Lexapro in Mexico: What It's Called, What It Costs and How to Get It Legally
A practical guide for San Diego and California patients, written by a board-certified psychiatrist in Tijuana, 15 minutes from the San Ysidro border crossing.
The short answer
Lexapro (escitalopram) is sold in Mexico under the same brand name by Lundbeck and as generic escitalopram for about $6 to $17 USD per 28-tablet box, but a Mexican pharmacy legally needs a prescription from a Mexican-licensed doctor, and you can usually bring up to a 90-day personal supply back to the US.
- Brand savings: Lexapro 10 mg costs about $94 to $99 for 28 tablets in Mexico, versus roughly $475 for 30 in the US. Generic prices are similar in both countries.
- Prescription: required, but escitalopram isn't controlled in Mexico. The pharmacy doesn't keep your prescription.
- Bringing it home: keep the original box, carry the prescription, declare it to CBP and stay within 90 days.
- The visit: a 60-minute first visit with me costs $125, versus $250 to $300 for a typical US psychiatrist.
Lexapro in Mexico at a glance
- Generic name
- Escitalopram (escitalopram oxalate)
- Brands in Mexico
- Lexapro (Lundbeck México), Selective (Psicofarma), Exaprem (Productos Científicos), generics
- Strengths
- 5, 10 and 20 mg tablets, boxes of 14 or 28
- Usual dose (label)
- 10 mg once a day, up to 20 mg; your doctor sets it
- Mexican prescription
- Required, refillable, not retained (Article 226, section IV)
- US status
- Prescription only, not a controlled substance
01 · The name
What is Lexapro called in Mexico?
Lexapro is called Lexapro in Mexico too. Lundbeck México sells the original brand under the same name, and pharmacies also stock generic escitalopram and brands such as Selective and Exaprem.2
Escitalopram is an SSRI antidepressant (a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, which leaves more serotonin available between nerve cells). The FDA approves it for depression from age 12 and generalized anxiety from age 7.1 According to ClinCalc, it was the 14th most prescribed drug in the US in 2023, with about 37.1 million prescriptions.6 A 2018 Lancet review of 522 trials and 116,477 adults named it one of five antidepressants with better effectiveness and fewer dropouts.5
| Name on the box | Maker | Strengths seen |
|---|---|---|
| Lexapro | Lundbeck México (original brand) | 5, 10 and 20 mg |
| Selective | Psicofarma | 10 mg |
| Exaprem | Productos Científicos | 10 and 20 mg |
| Escitalopram (generic) | Farmacias Similares, Benavides and other chains | 10 mg |
"Escitalopram de 10 miligramos, caja de 28, por favor. Aquí está mi receta." (Escitalopram, 10 milligrams, box of 28, please. Here is my prescription.) Check the strength on the box before you pay.
02 · Price
How much does Lexapro cost in Mexico vs. the US?
Generic escitalopram costs about the same in both countries, roughly $6 to $17 USD a month. The real savings are on brand Lexapro, about $94 to $99 in Mexico versus about $475 in the US, and on the psychiatrist's fee.
| Item | In Mexico | In the US |
|---|---|---|
| Generic escitalopram 10 mg | About $6 (Similares, $112 MXN) to $17 (Benavides, $320 MXN) | About $8 to $10 with a coupon; $43 average retail |
| Selective or Exaprem 10 mg | About $66 to $68 | Not sold in the US |
| Lexapro 10 mg | About $94 to $99 ($1,773 to $1,869 MXN) | About $475 |
| Lexapro 20 mg | About $214 ($4,031 MXN) | About $496 |
| First psychiatrist visit | $125 with me | $250 to $300 typical |
| Follow-up visit | $105 with me | $100 to $200 typical |
Sources: Benavides, Farmacias del Ahorro, Costco, Similares and WeCare websites,7 Banxico,8 GoodRx,9 Drugs.com10 and GoodRx Health.11 Prices change often.
Mexican boxes hold 28 tablets, not 30. At one tablet a day, 3 boxes cover 84 days, inside the 90-day rule of thumb. A fourth box takes you to 112 days, beyond CBP's personal-use guideline.
03 · Prescriptions
Do you need a prescription for Lexapro in Mexico?
Yes. Escitalopram falls under section IV (fracción IV) of Article 226 of Mexico's General Health Law, so it needs a Mexican prescription, but it is not a controlled drug.3
- The pharmacy asks for it but doesn't keep it, and you can refill it as many times as your doctor writes.
