Raw research findings for this medication. Mostly single studies, not curated or confirmed robust.
Escitalopram is an antidepressant of the SSRI group: it keeps more of the messenger serotonin available between nerve cells. It is the active half of citalopram, the mirror-image form that does the work. It is used for depression and generalised anxiety, and in some countries for panic disorder, social anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder. It is sold as Lexapro and Cipralex, among other names.
Escitalopram is broken down mainly by the liver enzyme CYP2C19. People with two low-function copies (poor metabolizers) have clearly higher blood levels, and people with the fast *17 version on both copies (ultrarapid metabolizers) have lower ones. CPIC and DPWG have published guidelines on CYP2C19 and escitalopram, and the US FDA lists an effect on drug levels. Studies have also looked at the transporter ABCB1, serotonin genes such as HTR2A and SLC6A4, and CYP2D6, with weaker evidence.
Clinical guidelines that name a gene for Escitalopram. They sort people into groups by the gene copies they carry.
Every published finding on gene variants and Escitalopram. Upload your DNA file to see which of these rows apply to you.
PharmGKB weighs all studies of a variant and rates how strong the evidence is, from 1A (strongest) to 4.
CYP2C19 CYP2C19*1, CYP2C19*2, CYP2C19*3, CYP2C19*17: Level 1A · replicated. Metabolism/PK: Major Depressive Disorder, Mental Disorders. 11.
HTR2A rs6311: Level 3. Toxicity: Anxiety Disorders, Major Depressive Disorder. 6.
CYP1A2 rs2069526: Level 3. Toxicity: Major Depressive Disorder. 1.
HTR2A rs9316233: Level 3. Efficacy: Depressive Disorder. 1.
Studies of how quickly the body processes this medication.
Studies of how well it worked in people carrying a variant.
Studies of how much of the drug people needed or tolerated.
Studies of side effects in people carrying a variant.
Study findings and evidence levels: PharmGKB (CC BY-SA 4.0). Guidelines: CPIC and DPWG, as bundled in PharmCAT. Most studies were done mainly in people of European ancestry.
More drugs from the same category
Not a prescribing recommendation. This page is educational information about pharmacogenomic research and clinical guidelines - it is not medical or dosing advice, and not a prediction of how any medication will work for you. Never start, stop, or change a medication or dose based on it; talk to your doctor or pharmacist, who can order clinical-grade testing if appropriate.
Content updated September 2026.
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