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Lexapro Dosage

For people who are treating depression or generalized anxiety disorder with Lexapro, dosage recommendations typically range from 10 mg to 20 mg once a day. Your healthcare provider will prescribe your Lexapro dosage based on several factors, including your age, what you are being treated for, existing medical conditions you may have, and other medications you are taking. Lexapro comes in tablet form and can be taken with or without food.

 

Lexapro Dosing: An Introduction

The dose of Lexapro® (escitalopram oxalate) that your healthcare provider prescribes will vary depending on a number of factors, including:
 
  • Your age
  • The medical condition you are being treated for
  • Other medical conditions you may have
  • Other medications you may be currently taking.
     
As always, do not adjust your Lexapro dose unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.
 

Lexapro Dosage Recommendations

The recommended starting dosage of Lexapro for people with depression or generalized anxiety disorder is Lexapro 10 mg once a day. Your healthcare provider may choose to increase the Lexapro dosage if symptoms continue or decrease the dose if side effects occur. In general, people will take Lexapro for several months or longer.
 
Individual dosages of Lexapro can range from 10 mg to 20 mg once a day. For elderly people or people with liver problems, the maximum dose of Lexapro is Lexapro 10 mg once daily.
 

General Lexapro Dosage Information

Some considerations for people taking Lexapro include:
 
 

  • It usually takes several weeks (and may even take longer than a month) to feel the beneficial effects of Lexapro. Try not to be discouraged if Lexapro does not work right away for you.

       

  • If Lexapro makes you drowsy, try taking it before bedtime. If Lexapro causes insomnia for you, try taking it in the morning.

       

  • You can take Lexapro with or without food. If Lexapro bothers your stomach, try taking it with food.

       

  • Lexapro should be taken at the same time each day to maintain an even level of the drug in your blood.

       
  • Abruptly stopping Lexapro can result in withdrawal symptoms (see Lexapro Withdrawal for more information).
       
  • For Lexapro to work properly, you have to take it as prescribed. Lexapro will not work if you take it in a way other than how your healthcare provider prescribed it.

 

  • If you are unsure about anything related to your dosage or Lexapro dosing in general, please talk with your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist. Do not stop taking Lexapro without first discussing it with your healthcare provider.

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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;