Side Effects:

Common Nausea, Headache, Diarrhoea, Fatigue.

Expert advice for Ecitel Tablet
It can take 2-3 weeks for Ecitel to start working. Do not stop treatment suddenly as this may cause a stomach upset, flu-like withdrawal symptoms and sleep disturbance. If your doctor asks you to stop Ecitel, you should reduce the dose slowly over 4 weeks. Avoid consuming alcohol when taking the Ecitel, as it may cause excessive drowsiness and calmness. The addiction/dependence potential of Ecitel is very less. You may develop anxiety during initiation of therapy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How does Ecitel work?
Ecitel works by increasing the levels of serotonin, a chemical messenger in the brain. This improves mood and physical symptoms in depression and relieves symptoms of panic and obsessive disorders.

Q. Can I take Ecitel with coffee?
There is usually no significant effect of taking coffee with Ecitel but a very high quantity of consumption of coffee may cause restlessness and anxiety.

Q. Is Ecitel addictive?
No. Ecitel is not addictive. Its abrupt discontinuation may cause some withdrawal symptoms. But still is not addictive as there is no drug-seeking behaviour and it has no abuse liability.

Q. Why does Ecitel cause nausea?
Ecitel increases the activity of serotonin a chemical which is also involved in the vomiting process so makes the person nauseating.

Q. Why does Ecitel make me tired?
Tiredness is usually associated with depression. Ecitel can alter the sleep quality and can make the person feel tired most of the time.

Q. Can I use Ecitel for a migraine?
Ecitel is not approved for the treatment of a migraine. It is used in the treatment of depression, anxiety disorder, phobia, post-traumatic stress disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Q. Can I use Ecitel for bipolar disorder?
Ecitel should not be used for the treatment of bipolar disorder as it can aggravate the problem. Only in few cases, it can be used that too with caution with other drugs if depression is the more persistent feature of person's bipolar illness. But the person should be very regular with drugs prescribed for the mania part also called mood stabilisers.

Q. Does Ecitel cause hair loss?
There are some case reports of hair loss with the use of Ecitel. It is very infrequent and it usually stops after the discontinuation of the drug. It can be very distressing for a person, especially for the females. So a person should tell his doctor if he is having hair loss with the use of Ecitel.

Q. Can I use Ecitel for sleep problem?
Ecitel may itself cause sleep disorders. So it is not recommended for the sleep problem.

Q. Can I use Ecitel for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)?
Ecitel can be used for the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) but there are better alternatives available, in case they don't work then Ecitel can be used. Although it is prescribed in a higher dose and for longer duration in case of OCD in comparison to depression.

Q. Which is better medication, Ecitel or sertraline?
Ecitel is the safest drug in its class. Sertraline can be used in case Ecitel doesn't work for depression. However, setraline can be preferred in case of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

Q. Which is better medication, Ecitel or citalopram?
Ecitel is more effective than citalopram for major depression. Although some studies have shown that there is no difference among two in case of effectiveness but some recent studies have shown Ecitel to be superior to citalopram for major depression.

Q. Can I take Ecitel with diphenhydramine?
It is better to avoid diphenhydramine with Ecitel. Diphenhydramine can aggravate side effects of Ecitel and can cause dizziness, confusion and difficulty in concentrating.

Q. Can I take Ecitel with aspirin?
It is usually avoided as it can increase the chances of bleeding.

Q. Can I take Ecitel with Ibuprofen?
No. Combined these two drugs may increase the chances of bleeding especially in persons already on a blood thinner. Nasal bleeding is usually the first symptom.

Q. Can I take Ecitel with methylphenidate?
It is better to avoid methylphenidate with Ecitel. Because methylphenidate can increase the blood levels of Ecitel and its effects and rarely can cause a serious condition called serotonin syndrome with symptoms like anxiety, restlessness, extreme changes in heart rate and blood pressure, blurred vision, incoordination, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea.

Q. Can Ecitel be given with lisdexamfetamine?
It is better to avoid this combined therapy of lisdexamfetamine with Ecitel, it leads to increased anxiety, restlessness and sometimes serotonin syndrome. Serotonin syndrome includes vomiting, diarrhoea, extreme changes in blood pressure and even seizure may occur. It can be life-threatening.

Q. Can I take Ecitel with alprazolam?
It is better to avoid the combination, it can lead to increased dizziness, confusion and difficulty in concentrating. Please consult your doctor before taking these two medicines together.

Q. Can I take Ecitel with clonazepam?
It is better to avoid the combination, it can lead to increased dizziness, confusion and difficulty in concentrating. Please consult your doctor before taking these two medicines together.

Q. Can Ecitel be used with hydrocodone?
It is better to avoid the combination, it can lead to increased dizziness, confusion and difficulty in concentrating. Please consult your doctor before taking these two medicines together.

Q. Can I take Ecitel with dextromethorphan?
You should not take Dextromethorphan with Ecitel. It can lead to the seotonin syndrome. Before taking any medications with Ecitel, your should consult with your doctor.

Q. Can I take Ecitel and paracetamol?
Yes. There is no known interaction between Ecitel and paracetamol.

Q. How does Ecitel differ from fluoxetine?
Ecitel and fluoxetin belongs to same class of medicine called as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI).

Q. How doses Ecitel differ from amitriptyline?
Ecitel is a newer drug belongs to class selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) while amitryptiline is an older drug belonging to class tricyclic antidepressants (TCA). Both drugs are almost equally effective for treating depression but Ecitel has much lesser side effects in comparison to amitryptiline and so preferred over amitryptiline for the treatment of depression.

Q. How does Ecitel differ from imipramine?
Ecitel is much safer than imipramine and is preferred in most of the conditions over imipramine. However, imipramine can be preferred in bed-wetting in children.

Q. What would happen if I stop taking Ecitel?
You may experience withdrawal symptoms which can be in the form flu like symptoms, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, nausea or sleep problems. These symptoms usually last for one to two weeks. Do not stop taking this medicine without consulting your doctor.

Q. When and How to stop Ecitel?
You should consult your doctor before stopping the treatment. It would depend on the number and severity of depressive episodes.The dose should be tapered slowly to prevent intense withdrawal symptoms.

Q. Is Ecitel a benzodiazepine?
No. Ecitel is not a benzodiazepine. Benzodiazepines decrease the anxiety and induce sleep. Ecitel belongs to the class of selective sertonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). It may cause insomnia and restlessness initially as the side effect which usually goes away with time.

Q. Is Ecitel a narcotic?
No. Ecitel is not a narcotic drug. Narcotics are drugs with sleep inducing properties, usual derivatives of Opium like Heroin and Morphine.