Pharmacologic Substance
escitalopram
[ es-sy-ta-loh-pram ]
Brand Names:
Lexapro
Effect:
Increased Central Nervous System Serotonin Activity
May Treat:
Depressive Disorder, Major
More Information:
Definitions related to escitalopram:
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A drug used to treat depression and certain anxiety disorders. It belongs to the family of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).NCI Dictionary of Cancer TermsU.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
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S-enantiomer of CITALOPRAM. Belongs to a class of drugs known as SELECTIVE SEROTONIN REUPTAKE INHIBITORS, used to treat depression and generalized anxiety disorder.NLM Medical Subject HeadingsU.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
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The active S-stereoisomer of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) citalopram with antidepressant, anti-obsessive-compulsive and antibulimic properties. Escitalopram inhibits the reuptake of the neurotransmitter serotonin (5-HT) at the serotonin reuptake pump of the neuronal membrane of the presynaptic cell, thereby increasing levels of 5-HT within the synaptic cleft and enhancing the actions of serotonin on 5HT1A autoreceptors. Unlike other SSRIs, escitalopram appears to not only bind to a primary high-affinity site on the serotonin transporter protein but also to a secondary lower-affinity allosteric site that is considered to stabilize and prolong drug binding.NCI ThesaurusU.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
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