Be sure to tell your doctor about other health conditions you have and medications you take before starting Lexapro. This information can help your doctor reduce your chance of side effects. Also tell your doctor if you do have any side effects. Keep in mind that Lexapro and other drugs in its class cause many of the same side effects. Some antidepressants can have an effect on your appetite. Both Lexapro and alcohol affect brain chemistry.
So is it safe to take the two together? Learn the effects of mixing the drug with alcohol. Lexapro and Zoloft are two of the many drugs available for depression, anxiety, and other conditions. Celexa and Lexapro both treat depression.
See if these differences affect your options…. Watching a friend live with depression can be painful, but there are ways to help. Learn what to do, avoid, and how to recognize the signs of suicidal…. People who experience anhedonia have a decreased ability to feel pleasure. Learn causes, risk factors, and treatments for anhedonia. A SAD lamp can help alleviate symptoms of seasonal affective disorder.
Learn more about SAD lamps, how to use them, features to look for, and products…. Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition that causes extreme fluctuations in thinking, mood, and behavior, known as depression and mania or…. Experts say mushrooms contain a number of nutrients, including potassium and B vitamins, that can boost physical as well as mental health. Persistent depressive disorder, formerly known as dysthymia, is a form of chronic depression. Learn about its symptoms, causes, treatment, and more.
Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Mental Health. What Are the Side Effects of Lexapro? Lexapro Side effects Interactions Takeaway Introduction. What is Lexapro? Side effects of Lexapro. Interactions with other drugs. Talk to your doctor. Read this next. Lexapro and Weight Gain or Loss. Some of the common side effects of escitalopram will gradually improve as your body gets used to it. Keep taking the medicine, but talk to a doctor or pharmacist if these side effects bother you or don't go away:.
In rare cases, it's possible to have a serious allergic reaction anaphylaxis to escitalopram. It's important for you and your baby that you stay well during your pregnancy. If you become pregnant while taking escitalopram, speak to your doctor. Do not stop taking your medicine unless your doctor tells you to.
Escitalopram has been linked to a very small increased risk of problems for your unborn baby. But if your depression isn't treated during pregnancy, this can also increase the chance of problems. You may need to take escitalopram during pregnancy if you need it to remain well. Your doctor can explain the risks and the benefits, and will help you decide which treatment is best for you and your baby.
For more information about how escitalopram can affect you and your baby during pregnancy, read this leaflet on the best use of medicines in pregnancy BUMPs website. If your doctor or health visitor says your baby is healthy, escitalopram can be used during breastfeeding.
Escitalopram passes into breast milk in small amounts, and has been linked with side effects in very few breastfed babies. It's important to continue taking escitalopram to keep you well. Breastfeeding will also benefit both you and your baby. If you notice that your baby isn't feeding as well as usual, seems unusually sleepy or you have any other concerns about your baby, talk to your health visitor or doctor as soon as possible.
Some medicines and escitalopram can interfere with each other and increase the chances of you having side effects. Tell your doctor if you're taking these medicines before you start escitalopram :. For a full list, see the leaflet inside your medicine packet or check with your pharmacist. Do not take St John's wort, the herbal remedy for depression, while you're being treated with escitalopram as this will increase your risk of side effects.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal medicines, vitamins or supplements. Escitalopram is one of a group of antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs. These medicines are thought to work by increasing the levels of a mood-enhancing chemical called serotonin in the brain.
You may not notice much improvement in your symptoms for a week or two until escitalopram begins to take effect. Do not stop taking escitalopram after a week or two just because you feel it's not helping your symptoms. Antidepressants like escitalopram help to jump start your mood so you feel better. You may notice that you sleep better and get on with people more easily because you're less anxious. You will hopefully take little things that used to worry you in your stride.
Escitalopram won't change your personality or make you feel euphorically happy. It'll simply help you feel like yourself again.
Don't expect to feel better overnight though. Some people feel worse during the first few weeks of treatment before they begin to feel better. Once you're feeling better it's likely that you'll continue to take escitalopram for several more months to prevent the symptoms returning.
