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Antidepressant medications are commonly prescribed for managing depression and various other mental or mood disorders. They can play a crucial role in reducing the risk of suicidal thoughts or attempts and offer significant therapeutic benefits. Nonetheless, it is important to note that a small subset of individuals, particularly those under the age of 25, might experience an increase in depression, changes in mental or mood states, or the emergence of suicidal thoughts or behavior when using these medications.

Key safety considerations include:

• Discuss thoroughly with your healthcare provider the advantages and potential risks associated with taking antidepressants, particularly for individuals under 25, regardless of whether the treatment is for mental or mood-related issues.
• Promptly inform your doctor if you observe any signs of worsening depression, changes in psychiatric conditions, or unusual behavior, such as the onset of suicidal thoughts or attempts.
• Be vigilant for any new or worsening mental or mood symptoms, including heightened anxiety, panic attacks, sleep disturbances, irritability, feelings of hostility or anger, impulsive behavior, severe restlessness, or excessively rapid speech.
• Pay special attention to these symptoms when beginning a new antidepressant or adjusting the dosage.

Effective communication with your healthcare provider is essential to ensure safe and effective treatment with antidepressants.

When taking this medication, you might experience some mild side effects such as nausea, dry mouth, trouble sleeping, constipation, tiredness, drowsiness, dizziness, or increased sweating. These are common and usually temporary. However, if they persist or worsen, it's important to consult your healthcare provider.

On the other hand, there are some serious side effects you should be aware of. If you experience a decreased interest in sex, changes in sexual ability, or easy bleeding/bruising, seek medical advice promptly. Additionally, very serious side effects that require immediate medical attention include black stools, fainting, fast or irregular heartbeat, vomiting that resembles coffee grounds, seizures, eye pain/swelling/redness, widened pupils, and any vision changes like seeing rainbows around lights or blurred vision.

This medication can increase serotonin levels, which in rare cases might lead to a condition known as serotonin syndrome. Symptoms such as a fast heartbeat, hallucinations, loss of coordination, severe dizziness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, twitching muscles, unexplained fever, or unusual agitation/restlessness need urgent medical care.

Additionally, in rare instances, males may experience a painful or prolonged erection lasting four or more hours. Immediate medical attention is necessary to prevent long-term problems. Though a severe allergic reaction to this medication is rare, seek immediate help if you notice symptoms like rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, or trouble breathing.

These side effects are not exhaustive, so if you observe any other unusual symptoms, it's crucial to contact your healthcare provider.

Certain substances may interact with this medication. These include other drugs that can cause bleeding or bruising, such as antiplatelet medications like clopidogrel, NSAIDs like ibuprofen and naproxen, and anticoagulants like dabigatran and warfarin. Using aspirin alongside this drug can heighten the risk of bleeding. However, if your doctor has advised you to take low-dose aspirin (81-162 mg daily) to prevent heart attacks or strokes, continue doing so unless otherwise directed by your doctor. For more details, consult with your healthcare provider.

Avoid taking MAO inhibitors (such as isocarboxazid, linezolid, and others) with this medicine, as it may lead to a severe, possibly fatal, reaction. Most MAO inhibitors should not be used for two weeks before or after treatment with this medication. Your doctor can guide you on when to start or stop this medication.

There is an increased risk of serotonin syndrome or toxicity when this drug is used with other serotonin-boosting substances, including certain antidepressants (such as SSRIs like fluoxetine and paroxetine, SNRIs like duloxetine and venlafaxine), street drugs like MDMA, St. John's wort, and tryptophan. This risk is higher when starting or increasing the dose of these substances.

Inform your doctor or pharmacist if you are using other products that cause drowsiness, including alcohol, marijuana, antihistamines (like cetirizine and diphenhydramine), sleep or anxiety medications (such as alprazolam, diazepam, zolpidem), muscle relaxants, and opioid pain relievers (such as codeine).

Review all your medications, including those for allergies, pain, fever, or cough and cold, as they may contain ingredients that cause drowsiness or increase bleeding risk. Consult your pharmacist for safe usage recommendations.

Several drugs, besides escitalopram, can affect heart rhythm (QT prolongation), including amiodarone, pimozide, procainamide, quinidine, and sotalol. Do not use citalopram with escitalopram, as they are very similar.

This medication might interfere with certain medical or laboratory tests, such as brain scans for Parkinson's disease, possibly leading to false results. Ensure that all healthcare professionals involved in your care are aware that you are using this medication.