ℹ️ Skipped - page is already crawled
| Filter | Status | Condition | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| HTTP status | PASS | download_http_code = 200 | HTTP 200 |
| Age cutoff | PASS | download_stamp > now() - 6 MONTH | 0.1 months ago |
| History drop | PASS | isNull(history_drop_reason) | No drop reason |
| Spam/ban | PASS | fh_dont_index != 1 AND ml_spam_score = 0 | ml_spam_score=0 |
| Canonical | PASS | meta_canonical IS NULL OR = '' OR = src_unparsed | Not set |
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| URL | https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/escitalopram/about-escitalopram/ |
| Last Crawled | 2026-04-10 21:26:33 (3 days ago) |
| First Indexed | 2022-02-26 06:48:11 (4 years ago) |
| HTTP Status Code | 200 |
| Meta Title | About escitalopram - NHS |
| Meta Description | NHS medicines information on escitalopram – what it's used for and key facts. |
| Meta Canonical | null |
| Boilerpipe Text | Escitalopram is a type of antidepressant known as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI).
It's often used to treat
depression
and is sometimes used for
anxiety
,
obsessive compulsive disorder
(OCD) or
panic attacks
.
Escitalopram helps many people recover from depression and has fewer side effects than older antidepressants.
Escitalopram is available on prescription. It comes as tablets and liquid drops that you put in a drink.
Key facts
Escitalopram is thought to work by increasing the levels of a mood-enhancing chemical called serotonin in your brain.
It usually takes 4 to 6 weeks for escitalopram to work fully.
Common side effects include feeling sick (nausea) and headaches. They're usually mild and go away after a couple of weeks.
If you and your doctor decide to take you off escitalopram, your doctor will probably recommend reducing your dose gradually to help prevent withdrawal side effects.
Some people find they cannot concentrate properly while they're taking escitalopram. It might be best to stop driving and cycling for the first few days of treatment until you know how this medicine makes you feel.
Page last reviewed: 24 February 2022
Next review due: 24 February 2025 |
| Markdown |
[Skip to main content](https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/escitalopram/about-escitalopram/#maincontent)
- [Health A to Z](https://www.nhs.uk/health-a-to-z/)
- [NHS services](https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/)
- [Healthy living](https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/)
- [Mental health](https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/)
- [Care and support](https://www.nhs.uk/social-care-and-support/)
- [Home](https://www.nhs.uk/)
- Browse More
1. [Home](https://www.nhs.uk/)
2. [Health A to Z](https://www.nhs.uk/health-a-to-z/)
3. [Medicines A to Z](https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/)
4. [Escitalopram](https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/escitalopram/)
[Back to Escitalopram](https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/escitalopram/)
# About escitalopram
Escitalopram is a type of antidepressant known as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI).
It's often used to treat [depression](https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/depression-in-adults/overview/) and is sometimes used for [anxiety](https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/generalised-anxiety-disorder/overview/), [obsessive compulsive disorder](https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd/overview/) (OCD) or [panic attacks](https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/anxiety/).
Escitalopram helps many people recover from depression and has fewer side effects than older antidepressants.
Escitalopram is available on prescription. It comes as tablets and liquid drops that you put in a drink.
## Key facts
- Escitalopram is thought to work by increasing the levels of a mood-enhancing chemical called serotonin in your brain.
- It usually takes 4 to 6 weeks for escitalopram to work fully.
- Common side effects include feeling sick (nausea) and headaches. They're usually mild and go away after a couple of weeks.
- If you and your doctor decide to take you off escitalopram, your doctor will probably recommend reducing your dose gradually to help prevent withdrawal side effects.
- Some people find they cannot concentrate properly while they're taking escitalopram. It might be best to stop driving and cycling for the first few days of treatment until you know how this medicine makes you feel.
## More in [Escitalopram](https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/escitalopram/)
- About escitalopram
- [Who can and cannot take it](https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/escitalopram/who-can-and-cannot-take-escitalopram/)
- [How and when to take it](https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/escitalopram/how-and-when-to-take-escitalopram/)
- [Side effects](https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/escitalopram/side-effects-of-escitalopram/)
- [Pregnancy, breastfeeding and fertility](https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/escitalopram/pregnancy-breastfeeding-and-fertility-while-taking-escitalopram/)
- [Taking escitalopram with other medicines and herbal supplements](https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/escitalopram/taking-escitalopram-with-other-medicines-and-herbal-supplements/)
- [Common questions](https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/escitalopram/common-questions-about-escitalopram/)
Page last reviewed: 24 February 2022
Next review due: 24 February 2025
## Support links
- [Home](https://www.nhs.uk/)
- [Health A to Z](https://www.nhs.uk/health-a-to-z/)
- [NHS services](https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/)
- [Healthy living](https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/)
- [Mental health](https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/)
- [Care and support](https://www.nhs.uk/social-care-and-support/)
- [COVID-19](https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/covid-19/)
- [NHS App](https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-app/)
- [Find my NHS number](https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/online-services/find-nhs-number/)
- [View your GP health record](https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/gps/view-your-gp-health-record/)
- [View your test results](https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/online-services/view-your-test-results/)
- [About the NHS](https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/about-the-nhs/)
- [Healthcare abroad](https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/healthcare-abroad/)
- [Other NHS websites](https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-sites/)
- [Profile editor login](https://www.nhs.uk/our-policies/profile-editor-login/)
- [About us](https://www.nhs.uk/about-us/)
- [Report an issue with the NHS website](https://www.nhs.uk/report-an-issue-with-the-nhs-website)
- [Accessibility statement](https://www.nhs.uk/accessibility-statement/)
- [Our policies](https://www.nhs.uk/our-policies/)
- [Cookies](https://www.nhs.uk/our-policies/choose-your-cookie-settings/)
© Crown copyright |
| Readable Markdown | Escitalopram is a type of antidepressant known as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI).
It's often used to treat [depression](https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/depression-in-adults/overview/) and is sometimes used for [anxiety](https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/generalised-anxiety-disorder/overview/), [obsessive compulsive disorder](https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd/overview/) (OCD) or [panic attacks](https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/anxiety/).
Escitalopram helps many people recover from depression and has fewer side effects than older antidepressants.
Escitalopram is available on prescription. It comes as tablets and liquid drops that you put in a drink.
## Key facts
- Escitalopram is thought to work by increasing the levels of a mood-enhancing chemical called serotonin in your brain.
- It usually takes 4 to 6 weeks for escitalopram to work fully.
- Common side effects include feeling sick (nausea) and headaches. They're usually mild and go away after a couple of weeks.
- If you and your doctor decide to take you off escitalopram, your doctor will probably recommend reducing your dose gradually to help prevent withdrawal side effects.
- Some people find they cannot concentrate properly while they're taking escitalopram. It might be best to stop driving and cycling for the first few days of treatment until you know how this medicine makes you feel.
Page last reviewed: 24 February 2022
Next review due: 24 February 2025 |
| Shard | 75 (laksa) |
| Root Hash | 11359509702434384875 |
| Unparsed URL | uk,nhs,www!/medicines/escitalopram/about-escitalopram/ s443 |