Lexapro
LEXAPRO (escitalopram oxalate) is a prescription medication for the treatment of depression. It is the newest member of the family of antidepressant medications known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
LEXAPRO helps to restore the brain’s chemical balance by increasing the available supply of serotonin, a substance in the brain believed to influence mood.
More information
Tablets
Chemical Name: ESCITALOPRAM (ess-sye-TAL-oh-pram)
Common uses
Lexapro is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor used to treat depression. It may also be used to treat other conditions as determined by your doctor.
Before using
Some medicines or medical conditions may interact with gain lexapro weight. INFORM YOUR DOCTOR OR PHARMACIST of all prescription and over-the-counter medicine that you are taking. DO NOT TAKE Lexapro if you have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) (e.g., furazolidone, isocarboxazid, linezolid, moclobemide, phenelzine, procarbazine, selegiline, tranylcypromine) within 2 weeks before or after treatment with gain lexapro weight. DO NOT TAKE Lexapro if you are taking citalopram, or weight loss drugs (e.g., sibutramine, phentermine). ADDITIONAL MONITORING OF YOUR DOSE OR CONDITION may be needed if you are taking another SSRI antidepressant (e.g., fluoxetine, sertraline), nefazodone, trazodone, tramadol, venlafaxine, “triptan” migraine drugs (e.g., sumatriptan, zolmitriptan), tricyclic antidepressants (e.g., amitriptyline, desipramine, nortriptyline), carbamazepine, cimetidine, lithium, metoprolol, any herbal/natural products (e.g., melatonin, St. John’s wort, ayahuasca). Tell your doctor if you are taking any medicines that cause drowsiness such as medicines for sleep (e.g., sedatives), tranquilizers, anti-anxiety drugs (e.g., diazepam), narcotic pain relievers (e.g., codeine), psychiatric medicines (e.g., phenothiazines such as chlorpromazine), anti-seizure medicines (e.g., phenytoin), muscle relaxants, antihistamines that cause drowsiness (e.g., diphenhydramine). Inform your doctor of any other medical conditions including liver or kidney problems, seizures, heart problems, other mental/mood disorders (e.g., bipolar disorder), thyroid problems, mineral (electrolyte) problems (e.g., hyponatremia, SIADH), allergies, pregnancy, or breast-feeding. Contact your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions or concerns about using Lexapro.
Directions
Follow the directions for using Lexapro provided by your doctor. Lexapro may be taken on an empty stomach or with food. STORE Lexapro at room temperature 77 degrees F (25 degrees C). Brief storage between 59 and 86 degrees F ( 15 and 30 degrees C) is permitted. Store away from light and moisture. CONTINUE TO TAKE Lexapro even if you feel well. Do not miss any doses. IF YOU MISS A DOSE OF Lexapro, take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.
Cautions
SEVERAL WEEKS MAY PASS before Lexapro reaches its full effect. Do not stop taking gain lexapro weight without checking with your doctor. Lexapro MAY CAUSE drowsiness or dizziness. DO NOT DRIVE, OPERATE MACHINERY, OR DO ANYTHING ELSE THAT COULD BE DANGEROUS until you know how you react to lexapro medication. Using lexapro medicine alone, with other medicines, or with alcohol may lessen your ability to drive or to perform other potentially dangerous tasks. Lexapro WILL ADD TO THE EFFECTS of alcohol and other depressants. Ask your pharmacist if you have questions about which medicines are depressants. BEFORE YOU BEGIN TAKING ANY NEW MEDICINE, either prescription or over-the-counter, check with your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any medicines which contain drowsiness-causing ingredients. Ask your pharmacist about the safe use of these products. Caution should be used in the elderly since they may be more sensitive to the effects of this drug. F0R WOMEN: IF YOU PLAN ON BECOMING PREGNANT, discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of using lexapro medicine during pregnancy. Lexapro IS EXCRETED IN BREAST MILK. DO NOT BREAST-FEED while taking lexapro medicine.
Drug interactions
Drug interactions can result in unwanted side effects or prevent a medicine from doing its job. Use our drug interaction checker to find out if your medicines interact with each other. Check drug interactions
If you take too much
If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. Symptoms of overdose may include irregular heartbeat, fainting, severe dizziness or lightheadedness, or seizures.
Additional information
DO NOT SHARE Lexapro with others for whom it was not prescribed. DO NOT USE Lexapro for other health conditions. KEEP Lexapro out of the reach of children. IF USING Lexapro FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, obtain refills before your supply runs out.
Lexapro side effects:
Side effects for Lexapro
Possible side effects
SIDE EFFECTS that may occur while taking this medicine include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, upset stomach, loss of appetite, dizziness, drowsiness, trouble sleeping, or dry mouth. If they continue or are bothersome, check with your doctor. CHECK WITH YOUR DOCTOR AS SOON AS POSSIBLE if you experience increased sweating, unusual fatigue, changes in sexual ability/interest. CONTACT YOUR DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY if you experience stomach pain, vision changes, unusually fast or slow heartbeat, uncontrolled movements (tremors), chest pain, unusual or severe mental/mood changes, muscle cramps, restlessness, seizures, painful or prolonged erection, or change in amount of urine. An allergic reaction to this medicine is unlikely, but seek immediate medical attention if it occurs. Symptoms of an allergic reaction include rash, itching, swelling, severe dizziness, trouble breathing. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist.
Lexapro success stories:
Success stories for Lexapro
Finally, it works like it should. Its 4 weeks now, that I take Lexapro pills. And it was not always easy. I went through most of the known Lexapro side-effects first. Last week, after I thougt everything should be allright now, I fell into a huge anxiety-attack, triggered by a stressfull situation that made me worrying like crazy (without real reason). But the usual Depression after that, did not come. And from then on, the Lexapro pills worked greater day by day. All the Lexapro side-effects faded: the spacey feeling, the tinnitus, the dizziness, the nauseas moments…
Now I feel calm and centered. No moodswings and still all the feelings are there. I reacted in two extreme situations totally focused and without panic. Great new experience. I can be happy without being afraid, that the next problem is allready behind the corner. My spirituallity and the therapeut are also great helpers on the way. And the best: also the libido is totally back again. I just calmed down a little bit.
Lexapro drug takes a loooong time to kick in. That can be troublesome if you are on montherapy at the time, or if this is your only anti-depressant. I would estimate it took at least 3 months for my Lexapro 10mg dose to kick in, and at some point the p-doc kicked it up to 20. By 4 months I was functioning again. Including the titration onto and off of this drugs, Iwas on it for about 8-9 months. The incredible fatigue was too much too live with– fatigue is supposed to be a *symptom* of my depression, not part of the cure. Also, I gained at least 40 pounds on it. I was extremely underweight to start with, being an eating eating disorder patient as well, and the weight gain put me 20 pounds over my ideal weight. A careless nurse let me see my weight on a chart when I was applying for disability, and I knew I had to drop Lexapro–and pick up my ED again–ASAP. Lethargy is common, I think, but my major weight gain was surely connected to refeeding after emaciation, and redoing it. I would not recommend anyone steer away from Lexapro merely because of the fear of weight gain.
