy of relevant target receptors to establish whether prolonging the interval between doses would likely increase the risk of withdrawal symptoms.

DESIGN AND METHODS:

Analysis was conducted in silico using pre-existing pharmacokinetic data including bioavailability, distribution volumes, time to maximal concentration, and elimination half-lives. Modelling was conducted to assess the effect of altered administration frequency. Receptor occupancy was predicted using previous imaging data. We used pre-defined thresholds to evaluate the tolerability of receptor occupancy variation for different dosing strategies.

RESULTS:

Prolonging the inter-dose interval led to a pronounced increase in receptor occupancy variation at standard doses of all antidepressants. Variation increased as dosage reduced until the ED₅₀ for each drug, which is often far below doses used in current practice. Therefore, increasing the dose interval at minimum therapeutic doses, or even half of that dose, likely increases the risk of withdrawal symptoms and cannot be recommended as a prudent strategy for tapering.

CONCLUSION:

Dosing every other day is likely to cause withdrawal effects with the antidepressants examined in this study. These recommendations remain theoretical until further clinical research and empirical validation of our proposed antidepressant tapering regimens.

01 Dec 2025·MOLECULAR BIOLOGY REPORTS

Antidepressant-like and neuroprotective effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Aloysia citriodora in animals subjected to childhood stress

Article

Author: Nicolleti, Ana Olivia Albino ; da Silva, Gilnei Bruno ; Amaral, Severina Silva ; Manica, Daiane ; Soares, Silvio José Batista ; Ibrahim, Hélio Jungkenn ; da Silva, Brunna Varela ; Roman Junior, Walter Antônio ; Ignácio, Zuleide Maria ; Bertollo, Amanda Gollo ; Schuh, Laysa Anacleto ; Mingoti, Maiqueli Eduarda Dama ; Kreuz, Kelli Maria ; Bagatini, Margarete Dulce ; Bohnen, Lilian Caroline ; de Medeiros, Jesiel

BACKGROUND:

Stress in childhood can harm brain development, leading to biological and systemic dysfunctions that, along with genetic factors, may contribute to major depressive disorder (MDD) in adulthood. MDD treatment is complex, with current drugs taking time to show effects and not working for many patients. As a result, medicinal plants, like Aloysia citriodora (A. citriodora), are being studied as treatments for resistant depression. The main objective of this proposal was to evaluate the treatment with the hydroalcoholic extract of the medicinal species A. citriodora Palau on depressive-like behaviors in rats subjected to chronic stress in childhood and on mechanisms involved in neuroprotection through the evaluation of neuroinflammation and oxidative stress.

METHODS:

The maternal deprivation (MD) protocol was used during the first ten days of life. At the beginning of adulthood, the animals were treated for fourteen days. At the end of the treatments, the animals underwent the forced swimming behavioral test and were then euthanized for analysis of oxidative stress and inflammation markers.

RESULTS:

The stress caused by the MD protocol in rats culminated in a significant increase in depressive-like behaviors in adulthood, an increase in the expression of inflammatory substances IL-1 β and IL-6 in the animals' hippocampus, and an increase in the activity of oxidative stress parameters, such as myeloperoxidase (MPO) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), in serum and hippocampus. The treatment with A. citriodora reduced depressive-like behaviors similar to the group treated with escitalopram. Regarding markers of inflammation in nervous tissue, it was observed that animals treated with A. citriodora had lower levels than those treated with escitalopram and the control group, and even more significantly when compared to the MD group treated with saline. The treatments reduced MPO activity in the serum of animals that underwent the MD protocol. TBARS was decreased in the serum and ultimately reversed in the hippocampus. Moreover, molecular docking studies have demonstrated that baicalein and quercetin-7-O-glucoside interact efficiently with IL-1β and IL-6.

CONCLUSION:

PM stress increased depressive-like behavior and increased markers of oxidative stress and inflammation. Treatment with the Aloysia citriodora extracts significantly reduced depressive-like behavior and markers of oxidative stress and inflammation, suggesting an antidepressant, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effect.