- A US prescription isn't valid in Mexico. Article 29 of Mexico's Reglamento de Insumos para la Salud requires the prescriber's printed name, address and Mexican license number (cédula profesional).4
- Any Mexican physician with a cédula can prescribe escitalopram, including a general practitioner.4
- Some pharmacies don't ask. Buying that way skips the check for bipolar disorder and drug interactions.
04 · Bringing it back
Can you bring Lexapro from Mexico to the US?
Usually yes. Escitalopram is not a US controlled substance, so you can bring up to about a 90-day personal supply if you declare it to CBP, keep the original box and carry your prescription.1213
- Keep the original box with the name and strength printed on it.
- Carry a copy of your Mexican prescription. FDA's personal importation policy (2025) accepts "evidence that the product is for the continuation of a treatment begun in a foreign country."
- Declare it at San Ysidro or Otay Mesa as personal medication.
- Stay within 90 days: no more than 3 boxes of 28.
- Carry it yourself. Don't mail or ship it.
"A valid prescription or doctor's note is required on all medication entering the U.S."
US Customs and Border Protection, guidance for international travelers
The DEA's 50-dosage-unit limit (21 CFR 1301.26) applies only to controlled drugs such as clonazepam, not to escitalopram.14 Read my full guide to bringing medication from Mexico, and see whether a Mexican prescription works in the US.
05 · Safety
Is Lexapro from a Mexican pharmacy safe?
Lexapro bought with a prescription at an established Mexican chain is the safest way to buy it in Mexico, but no source is risk free. I found no Cofepris (Mexico's drug regulator) alert about counterfeit escitalopram as of November 1, 2026.
A UCLA-led study published in February 2023 found that 68% of 40 pharmacies in northern Mexico sold controlled drugs without a prescription, and 11 sold counterfeit pills, mostly fake opioids and "Adderall."16 The FDA warns that medicines bought abroad "may be old, poorly manufactured, improperly stored or even counterfeit."15
- Buy at established chains such as Farmacias del Ahorro, Benavides, Farmacias Guadalajara, Similares or Costco.
- Check the seal, lot number and expiration date, and keep your receipt.
- Walk away from pharmacies that sell prescription drugs without a prescription.
06 · Switching
Can you switch from US Lexapro to a Mexican brand or generic?
Yes, usually at the same dose. Lexapro, Selective, Exaprem and generic escitalopram share the same active ingredient in the same 10 and 20 mg strengths used in the US.
- Once a brand works, stick with it and tell your doctor about any new side effect.
- Never stop escitalopram suddenly. The FDA label advises tapering, because stopping abruptly can cause dizziness, irritability and electric shock sensations.1
- At 65 or older, the label recommends 10 mg a day.1
"Generic escitalopram works well for many people. What I ask is simple: once a box works, keep buying that same brand, and never let a refill gap turn into an unplanned stop."Dr. B. Ernesto Cedillo Ramírez, psychiatrist in Tijuana
If you have thoughts of harming yourself, call or text 988 in the US, or call Línea de la Vida at 800 911 2000 or 911 in Mexico. The FDA warns these thoughts can increase early in treatment in people under 25.
07 · Care with me
Can you see a psychiatrist in Tijuana for Lexapro if you live in San Diego?
Yes. A Mexican-licensed psychiatrist can evaluate you in person in Tijuana and prescribe escitalopram to fill in Mexico. That prescription can't be filled at a California pharmacy.
In my practice, the first visit is a full evaluation, not a refill stop. I review past treatments and screen for bipolar disorder before deciding whether escitalopram still fits. If you're stable, a general practitioner can renew it; for mild symptoms, psychotherapy is often the right first step.
- First visit, in person, 60 minutes, $125, in English or Spanish.
- A plan with what's sold in Mexico, brand or generic, with your budget in mind.
- Follow-up, 60 minutes, $105, in person or by video if you're physically in Mexico.
- A superbill on request (an itemized receipt with ICD-10 and CPT codes) for out-of-network reimbursement. I don't accept insurance.
Dr. B. Ernesto Cedillo Ramírez, psychiatrist in Tijuana: New City Medical Plaza, P.º del Centenario 9580, Suite 24, 25th floor, Zona Urbana Río Tijuana, 22010 Tijuana, B.C., 15 minutes from the San Ysidro border crossing. WhatsApp +52 664 484 2218. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 10:00 to 18:30; Saturday 10:00 to 15:00.
Key terms
- SSRI
- An SSRI is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, the antidepressant class of escitalopram, sertraline and fluoxetine.
- Cédula profesional
- A cédula profesional is the license number Mexico's Secretaría de Educación Pública issues to each physician.
