“Is 30mg of Lexapro daily too much for a 15 year old?”
I want to know is 30mg of Lexapro daily too much for a 15 year old?
Female
10 Answers
In pediatric patients, Lexapros initial daily dose is 5 mg. It can be increased to 10 mg as tolerated and according to response after a few weeks if no response to initial dose. In some patients with partial response to 10 mg, in the absence of side effects, dose of Lexapro can potentially be increased to 15- 20 mg. Daily dose should not be increased beyond 20 mg per day. Hope this answers your question. Dr. Sahami
Maximum FDA indicated dose for Lexapro is 20mg daily for a 15 year-old, which is the same as the maximum dose for adults. A 30mg dose may be necessary in situations such as severe anxiety; such a dose should be accompanied by an EKG for QTc interval monitoring. It is also important to assess for possible interactions with other medications the person might be taking. I would recommend seeing a child and adolescent psychiatrist (MD or DO degree) to evaluate symptoms and adjust medications, particularly in such a situation where a high dose of an SSRI medication was needed.
It's fine you can go up to 20mg daily.
FDA does not approve over 20 mg daily.
That's a little high. The maximum recommended daily dose is 20mg
Hi,
The initial dose is 10mg and the maximum dose is 20mg for major depressive disorder in children. You can consult with the prescriber about other doses and the references that he used to select that dose.
The initial dose is 10mg and the maximum dose is 20mg for major depressive disorder in children. You can consult with the prescriber about other doses and the references that he used to select that dose.
The maximum dose should be 20 mg/day for that age range. I advise you to please consult your physician regarding the Lexapro’s dose.
30 mg of Lexapro per day exceeds the FDA maximum recommended dose of 20mg per day. The maximum dose of Lexapro was decreased from 30mg to 20mg per day a few years ago due to concern about causing abnormal electrical activity in the heart (QTc prolongation). While 30mg per day is not illegal, it would be wise to have regular EKG's to ensure that the heart
function is normal.
function is normal.
Hi!
Lexapro hasn't been proven effective at the 30 mg dose. The side effect risks increase with doses above the maximum dosage range. At 10 or 20 mg, Lexapro can cause an irregular heart beat. The medical terminology is QT prolongation. There are several adverse effects of concern at this dose, with worsening depression and anxiety a common complaint I've seen in practice. I'm a consultant pharmacist that also suffered for decades with depression and anxiety. I tried many drug therapies, but found them to be more harmful than beneficial. I did cognitive behavioral therapy for a period of time in my younger years and found it extremely helpful. In my adult years, meditation and being in nature have been my best medicine. I wish good health for you and yours.
"Never discourage anyone who continually makes progress, no matter how slow" - Plato
Lauren Curnutt, PharmD
Lexapro hasn't been proven effective at the 30 mg dose. The side effect risks increase with doses above the maximum dosage range. At 10 or 20 mg, Lexapro can cause an irregular heart beat. The medical terminology is QT prolongation. There are several adverse effects of concern at this dose, with worsening depression and anxiety a common complaint I've seen in practice. I'm a consultant pharmacist that also suffered for decades with depression and anxiety. I tried many drug therapies, but found them to be more harmful than beneficial. I did cognitive behavioral therapy for a period of time in my younger years and found it extremely helpful. In my adult years, meditation and being in nature have been my best medicine. I wish good health for you and yours.
"Never discourage anyone who continually makes progress, no matter how slow" - Plato
Lauren Curnutt, PharmD
For children, the max dose is normally 20mg. However, if the physician tried the doses and tapered them up as requested and the 15-year-old did not respond well until 30mg, then it is an acceptable dose. Just watch for any negative changes in behavior and side effects. If you are uncomfortable with the dose, you can spread with the physician and have them tell you why they chose that dose to ease your concerns.
Mercedez Flanagan, Pharm.D.
Mercedez Flanagan, Pharm.D.