News (Medical) associated with Escitalopram

19 Aug 2025

·pharma.economictimes.indiatimes.com

Study finds people in poorer nations might be paying more for same essential drugs, compared to rich countries

New Delhi: An analysis of prices of about 550 medicines across 72 countries in 2022 has found that people in low- and middle-income nations could be paying more compared to wealthier ones for the same essential drugs, thereby placing a disproportionate cost burden on patients in poorer nations. Researchers from the US' Brown University and London School of Economics and Political Science (UK) said that 'nominal price' or the price stated on a medicine was higher in richer countries. However, upon accounting for purchasing power in the local currency, actual prices were found to be higher in poorer countries. They estimated that the typical number of doses of essential medicines consumed per person in 2022 was highest in Europe (634) and lowest in Southeast Asia (143). The results, published in The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Health Forum, indicate that poorer countries face a higher burden of medicine costs, the authors said. For example, they added, while prices in India were low in nominal terms (fourth lowest of the 72 markets analysed), the prices were toward the middle of the range after purchasing power was taken into account (29th of 72 markets). They also noted that while nominal prices were the lowest in Pakistan, actual prices were closer to those in Germany upon accounting for purchasing power. Drug prices were also found to vary between countries by disease that the drug is used for treating. For most countries, the highest-priced drugs tended to be those used for treating mental and behavioural disorders and cardiovascular conditions, while the lowest-priced products were those to treat hepatitis B and C, the authors said. The team further looked at eight essential medicines, used for treating major causes of death and disability the world over, including the antibiotic 'amoxicillin' (used to treat community-acquired pneumonia), escitalopram (depression) and ibuprofen (pain). Affordability for the drugs was assessed based on number of days' minimum wages required for purchasing the drugs. People in India would need to work the most number of days at minimum wage -- about 10 days -- to pay for a monthly regimen of tenofovir disoproxil (used for treating Hepatitis B and HIV/AIDS) out of pocket, the team said. Affordability was found to be typically highest in Europe and the Western Pacific, and lowest in Africa and southeast Asia. "Our results show that while drugs may have a lower nominal price in low- and middle-income countries, they may still be less affordable when considering the relative purchasing power of local currencies," the authors wrote. "This indicates that some poorer countries face a higher burden of medication costs," they added. PTI

05 Mar 2025

·www.drugs.com

Antidepressant Use May Speed Up Cognitive Decline in Patients With Dementia

WEDNESDAY, March 5, 2025 -- Current antidepressant use is associated with faster cognitive decline in patients with dementia , according to a study published online Feb. 25 in BMC Medicine . Minjia Mo, Ph.D., from the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, and colleagues examined the association between antidepressants and cognitive decline in patients with dementia in a national cohort study. Data were included for 18,740 patients, of whom 22.8 percent received at least one prescription for an antidepressant. The researchers found that 11,912 prescriptions for antidepressants were issued during follow-up, with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) being the most common (64.8 percent). Compared with nonuse, there was an association for antidepressant use with faster cognitive decline (β = −0.30 points/year), especially for sertraline , citalopram , escitalopram , and mirtazapine (β = −0.25, −0.41, −0.76, and −0.19 points/year, respectively). Patients with severe dementia (initial Mini-Mental State Examination scores 0 to 9) had a stronger association. A greater rate of decline was seen for escitalopram than sertraline. Dose response of SSRIs on greater cognitive decline and higher risks for severe dementia, all-cause mortality, and fracture were seen compared with nonuse. "Our study cannot distinguish whether these findings are due to the antidepressants or the underlying psychiatric indication," the authors write. Abstract/Full Text Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.

Clinical Result

06 Nov 2024

·pharma.economictimes.indiatimes.com

Paracetamol to PAN-D: CDSCO finds over 50 sub-standard drugs. Check full list of medicines