- Section IV prescription
- A section IV prescription is a Mexican prescription the pharmacy reviews but doesn't keep, refillable as the doctor indicates.
- CBP
- CBP is US Customs and Border Protection, the agency that inspects travelers at San Ysidro, Otay Mesa and airports.
08 · FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Lexapro in Mexico
What is Lexapro called in Mexico?
Lexapro is sold in Mexico under the same name, Lexapro, by Lundbeck México. Pharmacies also carry generic escitalopram and brands such as Selective, made by Psicofarma, and Exaprem, made by Productos Científicos. Ask for escitalopram and your usual strength, usually 10 or 20 mg.
Can you buy Lexapro in Mexico without a prescription?
Legally, no. Escitalopram requires a prescription from a Mexican-licensed doctor under Article 226 of Mexico's General Health Law. It isn't controlled, so the pharmacy doesn't keep the prescription and you can refill it. A US prescription isn't valid at a Mexican pharmacy.
How much is Lexapro in Mexico?
Brand Lexapro 10 mg costs about $1,773 to $1,869 pesos, roughly $94 to $99 USD, for 28 tablets as of November 2026. Generic escitalopram 10 mg costs about $112 to $320 pesos, roughly $6 to $17 USD, for 28 tablets.
Can I bring Lexapro from Mexico to the US?
Usually yes. Escitalopram isn't a US controlled substance, so the 50-unit limit doesn't apply. Keep it in the original box, carry a copy of your prescription, declare it to CBP and bring no more than a 90-day supply, which is 3 boxes of 28.
Can a US pharmacy fill a Mexican prescription for Lexapro?
Generally not in California, where pharmacies fill prescriptions from prescribers licensed in a US state. Texas and Arizona allow pharmacies to fill a written Mexican prescription for non-controlled drugs such as escitalopram. In San Diego, fill it in Mexico or ask a US doctor to rewrite it.
Can I see a Mexican psychiatrist for Lexapro if I live in San Diego?
Yes. A Mexican-licensed psychiatrist can evaluate you in Tijuana and prescribe escitalopram to fill in Mexico. My office in Zona Río is 15 minutes from the San Ysidro border crossing. A first visit costs $125, and video follow-ups work only while you're in Mexico.
Keep reading
Related pages
Dr. B. Ernesto Cedillo Ramírez, MD
Board-certified psychiatrist in Tijuana · Zona Río
I trained in medicine and psychiatry at UNAM, with my residency at Hospital Psiquiátrico Fray Bernardino Álvarez in Mexico City, and I'm board certified by the Consejo Mexicano de Psiquiatría. I see adults from Tijuana, San Diego and California in English or Spanish.
Céd. Prof. 11206254 · Céd. Esp. 13577158. Here's how to verify them.
Sources
References
- FDA. Lexapro (escitalopram) prescribing information, October 2023. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- PLM México. Lexapro tabletas (Lundbeck México). medicamentosplm.com
- Ley General de Salud (Mexico), Article 226, last amended January 15, 2026. diputados.gob.mx
- Reglamento de Insumos para la Salud (Mexico), Articles 28 and 29. yucatan.gob.mx
- Cipriani A, et al. The Lancet 2018;391:1357-1366. doi.org; NIHR summary: evidence.nihr.ac.uk
- ClinCalc DrugStats. Escitalopram, 2023. clincalc.com
- Prices checked November 1, 2026: Similares, Benavides, Farmacias del Ahorro, Costco, WeCare.
- Banco de México. FIX rate, October 30, 2026. banxico.org.mx
- GoodRx. Escitalopram prices, November 1, 2026. goodrx.com
- Drugs.com Price Guide. Lexapro, November 1, 2026. drugs.com
- GoodRx Health. Psychiatrist cost without insurance, reviewed July 2026. goodrx.com
- FDA. Personal Importation, August 2025. fda.gov
- CBP. What international travelers should know before they go. cbp.gov
- 21 CFR § 1301.26. law.cornell.edu
- FDA. Risks of buying medicines across the border. fda.gov
- UCLA Health, February 2, 2023. Counterfeit pills sold in Mexican pharmacies. uclahealth.org
Need escitalopram managed by a psychiatrist?
Book a first visit in English or Spanish in Zona Río, 15 minutes from the San Ysidro crossing.
Educational content; it doesn't replace a medical evaluation or legal advice. Don't start, change or stop a medication without your doctor. Updated . Crisis: in Mexico, Línea de la Vida 800 911 2000 or 911; in the US, call or text 988.