Escitalopram is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) used to treat mood disorders like depression and anxiety disorders like generalized anxiety disorder. It works by inhibiting the reuptake of the neurotransmitter serotonin in the brain. Unlike other SSRIs, escitalopram binds to both the primary and allosteric sites of the serotonin transporter, resulting in a stronger and longer-lasting inhibition of serotonin reuptake. The usual starting dose for depression is 10 mg per day, while for panic disorder it is 5 mg for the first week then increasing to 10 mg. Maximum effectiveness may take 2-4 weeks for depression or up to 3 months for panic disorder.

1. Escitalopram
Mood Disorder, Anxiety, Depression &
GAD
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3. Nervous System
• The nervous system is the part of an
animal's body that coordinates its
voluntary and involuntary actions and
transmits signals between different parts
of its body.
• Voluntary action: That automatically occur
in your body.
• Involuntary action: Action that occur
because of your choice.
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4. Neuron
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6. Neurotransmitters
• Neurotransmitters are
endogenous chemicals that
transmit signals across a
synapse from one neuron
(brain cell) to another 'target'
neuron.
• Synapse: In the nervous
system, a synapse is a
structure that permits a
neuron (or nerve cell) to pass
an electrical or chemical
signal to another cell (neural
or otherwise).
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Synapse

7. There are some criteria for identifying
neurotransmitters:
• The chemical must be synthesized in the neuron
or otherwise be present in it.
• When the neuron is active, the chemical must be
released and produce a response in some target.
• The same response must be obtained when the
chemical is experimentally placed on the target.
• A mechanism must exist for removing the
chemical from its site of activation after its work is
done.
• Carry messages between neurons.
• Example: Adrenaline, Noradrenalin, Serotonin,
Acetylcholine.2/22/2017 7

8. Serotonin
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10. Selective Serotonin Reuptake
inhibitor
Mechanism Of Action:
• Escitalopram:
• Unlike other SSRIs Escitalopram binds with both
sites of Serotonin transporter i.e. Primary and
Allosteric site while other SSRIs and SNRI bind
only with primary site. In this way Escitalopram
binding with SERT is more strong.
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11. No proper inhibition of serotonin reuptake by other SSRIs.
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By binding with allosteric site Escitalopram makes changing in structure of
primary site, which makes binding of escitalopram more strong at primary site
so less amount of serotonin is reuptake.

13. Indications:
• Depression: Depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling
of sadness and loss of interest.
• Anxiety disorder: An anxiety disorder is a serious mental illness. For people
with anxiety disorders, worry and fear are constant and overwhelming, and
can be crippling.
• GAD: Generalized Anxiety Disorder, GAD, is an anxiety disorder
characterized by chronic anxiety, exaggerated worry and tension,even when
there is no or little tension really exist in their lives.
• Phobic States: Persistent fear of social or performance situations.
• Panic disorder: People with this condition have feelings of terror that strike
suddenly and repeatedly with no warning.
• OCD: (Obsessive–compulsive disorder )Recurrent & persistent thoughts,
impulses or images…..intrusive and inappropriate.
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14. Dose
• Escitalopram is indicated in the treatment of depressive episodes,
panic disorder.
With depressive episodes, the usual dose is 10 mg per day taken at
once with or without food. The antidepressant response is generally
reached after 2 to 4 weeks. After the disappearance of the
symptoms is a need for further treatment for at least 6 months.
In panic disorder with or without agoraphobia the amount of the
initial dose is 5 mg per day during the first week after which the dose
is increased to 10 mg per day. Maximum effectiveness is reached
after about 3 months.
Thank You
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