The following information is a summary.
It is not intended to replace a doctor's instructions.
How Does Lexapro Work?
Lexapro 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.
Evidence suggests an imbalance of serotonin,
a chemical messenger in the brain, is an important
factor in the development and severity of depressive
symptoms, such as sad mood, fatigue, lack of pleasure,
etc.
Lexapro appears to work by increasing the available
supply of serotonin. Here's how:
- The chemical messenger serotonin is released
from one nerve cell and passed to the next.
- In depression, too much serotonin is reabsorbed
by the first nerve cell. This decreases the amount
of serotonin available for the next nerve cell.
- Lexapro blocks the reabsorption of serotonin
by the first nerve cell. This increases the amount
of serotonin available for the next nerve cell.
- By correcting the imbalance of the supply of
serotonin, LEXAPRO improves symptoms of depression.
Because LEXAPRO appears to relieve depression
by increasing serotonin levels with minimal effect
on many of the other chemicals in the brain, it
may cause relatively few and mild side effects,
which generally tend to go away with continued
treatment.
Frequently Asked
Questions about LEXAPRO (escitalopram oxalate)
and depression
Why was I prescribed
LEXAPRO?
LEXAPRO is a prescription medication for the treatment
of depression. Just like diabetes, heart disease,
or asthma, depression is a real medical condition.
It is believed to be caused by an imbalance of
certain chemicals in the brain that affect mood.
Symptoms vary and may include persistent sad mood,
fatigue, or lack of pleasure. The good news is
that LEXAPRO is an effective, well-tolerated therapy
that can help improve symptoms of depression.
Won't depression
just go away on its own?
No. Everyone gets sad sometimes—a brief "blue
mood," disappointments, grief after losing
a loved one. Depression, though, is different.
You can't just "snap out of it"—no more
than you could snap out of a case of diabetes.
Depression is a disease that requires medical
attention and treatment. Otherwise, if left untreated,
depression can last months or, in some cases,
years. In order to help you get better, you need
treatment, which is why your doctor or other healthcare
professional prescribed LEXAPRO.
What is LEXAPRO?
LEXAPRO is an antidepressant that is the newest
member of the family of medications known as selective
serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). LEXAPRO
was developed by isolating a part of the CELEXATM
(citalopram HBr) molecule, known as an isomer.
As a result, LEXAPRO is able to provide effective
and well-tolerated therapy for depressed patients.
How does LEXAPRO
improve depression?
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.
When will I start
feeling better?
In clinical studies, many patients treated with
LEXAPRO began to feel improvement in their depression
beginning in 1 or 2 weeks, although full antidepressant
effect may take 4 to 6 weeks. You should follow
up with your doctor or other healthcare professional
and report your progress.
Can I stop taking
LEXAPRO once I feel better?
No, you should take your medication as long as
your doctor or other healthcare professional advises,
even if you start feeling better, because otherwise
your depression could return or worsen. Your doctor
or other healthcare professional may ask you to
keep taking LEXAPRO even if you are feeling better,
to help keep your depression from coming back.
Are there side
effects with LEXAPRO?
LEXAPRO is well tolerated by most people. The
most commonly reported side effects of LEXAPRO
are nausea, insomnia, problems with ejaculation,
somnolence, increased sweating, and fatigue. Most
of the side effects experienced by patients taking
LEXAPRO are mild to moderate and go away with
continued treatment, and usually do not cause
patients to stop taking LEXAPRO.
Does LEXAPRO cause
weight gain?
People treated with LEXAPRO experienced no clinically
important weight change as a result of therapy.
If you have concerns about any other side effects,
you should talk with your doctor or other healthcare
professional.
How and when should
I take LEXAPRO?
LEXAPRO should be taken once every day. It may
be taken with or without food, in the morning
or evening. Also remember to fill prescriptions
ahead of time to avoid missing a dose. To get
the best results, it is important to follow all
of your healthcare professional's instructions
about how and when you should take LEXAPRO.
Can I take LEXAPRO
with other medications?
LEXAPRO can be taken with most other medications
except another family of antidepressants called
monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). LEXAPRO
and MAOIs should not be taken together or within
14 days of each other. As with other SSRIs, caution
is indicated in taking LEXAPRO with tricyclic
antidepressants (TCAs). Before you begin taking
LEXAPRO, make sure to tell your doctor or other
healthcare professional if you are taking any
other medications, including over-the-counter
medications, herbal remedies, diet supplements,
etc.
What else can I
do for my depression in addition to taking LEXAPRO?
When taking LEXAPRO, be sure to keep follow-up
appointments with your doctor or other healthcare
professional. He or she needs to keep track of
how you are doing as you make progress toward
recovery. In addition to taking a medication such
as LEXAPRO, you may also want to participate in
psychotherapy or “talk therapy.” These counseling
sessions can provide you with valuable support
that can help you better understand how depression
affects you and ways you can cope with the illness.
While your doctor or other healthcare professional
should be your main source of support in depression
treatment, talking with a close friend or family
member can sometimes be very helpful.
What if I have
more questions about LEXAPRO?
Your doctor or other healthcare professional should
be able to answer any additional questions you
may have about LEXAPRO and your depression treatment.
Will LEXAPRO affect
my sex drive?
Although changes in sexual desire, sexual performance,
and sexual satisfaction may occur while a person
experiences a depression episode, they may also
be a consequence of treatment with SSRI therapies.
Reliable estimates of changes in sexual behavior
related to medication are difficult to obtain,
because patients and physicians are often reluctant
to discuss them. In clinical trials, a low percentage
of patients taking LEXAPRO have reported sexual
side effects, primarily ejaculatory delay in men.
If you have questions about sexual dysfunction,
speak with your doctor or other healthcare professional.
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