Prescription medicine
Escitalopram Brand names: Lexapro
Escitalopram (Lexapro) is a prescription medicine with an FDA approval on record since 2002. FDA's NDC Directory lists it from 43 generic labelers, and pharmacies paid $0.0632 per escitalopram 20 mg tablet in the October 7, 2026 NADAC survey.
- Generic listed
- Boxed warning
Check it at the source: the escitalopram FDA label on DailyMed (effective October 1, 2023, Allergan, Inc.); the NDA 21323 record on Drugs@FDA; every escitalopram label on DailyMed.
Highlights of the record
FDA label of October 1, 2023; NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA and Orange Book, October 8, 2026; NADAC October 7, 2026
SUICIDAL THOUGHTS AND BEHAVIORS.
Antidepressants increased the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in pediatric and young adult patients in short-term studies. Closely monitor all antidepressant-treated patients for clinical worsening, and for emergence of suicidal thoughts and behaviors [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )]. Lexapro is not approved for use in pediatric patients less than 7 years of age [ s ee Use in Specific Populations ( 8.4 )]. WARNING: SUICIDAL THOUGHTS AN D BEHAVIORS See full prescribing information for complete boxed warning. Increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior in pediatric and you ng adult patients taking antidepressants. Closely monitor all antidepressant-treated patients for clinical worsening and emergence of suicidal thoughts and behaviors ( 5.1 ). Lexapro is not approved for use in pediatric patients less than 7 years of age ( 8.4 ).
Used for
From the label: indications and usageLexapro is indicated for the treatment of:
major depressive disorder (MDD) in adults and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older.
Forms and strengths
- 5 mg
- 10 mg
- 15 mg
- 20 mg
- 5 mg/5ml
- 10 mg/21
- 20 mg/21
Film-coated tablet; tablet; solution; capsule.
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- August 14, 2002 Lexapro, Abbvie; Drugs@FDA’s file, where older or withdrawn approvals can be missing
- Generic approvals
- 25 first July 31, 2007; 17 with a marketed status in Drugs@FDA
- Labelers listed (NDC)
- 45 of which 43 under generic applications, 2 under brand applications, repackagers included
Supply and safety
- Pharmacy cost (NADAC)
- $0.0632 per tablet Escitalopram 20 mg tablet
- Shortage (FDA)
- No current entry
- Recalls by its makers (FDA)
- 1 since 2013 0 Class I among all firms' recalls; latest March 24, 2016; 1 more by firms not listed as its makers
- FAERS reports
- 139,519 through July 30, 2026
What is escitalopram used for?
From the label: indications and usageLexapro is indicated for the treatment of:
major depressive disorder (MDD) in adults and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older.
generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in adults and pediatric patients 7 years of age and older. Lexapro is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) indicated for the: treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) in adults and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older ( 1 ) treatment of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in adults and pediatric patients 7 years and older
Conditions named in the indications of escitalopram's FDA labels, with every medicine labeled for each:
FDA pharmacologic class: Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor.
Source: FDA drug label (Lexapro), NDA021323 (Abbvie), as published by Allergan, Inc., effective October 1, 2023 (SPL set 13bb8267-1cab-43e5-acae-55a4d957630a), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
What does the patient leaflet for escitalopram say first?
The FDA-approved Medication Guide or Patient Information that comes with the medicine, in its own words.
From the patient leaflet: What is the most important information I should know about Lexapro?Lexapro may cause serious side effects, including: Increased risk of suicidal thoughts or actions. Lexapro and other antidepressant medicines increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and actions in people 24 years of age and younger, especially within the first few months of treatment or when the dose is changed. ○ Depression or other mental illnesses are the most important causes of suicidal thoughts or actions. How can I watch for and try to prevent suicidal thoughts and actions? ○ Pay close attention to any changes, especially sudden changes in mood, behavior, thoughts, or feelings, or if you or your child develop suicidal thoughts or actions. This is very important when an antidepressant medicine is started or when the dose is changed. ○ Call your healthcare provider right away to report new or sudden changes in mood, behavior, thoughts, or feelings or if you or your child develop suicidal thoughts or actions. ○ Keep all follow-up visits with your healthcare provider as scheduled and call your healthcare provider between visits if you are worried about symptoms. Call your healthcare provider or get emergency medical help right away if you or your child have any of the following symptoms, especially if they are new, worse, or worry you: attempts to commit suicide acting on dangerous impulses acting aggressive, being angry or violent thoughts about suicide or dying new or worse depression new or worsening anxiety panic attacks feeling very agitated or restless new or worse irritability trouble sleeping an extreme increase in activity or talking (mania) other unusual changes in behavior or mood
From the patient leaflet: What should I avoid while taking Lexapro?Do not drive, operate heavy machinery, or do other dangerous activities until you know how Lexapro affects you. Lexapro can cause sleepiness or may affect your ability to make decisions, think clearly, or react quickly. Do not drink alcohol during treatment with Lexapro.
