lexapro

How long does Escitalopram Oxalate stay in your body?

The elimination half-life of escitalopram oxalate is about 27 to 32 hours — the time it takes the body to clear about half of it. As a rule of thumb, a medicine is mostly gone after roughly 4 to 5 half-lives, though this varies from person to person with age and kidney or liver function. This is the terminal (elimination) half-life of escitalopram itself; the drug's metabolites do not meaningfully add to its activity or duration. The half-life is longer in some people — about 50% longer in older adults and roughly doubled in those with reduced liver function.

This is general information, not medical advice. It doesn’t tell you when a drug test would read negative (tests detect substances for different, often longer, windows) or when it’s safe to take another dose — ask your pharmacist or prescriber. Source: LEXAPRO (escitalopram oxalate) tablet — DailyMed label, Clinical Pharmacology/Pharmacokinetics.

Frequently asked questions

What does Lexapro treat?

Lexapro (Escitalopram Oxalate) may be used to treat major depressive disorder, based on NIH RxClass drug-classification data (conditions a drug may treat — not a verbatim copy of the FDA-approved label). This is general reference, not medical advice.

How does Lexapro work?

Lexapro is a serotonin reuptake inhibitor. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) block the transporter that pulls serotonin back into nerve cells, so more of this mood-related chemical stays in the gaps between neurons to keep signaling. They act mainly on serotonin, which tends to mean fewer side effects than older antidepressants.

How is Lexapro rated?

pharmaranks gives Lexapro a composite score of 3.6 out of 5, currently based on 1 weighted source (FDA regulatory recall-safety data weighted highest). See our methodology at /how-we-rate.

How much does Lexapro cost?

Nobody can tell you what you will pay — your price is set by your insurer's formulary, your deductible and the pharmacy's markup, and none of those are published. What IS published is what the pharmacy paid to acquire it: about $0.16 per ml, per the CMS NADAC survey. Treat that as the floor, not the quote — ask the pharmacist for the cash price as well as your copay, because for cheap generics the cash price often wins.

Is there a coupon or discount for Lexapro?

pharmaranks is an independent ratings site, not a pharmacy — we don't issue coupons or sell Lexapro. To pay less, ask your prescriber or pharmacist whether a generic equivalent exists, check the manufacturer's copay/savings card and patient-assistance program, and compare a pharmacy discount card against your insurance copay. Prices vary by pharmacy, insurance, and location, so always confirm at the counter. This is general reference, not medical or financial advice.

Who makes Lexapro?

Lexapro is marketed by Abbvie. You can see Abbvie's full profile, rating, and other products on pharmaranks.

Is Lexapro a brand-name or generic drug?

Lexapro is a brand-name product with the active ingredient Escitalopram Oxalate. Lower-cost generic equivalents containing Escitalopram Oxalate are available — ask your pharmacist.

Is Lexapro available over the counter?

No. Lexapro is a prescription (Rx) medication in the US — you need a prescription from a licensed clinician (in person or via telehealth); it isn't sold over the counter. For some conditions there are OTC alternatives — ask your pharmacist.

What forms does Lexapro come in?

Lexapro is currently marketed as tablet, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory.

What class of drug is Lexapro?

Lexapro is classified as serotonin reuptake inhibitor, per the FDA's Established Pharmacologic Class.

Is Lexapro FDA-registered?

Lexapro is on record with the U.S. FDA under application number NDA021365. You can verify this on its official FDA label.

Has Lexapro been recalled by the FDA?

Lexapro has no FDA recalls recorded under its own application in the openFDA enforcement database. Its recall-safety score reflects its manufacturer's overall recall record. This is general reference, not medical advice — check the FDA recall database for the latest alerts.

Is Lexapro safe?

There's no single safe-or-not verdict. pharmaranks gives Lexapro a recall-safety score of 72/100, based on its FDA recall history (no recalls under its own FDA application) — not an efficacy or side-effect rating. Review its FDA-label side effects and warnings before use, and always consult a licensed professional.