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This page presents data from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) and the FDA-approved drug label. A report submitted to FAERS does not prove a drug caused the reported event. Always consult a healthcare provider about medications.

Escitalopram (escitalopram oxalate)

Last updated: June 18, 2026
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Escitalopram is the brand name for escitalopram oxalate. According to the FDA-approved label, Escitalopram oxalate is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) indicated for: Acute and Maintenance Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in adults and adolescents aged 12 to 17 years (1.1) Acute Treatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) in adults (1.2) 1. FAERS contains 70,616 submissions naming this drug from 2003 through 2026; the top three reactions cited are drug ineffective, fatigue, and nausea.

Most-Reported Reactions

Counts of the reactions most often cited in FAERS submissions that named Escitalopram. Inclusion here does not establish causation - submitters describe what was observed, not what was confirmed. One submission can list several reactions, so the totals exceed the report count.

DRUG INEFFECTIVE 4,666 (6.6%) FATIGUE 4,475 (6.3%) NAUSEA 4,245 (6.0%) OFF LABEL USE 3,741 (5.3%) HEADACHE 3,624 (5.1%) DIARRHOEA 3,593 (5.1%) DRUG INTERACTION 3,035 (4.3%) DIZZINESS 3,016 (4.3%) FALL 2,975 (4.2%) ANXIETY 2,900 (4.1%) DYSPNOEA 2,824 (4.0%) VOMITING 2,647 (3.7%) CONDITION AGGRAVATED 2,614 (3.7%) DEPRESSION 2,545 (3.6%) PAIN 2,426 (3.4%)

Patient Demographics

Patient sex and age across the FAERS submissions that named Escitalopram. Percentages here are computed only from submissions where these fields were filled in - many leave them blank.

By Sex

Female Male Unknown

By Age Group

0-17 18-44 45-64 65+

Severity Outcomes

Severity flags recorded across the 70,616 FAERS submissions that named Escitalopram. Each bar shows the count of those reports carrying that flag. A single case can carry more than one (a hospitalization that became life-threatening, for example), so these bars are independent rates - they don't sum to 100%. Inclusion of a case under any flag does not establish that the drug caused the outcome.

DEATH 7,224 (10.2%) HOSPITALIZATION 26,370 (37.3%) LIFE-THREATENING 4,562 (6.5%) DISABLING 2,561 (3.6%)

Submissions Per Quarter

Quarterly count of FAERS submissions that named Escitalopram. Ups and downs on this chart can track prescribing volume, news cycles, or shifts in how reports get filed, rather than the drug becoming safer or more dangerous.

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026

From the FDA-Approved Label

Excerpts from the official FDA-approved prescribing information for Escitalopram. This is the authoritative source on indications, warnings, and known adverse reactions.

Indications

1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE Escitalopram oxalate is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) indicated for: Acute and Maintenance Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in adults and adolescents aged 12 to 17 years (1.1) Acute Treatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) in adults (1.2) 1.1 Major Depressive Disorder Escitalopram tablets are indicated for the acute and maintenance treatment of major depressive disorder in adults and in adolescents 12 to 17 years of age [see Clinical Studies (14.1) ] . A major depressive episode (DSM-IV) implies a prominent and relatively persistent (nearly every day for at least 2 weeks) depressed or dysphoric mood that usually interferes with daily functioning, and includes at least five of the following nine symptoms: depressed mood, loss of interest in usual activities, significant change in weight and/or appetite, insomnia or hypersomnia, psychomotor agitation or retardation, increased fatigue, feelings of guilt or worthlessness, slowed thinking or impaired concentration, a suicide attempt or suicidal ideation. 1.2 Generalized Anxiety Disorder Escitalopram tablets are indicated for the acute treatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder ...

Adverse Reactions (from label)

6 ADVERSE REACTIONS Most commonly observed adverse reactions (incidence ≥ 5% and at least twice the incidence of placebo patients) are: insomnia, ejaculation disorder (primarily ejaculatory delay), nausea, sweating increased, fatigue and somnolence, decreased libido, and anorgasmia (6.1) . To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Aurobindo Pharma USA, Inc. at 1-866-850-2876 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch . 6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical studies are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical studies of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical studies of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. Clinical Trial Data Sources Pediatrics (6 to 17 years) Adverse events were collected in 576 pediatric patients (286 escitalopram oxalate, 290 placebo) with major depressive disorder in double-blind placebo-controlled studies. Safety and effectiveness of escitalopram oxalate in pediatric patients less than 12 years of age has not been established. Adults Adverse events information for escitalopram oxalate was collected from 715 patients with major depressive disord...

FDA label effective date: 2023-11-07

Disclaimer

AdverseEvent.ai is not affiliated with the FDA. Adverse-event counts come from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Drug labels come from the FDA drug label dataset. A report submitted to FAERS does not prove a drug caused the reported event — always consult a healthcare provider about medications. This site is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice.