Interactions
After Cipralex® is taken in tablet form, the active ingredient is metabolized in the liver and then distributed throughout the body. In the process, interactions with numerous other drugs may occur. Under no circumstances should Cipralex® be combined with MAO inhibitors (including moclobemide, selegiline, tranylcypromine).
There is a risk of very serious and sometimes life-threatening side effects. Among other things, the development of a serotonin syndrome is to be feared due to the strongly increased serotonin levels in the central nervous system. For this reason, the combination of Cipralex® with other active ingredients that increase serotonin levels (serotonergic drugs) should be avoided wherever possible. As the active substance escitalopram also leads to an extension of the QT time in the ECG at the heart, the preparation should also not be combined with other drugs that extend the QT time. There is a risk of very severe and life-threatening cardiac rhythm disturbances.
Dosage
For the treatment of depression the usual dosage is 10 mg. In the absence of or weak effect of the preparation, the dose can be increased up to 20 mg. For doses above 20 mg no study results are available so far. An incipient antidepressive effect can be expected after a few weeks at the earliest.
As a rule, continuation of the drug therapy over a period of several months and years is necessary to ensure the success of the therapy. The therapy of anxiety disorders with Cipralex® usually also starts with 10 mg. Only in panic disorders (with or without agoraphobia) does treatment start with 5 mg. An increase in dosage is also possible up to a dose of 20 mg, depending on the patient. In patients with severe renal dysfunction or mild to moderate liver dysfunction, the dose must be adjusted accordingly.
For this reason, doses of 5 mg are also initially indicated in patients over 65 years of age. The preparation can be taken independently of meals. An abrupt discontinuation of the drug should be avoided, as this can cause a wide range of typical discontinuation symptoms (dizziness, sleep disturbances, nausea, vomiting, trembling, etc. ).
Price
Cipralex® is available in pharmacies in two different dosages (10 mg and 20 mg) in the form of tablets available only on prescription. Three different pack sizes (20, 50, 100) can be purchased. A 20 pack of 10 mg Cipralex® tablets can be bought for about 30 euros.
A pack of 50 tablets in the same dosage costs about 45 euros. The large 100 pack can be bought for about 85 euros.