New Delhi: The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation ( CDSCO ) has identified over 50 drugs which have failed in the drug test. In its latest report, the controller said 50 drugs including Paracetamol are "not of standard quality" (NSQ). The report has also flagged calcium and vitamin D3 supplements, anti-diabetes pills, and high blood pressure medicines. Paracetamol tablets from Karnataka Antibiotics & Pharmaceuticals Ltd were specifically mentioned for quality concerns. The report listed a total of 48 drugs in the NSQ category, including a Gauze Roll Non Sterile Roller Bandage. NSQ alerts come from monthly random sampling conducted by state drug officers. Some of the medicines were produced by companies like Hetero Drugs, Alkem Laboratories, Hindustan Antibiotics Limited (HAL), Karnataka Antibiotics & Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Meg Lifesciences, and Pure & Cure Healthcare. Additionally, the CDSCO shared another list that features five more drugs that failed quality tests. The pharmaceutical companies denied responsibility for these drugs. They claim they are "spurious," and one response from a company stated, "The actual manufacturer (as per label claim) has informed that the impugned batch of the product has not been manufactured by them and that it is a spurious drug. The product is purported to be spurious; however, the same is subjected to outcome of investigation." CDSCO NSQ Test: Full list of drugs and their manufacturers Here is the list of drugs that failed the CDSCO test along with the manufacturers: Amoxicillin And Potassium Clavulanate Tablets IP (Clavam 625) - M/s. Alkem Health Science Amoxicillin & Potassium Clavulanate Tablets (Mexclav 625) - M/s. Meg Lifesciences Calcium And Vitamin D3 Tablets IP (Shelcal 500) - M/s. Pure & Cure Healthcare Pvt. Ltd. Metformin Hydrochloride Sustained-release Tablets IP (Glycimet-SR-500) - M/s. Scott-Edil Pharmacia Ltd. Vitamin B Complex with Vitamin C Softgels - M/s. Asoj Soft Caps Pvt. Ltd. Rifmin 550 (Rifaximin Tablets 550 mg) - M/s. Legen Healthcare Pantoprazole Gastro-Resistant and Domperidone Prolonged-Release Capsules IP (Pan - D) - M/s. Alkem Health Science Paracetamol Tablets IP 500 mg - M/s. Karnataka Antibiotics and Pharmaceuticals Ltd. Montair LC Kid (Montelukast Sodium & Levocetirizine Hydrochloride Dispersible Tablets) - M/s. Pure & Cure Healthcare Pvt. Ltd. Compound Sodium Lactate Injection IP (Ringer Lactate Solution for Injection) (RL 500 ml) - M/s. Vision Parenteral Pvt. Ltd. Fexofenadine Hydrochloride Tablets IP 120 mg - M/s. Maxtar Bio-Genics Laxnorm Solution (Lactulose Solution USP) - M/s. Athens Life Sciences Heparin Sodium Injection 5000 Units (Hostranil Injection) - M/s. Health Biotech Ltd. Buflam Forte Suspension (Ibuprofen & Paracetamol Oral Suspension) - M/s. Ornate Pharma Pvt. Ltd. Cepodem XP 50 Dry Suspension (Cefpodoxime Proxetil and Potassium Clavulanate Oral Suspension) - M/s. Hetero Labs Limited Nimesulide, Paracetamol and Chlorzoxazone Tablets (NICIP MR) - M/s. HSN International Rolled Gauze (Non-Sterilized) - M/s. Blazon India Ciprofloxacin Tablets IP 500 mg (Ocif-500) - M/s. Ornate Labs Pvt. Ltd. Nimesulide, Phenylephrine Hydrochloride & Levocetirizine Dihydrochloride Tablets (Nunim-Cold) - M/s. Unispeed Pharmaceuticals Pvt. Ltd. Adrenaline Injection IP Sterile 1 ml - M/s. Alves Healthcare Pvt. Ltd. Compound Sodium Lactate Injection IP (Ringer Lactate Solution for Injection) RL 500ml - M/s. Vision Parentral Pvt. Ltd. Vingel XL Pro Gel (Diclofenac Diethylamine, Linseed Oil, Methyl Salicylate, and Menthol Gel) - M/s. Universal Twin Labs Atropine Sulphate Injection IP 2 ml - M/s. Nandani Medical Laboratories Pvt. Ltd. Cefoperazone & Sulbactam For Injection (Todaycef 1.5 G) - M/s. Daxin Pharmaceuticals Pvt. Ltd. Heparin Sodium Injection IP 25000 IU / 5ml - M/s. Scott-Edil Pharmacia Ltd. Cefepime & Tazobactam for Injection (Crupime - TZ Kid Injection) - M/s. Cosmas Research Lab. Ltd. Atropine Sulphate Injection IP (Atropine Sulphate) - M/s. Priya Pharmaceuticals Salbutamol, Bromhexine HCI, Guaifenesin and Menthol Syrup (Acozil Expectorant) - M/s. Antila Lifesciences Pvt. Ltd. Diclofenac Sodium IP - M/s. Sara Exports Ltd. Escitalopram and Clonazepam Tablets IP (Klozaps-ES Tablets) - M/s. Digital Vision Phenytoin Sodium Injection USP - M/s. Health Biotech Ltd. Paracetamol, Phenylephrine Hydrochloride and Cetirizine Hydrochloride Suspension (Cethel Cold DS Suspension) - M/s. Win Cure Pharma Calcium 500 mg with Vitamin D3 250 IU Tablets IP - M/s. Life Max Cancer Laboratories Amoxycillin and Potassium Clavulanate Tablets IP 625 mg (Renamega- CV 625) - M/s. Malik Lifesciences Pvt. Ltd. Olmesartan Medoxomil Tablets IP 40 mg - M/s. Life Max Cancer Laboratories INFUSION SET-NV - M/s. Medivision Healthcare Telmisartan Tablets IP 40 mg - M/s. Life Max Cancer Laboratories Alprazolam Tablets IP 0.25 mg (Erazol-0.25 Tablets) - M/s. Elikem Pharmaceuticals Pvt. Ltd. Glimepiride Tablets IP (2 mg) - M/s. Mascot Health Series Pvt. Ltd. Calcium and Vitamin D3 Tablets IP - M/s. Unicure India Ltd. Metronidazole Tablets IP 400mg - M/s. Hindustan Antibiotics Ltd. Paziva -40 - M/s. Gnosis Pharmaceuticals Pvt. Ltd. Pantomed -40 - Digital Vision 176 Cefixime Oral Suspension IP (Dry Syrup) - Nestor Pharmaceuticals Ltd. Moxymed CV - Alexa Pharmaceuticals Frusemide Injection IP 20 mg - Nestor Pharmaceuticals Ltd. Kudajarishtam - Bala Herbals Tab Nodosis - Steadfast Medishield Pvt. Ltd. Haridrakhanda - Bhaskara Vilasam Vaidyasala Pantoprazole Inj. BP 40 mg - Kerala Medical Services Corporation Ltd. Yogaraja Guggulu - Bhaskara Vilasam Vaidyasala PANCEF-OF - Aglomed Ltd.