From the patient leaflet: How should I store Lexapro?Store Lexapro at room temperature between 68°F to 77°F (20°C to 25°C). Keep Lexapro and all medicines out of the reach of children.
Source: FDA drug label (Lexapro), NDA021323 (Abbvie), as published by Allergan, Inc., effective October 1, 2023 (SPL set 13bb8267-1cab-43e5-acae-55a4d957630a), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
Is there a generic for escitalopram (Lexapro)?
The FDA approved the first generic escitalopram on July 31, 2007. 25 generic applications are approved; 17 of them carry a current (not discontinued) marketing status in Drugs@FDA; that status is not evidence that the generic is on sale. Drugs@FDA also holds 6 tentative approvals: the FDA found the generic approvable, but patents or exclusivity keep it from final approval for now.
FDA's NDC Directory lists escitalopram from 43 labelers under a generic (ANDA) application and from 2 brand labelers. A listing means the company has registered the product for sale; it does not show that every pharmacy stocks it.
- 2002 earliest approval on file
- 2007 first generic approved
- red ticks recalls
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory and the Orange Book (openFDA bulk files, October 8, 2026)
What do pharmacies pay for escitalopram (Lexapro)?
In CMS's NADAC survey of October 7, 2026, pharmacies paid $0.0632 per Escitalopram 20 mg tablet, down 12% from $0.0717 on October 8, 2025. Prices per unit in the table differ many-fold by strength, form and brand, so compare like with like. The chart's scale runs from the lowest to the highest price shown, not from zero. NADAC is what retail pharmacies paid their wholesalers, per unit, in CMS's monthly survey; what a patient pays depends on insurance and the pharmacy.
- Escitalopram 20 mg tablet (generic)
- Lexapro 5 mg tablet (brand)
| Strength and form | Brand or generic | Pharmacy cost | 30 tablets, or one pen or vial | 12-month change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Escitalopram 10 mg tablet | Generic | $0.0394 per tablet | $1.18 | -9% |
| Escitalopram 15 mg capsule | Generic | $5.45 per capsule many times the lowest per-tablet cost; NADAC records the price, not why | $163.60 | n/a |
| Escitalopram 20 mg tablet | Generic | $0.0632 per tablet | $1.89 | -12% |
| Escitalopram 5 mg tablet | Generic | $0.0416 per tablet | $1.25 | -5% |
| Escitalopram oxalate 5 mg/5 mL | Generic | $0.143 per mL | n/a | -28% |
| Lexapro 10 mg tablet | Brand | $15.41 per tablet many times the lowest per-tablet cost; NADAC records the price, not why | $462.38 | +4% |
| Lexapro 20 mg tablet | Brand | $16.09 per tablet many times the lowest per-tablet cost; NADAC records the price, not why | $482.82 | +5% |
| Lexapro 5 mg tablet | Brand | $14.74 per tablet many times the lowest per-tablet cost; NADAC records the price, not why | $442.30 | +5% |
Source: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC) survey, October 7, 2026: what retail pharmacies paid per unit; not a counter price
Has escitalopram been recalled?
