Escitalopram for Anxiety Disorders

Special Considerations

The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry recommends considering a subtherapeutic "test" dose in patients prone to initial anxiety/agitation 1
The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry suggests that escitalopram has a lower potential for drug interactions due to minimal effects on CYP450 isoenzymes compared to other SSRIs 2
The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry advises exercising caution when combining escitalopram with other serotonergic medications due to the risk of serotonin syndrome 2
The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry recommends monitoring for suicidal thinking and behavior, especially in the first months of treatment and following dosage adjustments 4
The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry suggests watching for behavioral activation/agitation, particularly early in treatment 4

The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry recommends that for patients with inadequate response to escitalopram monotherapy, combination with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) may be beneficial 3, 1
The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry suggests that in children and adolescents with anxiety disorders, combination treatment (SSRI plus CBT) has shown superior outcomes compared to either treatment alone 3