ABSTRACT
Escitalopram, a selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant which is the (S)-enantiomer of citalopram, is worldwide used for the treatment of depressive and anxious disorders in clinical practice, however, recent data have indicated that high therapeutic escitalopram doses may cause the potential of QTc prolongation effect, which is a predisposing factor for arrhythmia. Nevertheless, in March 2012, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a safety bulletin advising the daily dosage of escitalopram should be restricted to a maximum of 20 mg daily in healthy adults and 10 mg maximum in high risk patients (eg>60 years of age). In this review, we aimed to investigate what factors can affect and how escitalopram gives rise to QTc prolongation.