Drug Approval

100 Deals associated with Escitalopram

External Link

KEGG	Wiki	ATC	Drug Bank
D07913	Escitalopram	N06AB10	DB01175

R&D Status

10 top R&D records.

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Indication	Highest Phase	Country/Location	Organization	Date
Depressive Disorder	Preclinical	-	Aquestive Therapeutics, Inc.	-

Clinical Result

Indication

Phase

Evaluation

View All Results

Study	Phase	Population	Analyzed Enrollment	Group	Results	Evaluation	Publication Date


FDA_CDER Manual	Not Applicable	Depressive Disorder, Major	403	Escitalopram	kfahbmbahb(cigrvursxk) = The primary outcome in all three studies was change from baseline to endpoint in the Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). ntgvrmuzmi (wgpcmsrico ) View more	Positive	29 Aug 2025
				Placebo
FDA_CDER Manual	Not Applicable	Generalized anxiety disorder	-	Escitalopram	suydskcrwa(njtggxxfmd) = In all three studies, escitalopram showed statistically significant greater mean improvement compared to placebo on the Hamilton Anxiety Scale(HAM-A). ejbnecjgfs (tyaxepygas ) View more	Positive	29 Aug 2025
				Placebo
NCT05470465 (CTgov)	Phase 1	Hypercarbia	27	Placebo+Oxycodone (Treatment A: Placebo)	vooycckaqo(jkhgkyulbm) = kljqurcwph fjdsmwpaex (aykeefokbf, nwxjagwcix - ypoziqkdui) View more	-	22 May 2025
				Paroxetine+Oxycodone (Treatment B: Paroxetine)	vooycckaqo(jkhgkyulbm) = srpbpfewrg fjdsmwpaex (aykeefokbf, gabkkqcpta - hjaynbunnx) View more
NCT03429075 (Psilodep-RCT, CTgov)	Phase 2	Depressive Disorder, Major	59	Psilocybin + Placebo (Psilocybin)	vasatotqwl(gaahslzvzk) = czdtqcautv xvkrwevmzi (vkiohvtatv, 0.45) View more	-	24 Oct 2024
				Psilocybin + Escitalopram (Escitalopram)	vasatotqwl(gaahslzvzk) = fjgvrmyzqz xvkrwevmzi (vkiohvtatv, 0.62) View more
NCT03429075 (Literature) Manual	Phase 2	Major depressive disorder, moderate (MDD)	59	Psilocybin combined with psychological supportPsilocybin combined with psychological support	bsgomngxeq(svkyimytit): Difference = 1.51 (95% CI, -1.35 to 4.38), P-Value = 0.311 View more	Positive	21 Sep 2024
				Escitalopram combined with psychological support
NCT00361218 (CTgov)	Phase 3	Depressive Disorder, Major	72	SSRI+selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor+escitalopram+citalopram	cgliqwrtbs(crgiszmuhy) = pevpdqyznd nlycwcbeco (obfsvpnooa, 4371.67) View more	-	26 Sep 2013

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Escitalopram

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