If you have a certain kind of mental health condition, your doctor might suggest Lexapro (escitalopram) as a treatment option. It’s a prescription drug used to treat the following conditions:

Lexapro comes as a tablet that you swallow. It’s also available as the generic drug escitalopram.

Lexapro is an antidepressant that belongs to a group of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

This article describes the dosages of Lexapro, as well as its strengths and how to take it. To learn more about Lexapro, see this in-depth article.

Note: This article covers Lexapro’s usual dosages, which are provided by the drugmaker. But when using Lexapro, always take the dosage your doctor prescribes.

This section describes the typical Lexapro dose. The recommended dosage is the same for major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. The typical dosage range is 10 milligrams (mg) to 20 mg taken once daily.

Note: This chart highlights the basics of Lexapro’s dosage. Be sure to read on for more detail.

Usual dosageMaximum dosageFrequency
10 mg20 mgonce daily

What is Lexapro’s form?

Lexapro comes as a tablet that you swallow.

What strengths does Lexapro come in?

Lexapro comes in three strengths:

  • 5 mg
  • 10 mg
  • 20 mg

What are the usual dosages of Lexapro?

The information below describes the dosage that’s most commonly used or recommended. But be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. They’ll determine the best dosage to fit your needs.

Dosage for major depressive disorder

The recommended starting dosage of Lexapro for major depressive disorder is 10 mg once daily. Your doctor may consider increasing your dosage to 20 mg per day. But this dosage hasn’t been proven to work better in studies.

Do not stop taking Lexapro without talking with your doctor first. They’ll slowly adjust your dosage to wean you off of the drug. The lowest dose of Lexapro is 5 mg per day.

Dosage for generalized anxiety disorder

The recommended starting dosage of Lexapro for generalized anxiety disorder is also 10 mg once daily. Your doctor may consider increasing your dosage to 20 mg per day. But this dosage hasn’t been proven to work better in studies.

Do not stop taking Lexapro without talking with your doctor first. They’ll slowly adjust your dosage to wean you off of the drug. The lowest dose of Lexapro is 5 mg per day.

What’s the dosage of Lexapro for children?

Lexapro is approved to treat major depressive disorder in children ages 12 years and older. The recommended dosage is the same as for adults. (See “Dosage for major depressive disorder” above.)

Lexapro is not approved to treat generalized anxiety disorder in children.

Is Lexapro used long term?

Yes, Lexapro is usually used as a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine that it’s safe and effective for your condition, you’ll likely take it long term.

The maximum dosage of Lexapro for treating both depression and anxiety is 20 mg once daily.

Your doctor may consider prescribing the highest dose of Lexapro (20 mg once daily) for you. But this dosage has not been proven to work better in studies.

Below are answers to some commonly asked questions about Lexapro’s dosage.

If Lexapro isn’t working for my condition, can I increase my dosage from 10 mg to 15 mg or 20 mg?

If Lexapro isn’t working for you, talk with your doctor. They may be able to increase your dosage from 10 milligrams (mg) to 15 mg or 20 mg. But you should not adjust your Lexapro dosage without first speaking with them.

Is 30 mg of Lexapro considered a high dose?

The maximum recommended dosage of Lexapro is 20 mg taken once daily. Do not take more Lexapro than your doctor recommends, as this may cause you to overdose. (See “What should be done in case of overdose?” below for more information.)

Can missing doses of Lexapro cause withdrawal symptoms?

Yes. Abruptly stopping Lexapro may cause withdrawal symptoms. Do not stop taking Lexapro without talking with your doctor. (See “What if I miss a dose?” below for more information.)

Do not take more Lexapro than your doctor prescribes, as this can lead to serious side effects.

Symptoms of overdose

Symptoms caused by an overdose of Lexapro can include:

What to do in case you take too much Lexapro

Call your doctor right away if you think you’ve taken too much Lexapro. You can also call 800-222-1222 to reach the American Association of Poison Control Centers or use its online resource. But if you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 (or your local emergency number) or go to the nearest emergency room.

If you miss a dose of Lexapro, take it as soon as possible. But if it’s close to the time you normally take your next dose, do not take the missed dose. Do not take two doses to make up for a missed dose.

If you’re not sure whether you should take the missed dose, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Do not stop taking Lexapro without talking with your doctor. Suddenly stopping this drug may cause withdrawal symptoms. (These are side effects that can happen when you stop taking a drug your body has become dependent on.) If you need to stop taking Lexapro, your doctor will slowly lower your dosage over time.

If you need help remembering to take your dose of Lexapro on time, try using a medication reminder. This can include setting an alarm or downloading a reminder app on your phone.

Lexapro is a tablet that you swallow once daily. You can take Lexapro with or without food.

If you have trouble swallowing tablets, see this article for tips on how to take this form of medication.

For information on the expiration, storage, and disposal of Lexapro, see this article.

Accessible drug containers and labels

If you find it hard to read the prescription label on your medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist. Some pharmacies provide medication labels that:

  • have large print or use braille
  • feature a code you can scan with a smartphone to change the text to audio

Your doctor or pharmacist may be able to recommend pharmacies that offer these accessibility features if your current pharmacy doesn’t.

If you have trouble opening medication bottles, let your pharmacist know. They may be able to supply Lexapro in an easy-open container. They may also have tips to help make it simpler to open the drug’s container.

Suddenly stopping Lexapro may cause withdrawal symptoms. (These are side effects that can happen when you stop taking a drug your body has become dependent on.)

Examples of withdrawal symptoms reported when people abruptly stopped taking Lexapro include:

If you need to stop taking Lexapro, talk with your doctor. They’ll slowly lower your dosage over time, which can help reduce your risk of withdrawal symptoms.

The sections above describe the usual dosage provided by the drugmaker. If your doctor recommends Lexapro, they’ll prescribe the dosage that’s right for you.

Remember, you should not change your dosage of Lexapro without your doctor’s recommendation. Only take Lexapro exactly as prescribed. Talk with your doctor if you have questions or concerns about your current dosage. Here are some examples of questions you may want to ask them:

  • If Lexapro isn’t working for me, can I take a higher dosage?
  • Does my dosage of Lexapro need to change if I’m taking other drugs along with it?
  • Can I take a lower dosage of Lexapro if I’m having side effects?

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Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.