You'll need to discuss with your doctor the pros and cons of continuing to take escitalopram for longer than a few months. The decision will depend on the type and severity of your symptoms, whether it's a one-off problem or one that keeps coming back, how well escitalopram works for you, and whether you have had any bad side effects. If you have been feeling better for 6 months or more, your doctor may suggest coming off escitalopram.
Your doctor will probably recommend reducing your dose gradually over several weeks, or longer if you have been taking escitalopram for a long time. This is to help prevent any extra side effects you might get as a reaction to coming off the medicine. Do not stop taking escitalopram suddenly or without talking to your doctor first. A few people may get sexual side effects, such as problems getting an erection or a lower sex drive. In some cases these can continue even after stopping the medicine.
Speak to your doctor if you are worried. But sometimes people respond better to one antidepressant than to another. Escitalopram and citalopram are both medicines used to treat depression. Escitalopram can make you feel less hungry, so you may lose weight when you first start taking it.
If you start to have problems with your weight while taking escitalopram, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. Some people find they can't concentrate properly while they're taking escitalopram. It might be best to stop driving and cycling for the first few days of treatment until you know how this medicine makes you feel. Escitalopram will not affect any type of contraception, including the combined pill or emergency contraception.
There's some evidence that escitalopram can reduce the quality of sperm, but it's not known whether this reduces male fertility. The effect should reverse once you stop taking the medicine. Speak to your doctor if you're concerned. For women, there's no firm evidence to suggest that taking escitalopram will reduce your fertility.
But speak to a pharmacist or doctor if you're trying to get pregnant. It can take anywhere from one to four weeks to feel better once you start taking Lexapro, and you may not experience the full benefits of the medication until you've been following a recommended treatment plan for a couple of months. As your body adjusts to taking the medication, the side effects should gradually go away.
If you notice that they are getting worse or are interfering with your quality of life, talk to your doctor about your concerns. Side effects can be minimized by carefully following the dosage directions given by your doctor and reporting any negative effects. The most common side effects are:. Seek immediate help if you experience any of the following unusual side effects of Lexapro:.
Caution should be used when taking Lexapro along with other medications. To help avoid any possible drug interactions, let your doctor know about any other prescription and over-the-counter medications you are currently taking.
When taking Lexapro, the following serotonergic medications should not be used or only be used with significant caution and close monitoring due to the increased risk of serotonin syndrome:.
Avoid drinking alcohol when you are taking Lexapro, as it can reduce the effectiveness of the medication and also may increase its toxicity. If Lexapro is not effective for you, your doctor will work to find another medication that may help, such as another SSRI or a different class of antidepressant medication. You may also find psychotherapy helpful if that has not already been implemented.
You should only discontinue taking Lexapro under the guidance of your doctor at an appropriate time such as when symptoms have been stable for a certain period. Your doctor will help you to taper off the medication, so as to minimize any withdrawal effects.
If you stop taking it suddenly, you may notice withdrawal symptoms, including:. This overview of the use of Lexapro for mental health conditions does not cover every possible outcome of taking this medication. If you have been prescribed this medication by your doctor, be sure to follow the instructions carefully. If you have additional questions, they are best answered by a medical professional. Learn the best ways to manage stress and negativity in your life. Santarsieri D, Schwartz TL.
Antidepressant efficacy and side-effect burden: A quick guide for clinicians. Drugs Context. Food and Drug Administration. Lexapro label. Updated January National Alliance on Mental Illness. Escitalopram Lexapro. Updated December Yasui-Furukori N, Hashimoto K, et al. Characteristics of escitalopram discontinuation syndrome: a preliminary study.
Clin Neuropharmacol. Efficacy of escitalopram in the treatment of social anxiety disorder: A meta-analysis versus placebo. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. Long-term use of escitalopram and a high level of carcinoembryonic antigen. Korean J Fam Med. Escitalopram for the treatment of major depression and anxiety disorders. Expert Rev Neurother. A comparative review of escitalopram, paroxetine, and sertraline: are they all alike? Int Clin Psychopharmacol. National Library of Medicine.
0コメント