The FDA's Enforcement Report lists 2 recalls naming escitalopram since 2013: 0 Class I (the most serious), 1 Class II, 1 Class III; 0 still ongoing. 1 of them is by a firm that FDA's NDC Directory does not list as a maker of escitalopram and that holds no application for it in Drugs@FDA, such as compounding pharmacies or bulk-ingredient suppliers; the recall notice names the product recalled. A recall names products and lots, not every product of the medicine.
| Started | Class | Company | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 24, 2016 | Class III | Lupin Limited | Labeling: Incorrect or Missing Lot and/or Expiration Date |
| July 2, 2013 | Class II | Aidapak Services, LLC not a listed maker | Labeling: Label Mixup: ESCITALOPRAM, Tablet, 5 mgmay have potentially been mislabeled as the following drug: SODIUM CHLORIDE, Tablet, 1 gm, NDC 00223176001 … |
Source: FDA Enforcement Report (drug recalls) via openFDA, through October 8, 2026
What does the escitalopram label say about other medicines?
The escitalopram label names 15 other medicines in its interaction, contraindication or warning sections. The labels of 8 other medicines name escitalopram. The sentences are the labels' own; a label lists what its studies and reports found, not every interaction.
| Medicine named | Section | What the label says |
|---|---|---|
| Aspirin | drug interactions | Drugs That Interfere With Hemostasis (NSAIDs, Aspirin, Warfarin, etc.) Clinical Impact: Concomitant use of Lexapro and an antiplatelet or anticoagulant may potentiate the risk of bleeding. Intervention: Inform patients of the increased risk of bleeding associated with the concomitant use of Lexapro and antiplatelet agents and anticoagulants. … |
| Buspirone | drug interactions | Other Serotonergic Drugs Clinical Impact: Concomitant use of Lexapro and other serotonergic drugs (…) increases the risk of serotonin syndrome. Intervention: Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of serotonin syndrome, particularly during Lexapro initiation and dosage increases. … |
| Carbamazepine | drug interactions | Carbamazepine Clinical Impact: Combined administration of racemic citalopram (40 mg/day for 14 days) and carbamazepine (…) did not significantly affect the pharmacokinetics of carbamazepine, a CYP3A4 substrate. Intervention: Although trough citalopram plasma levels were unaffected, given the enzyme-inducing properties of carbamazepine, the possibility that carbamazepine might increase the clearance of escitalopram should be … |
| Citalopram | contraindications | … Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 ) ]. taking pimozide [see Drug Interactions ( 7 ) ]. with a hypersensitivity to escitalopram or citalopram or any of the inactive ingredients in Lexapro. |
| Desipramine | drug interactions | Drugs Metabolized by CYP2D6 Clinical Impact: Coadministration of escitalopram (20 mg/day for 21 days) with the tricyclic antidepressant desipramine (single dose of 50 mg), a substrate for CYP2D6, resulted in a 40% increase in Cmax and a 100% increase in AUC of desipramine. Intervention: The clinical significance of this finding is unknown. Exercise caution during coadministration of escitalopram and drugs metabolized by CYP2D6. |
| Fentanyl | warnings and precautions | The risk is increased with concomitant use of other serotonergic drugs (including triptans, tricyclic antidepressants, fentanyl, meperidine, methadone, lithium, tramadol, tryptophan, buspirone, amphetamines, and St. … |
| Linezolid | contraindications | Starting Lexapro in a patient who is being treated with MAOIs such as linezolid or intravenous methylene blue is also contraindicated because of an increased risk of serotonin syndrome [ see Dosage and Administration ( 2.6 ) and Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 ) ]. taking pimozide [see Drug Interactions ( 7 ) ]. … |
| Lithium | drug interactions | Other Serotonergic Drugs Clinical Impact: Concomitant use of Lexapro and other serotonergic drugs (…) increases the risk of serotonin syndrome. Intervention: Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of serotonin syndrome, particularly during Lexapro initiation and dosage increases. … |
| Meperidine | warnings and precautions | The risk is increased with concomitant use of other serotonergic drugs (including triptans, tricyclic antidepressants, fentanyl, meperidine, methadone, lithium, tramadol, tryptophan, buspirone, amphetamines, and St. … |
| Methadone | warnings and precautions | The risk is increased with concomitant use of other serotonergic drugs (including triptans, tricyclic antidepressants, fentanyl, meperidine, methadone, lithium, tramadol, tryptophan, buspirone, amphetamines, and St. … |
