question: My father is taking escitalopram, 10 mg. for 14 months. It was just increased a week or two ago to 20 mg. Does an increase take 5 weeks to take effect just like the initial startup? He is extremely depressed. He sleeps most of the day and night and lately is missing two of 3 meals a day. He lost his wife of 65 years 15 months ago. Every day when I visit I find him slumped over in his chair, sometimes with his face in his hands. He also takes Primidone, Atenolol, Tamsulosin, Xarelto, Vit. D3-50, and maybe Furosemide though I thought that was to be temporary. He is 92 y.o. Thank you!