Lexapro (Escitalopram)

Lexapro (Escitalopram) Medication Information:

What Is Lexapro?

Lexapro is a prescription drug used to treat people with depression and anxiety. It belongs to a class of antidepressants called a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). It contains the active ingredient escitalopram which works by increasing levels of the chemical serotonin in the brain. Serotonin improves mood, and feelings of well-being and reduces nervousness, depression, and anxiety.

Uses and Benefits of Lexapro:

Lexapro is approved to treat the following mental and mood disorders:

• Major depressive disorder: It is characterized by symptoms such as feeling sad, worthless, and hopeless, loss of interest in activities, low energy, trouble concentrating, nervousness, and suicidal thoughts.
• Generalized anxiety disorder: It is characterized by symptoms including restlessness, low energy, difficulty concentrating, irritability, and difficulty falling asleep.
• Lexapro reduces the symptoms of anxiety in adults and major depressive disorder in adults and adolescents 12 years of age and older.

Side Effects of Lexapro:

Patients taking Lexapro may experience some common side effects, including:

• Drowsiness, dizziness, and sleep problems.
• Nausea
• Upset stomach, gas, constipation, or diarrhea and heartburn.
• Dry mouth.
• Ringing in the ears.
• Decreased sex drive, or difficulty having an orgasm.

In rare cases, Lexapro may cause serious side effects, including:

• Fast heartbeat, dizziness, hallucinations, and loss of coordination.
• Severe nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, bloody or black stool.
• Serotonin syndrome with symptoms such as seizures, fainting, twitching muscles, fever, and confusion.
• Angle-closure glaucoma with symptoms such as eye pain, vision changes, swelling, or redness around the eye.
• Bleeding from nose and gums.
• Prolonged or painful erection that lasts more than 4 hours.
• Severe allergic reactions such as rash, swelling of the face, tongue, or throat, dizziness, and trouble breathing.

If you notice these symptoms, stop taking the drug and talk to your doctor immediately.

How to take Lexapro?

Lexapro tablets are available in three different strengths: 5mg, 10mg, and 20mg. The tablets are usually taken orally once a day with or without food as directed by your doctor. Lexapro also comes in liquid form with a strength of 1mg per milliliter. If you are taking the liquid form of the medicine, carefully measure the dose using a special measuring dosing spoon. Do not use a household spoon.

If you miss a dose of Lexapro, take the medicine as soon as possible. But if it is the time of your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the next dose at the usual time.

Lexapro Drug Interactions:

Lexapro may interact with other drugs and affect the working of the medications or increase the risk for harmful side effects.

Before starting a new medication, tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking including:

• St. John's wort, tryptophan, and antidepressants such as fluoxetine, paroxetine, and duloxetine may increase the risk of serotonin syndrome.
• Aspirin, warfarin, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen and naproxen may increase the risk of bleeding.
• MAO inhibitors such as methylene blue, and moclobemide.
• Medications containing citalopram.
• Antihistamines, anti-anxiety drugs, sleeping pills, muscle relaxants, and opioid painkillers.

Safety Information:

• Do not take Lexapro if you are allergic to any of its ingredients.
• Before starting the medication, tell your doctor if you have had angle-closure glaucoma, heart disease, bleeding disorder, bipolar disorder, liver disease, low sodium in the blood, and suicidal behaviors.
• Caution is advised in administering liquid Lexapro to patients with diabetes, and phenylketonuria.
• Talk to your doctor about the safety of Lexapro if you are pregnant or a nursing woman.
• Do not take MAOI for two weeks before and after treatment with Lexapro.
• Do not consume alcohol while taking Lexapro.

References:

• https://www.rxlist.com/lexapro-side-effects-drug-center.htm#consumer
• https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-63990/lexapro-oral/details
• https://www.nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/Treatments/Mental-Health-Medications/Types-of-Medication/Escitalopram-(Lexapro)