| Methylene blue | contraindications | Starting Lexapro in a patient who is being treated with MAOIs such as linezolid or intravenous methylene blue is also contraindicated because of an increased risk of serotonin syndrome [ see Dosage and Administration ( 2.6 ) and Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 ) ]. taking pimozide [see Drug Interactions ( 7 ) ]. … |
| Pimozide | contraindications | Starting Lexapro in a patient who is being treated with MAOIs such as linezolid or intravenous methylene blue is also contraindicated because of an increased risk of serotonin syndrome [ see Dosage and Administration ( 2.6 ) and Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 ) ]. taking pimozide [see Drug Interactions ( 7 ) ]. … |
| Sumatriptan | drug interactions | Sumatriptan Clinical Impact: There have been postmarketing reports describing patients with weakness, hyperreflexia, and incoordination following the use of an SSRI and sumatriptan. Intervention: If concomitant treatment with sumatriptan and an SSRI is clinically warranted, appropriate observation of the patient is advised [see Warning and Precautions ()]. |
| Tramadol | warnings and precautions | The risk is increased with concomitant use of other serotonergic drugs (including triptans, tricyclic antidepressants, fentanyl, meperidine, methadone, lithium, tramadol, tryptophan, buspirone, amphetamines, and St. … |
Every other medicine the escitalopram label names
| Medicine named | Section | What the label says |
|---|---|---|
| Warfarin | drug interactions | Drugs That Interfere With Hemostasis (NSAIDs, Aspirin, Warfarin, etc.) Clinical Impact: Concomitant use of Lexapro and an antiplatelet or anticoagulant may potentiate the risk of bleeding. … of Lexapro and antiplatelet agents and anticoagulants. For patients taking warfarin, carefully monitor the international normalized ratio [see Warning and Precautions ()]. |
Other labels that name escitalopram
Source: FDA drug label (Lexapro), NDA021323 (Abbvie), as published by Allergan, Inc., effective October 1, 2023 (SPL set 13bb8267-1cab-43e5-acae-55a4d957630a), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
What do FAERS reports show for escitalopram?
The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System holds 139,519 reports that list escitalopram among the medicines taken, through July 30, 2026, each a report of something that happened, not proof the medicine caused it; 11,263 are coded as a death and 44,069 as a hospital stay. Counts follow how widely a medicine is used and watched, and they are not a measure of how risky it is.
Reports received each year
The most reported reactions
Source: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) via openFDA, reports through July 30, 2026
What else is labeled for the same conditions as escitalopram?
30 other medicines are given the same way (oral) and in the same FDA class as escitalopram or labeled mainly for the same use (depression), the same class first. Depression lists all 37 medicines labeled for it, by any route. The first 8 are below. They are listed as records, not as substitutes: whether one can replace another is a prescriber's decision.
| Medicine | Shared indication | Generic labelers (oral) | Pharmacy cost | Shortage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fluoxetine | Depression, Anxiety | 59 labelers | $0.0519 per capsule 40 mg capsule | No current entry |
| Sertraline | Depression, Anxiety | 48 labelers | $0.0507 per tablet 100 mg tablet | No current entry |
| Paroxetine | Depression, Anxiety | 45 labelers | $0.0611 per tablet 20 mg tablet | No current entry |
| Trazodone | Depression | 38 labelers | $0.0307 per tablet 50 mg tablet | No current entry |
| Citalopram | Depression | 35 labelers | $0.026 per tablet 10 mg tablet | No current entry |
| Fluoxetine and olanzapine | Depression | 3 labelers | $3.44 per unit 3-25 mg | No current entry |
| Nefazodone | Depression | 2 labelers | $1.17 per tablet 100 mg tablet | No current entry |
| Bupropion | Depression | 73 labelers | $0.0785 per tablet 150 mg tablet | No current entry |
Every medicine labeled for the same conditions as escitalopram
Source: FDA drug labels (indications), NDC Directory, NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages (October 8, 2026)
How does escitalopram compare with medicines for the same use?
21 side-by-side pages set escitalopram beside a medicine whose label shares a use: approvals, generics, pharmacy cost, warnings and supply.
What next?
- Alternatives to escitalopram
- 30 medicines for the same use
- Other serotonin reuptake inhibitors
- the pharmacologic class, with prices and generics
- Escitalopram side effects
- the label's list beside FAERS reports
- Check an interaction
- what two or more labels say about each other