How Does Lexapro work?
Lexapro Escitalopram is chemically close to Celexa Citalopram. The medication is an oral drug that it is in a class of medicines known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). This class also includes Paxil Paroxetine, Prozac Fluoxetine, and Zoloft Sertraline. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors work by influencing neurotransmitters in the human brain. Neurotransmitters are the chemical messengers that the nerves utilize in communicating with one another. They are made and discharged by nerves and then journey to other nerves where they bind to the nerve receptors. There are many specialists who believe that neurotransmitters imbalance is the major causative factor for depression. Lexapro hinders the reuptake of serotonin which leads to the production of more serotonin in the brain to bind to the receptors.
Lexapro Escitalopram is usually prescribed for the treatment of general anxiety disorder, and depression. Drugs in the SSRIs class are also used for the treatment of panic disorder and obsessive compulsive disorders. It is important to mention that Lexapro has not been approved for the treatment of these disorders.
Recommended Dosage of Lexapro Escitalopram
Lexapro is available in a tablet form and it comes in doses of 5mg, 10mg, and 20mg. There is also the oral solution which comes in 5mg/ml. Escitalopram should be kept under room temperature. It is important to mention that this medication is a prescription drug available online at meds4sure and for patients who are looking to https://www.meds4sure.com/buy-lexapro-escitalopram-online.html and save some money, they can do so at low prices in a generic form.
Lexapro is usually started at a dosage of 10mg per day to be taken in the morning or evening. This dose is usually prescribed for the treatment of depression in adolescents and adults. Depending on the response of the patient, the dosage can be increased to 20mg per day after a period of three weeks. It is essential that you know that benefit of the medication might not be felt until about four weeks of taking this drug. In some cases, a dose of 20mg per day might not be very different in effectiveness compared to 10mg per day for treating depression. For the treatment of anxiety disorder, the recommended dosage is usually given at 10mg per day. Lexapro Escitalopram can be used with or without food.
Drug Interaction with Lexapro Escitalopram
Lexapro, as well as all other SSRIs drugs, should not be used with medicines in the monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAO) class of antidepressants. The drugs in this class include Parnate Tranylcypromine, Marplan Isocarboxazid, Matulane Procarbazine, Nardil Phenelzine, and Eldepryl Selegiline. It should also not be combined with other medications that inhibit monoamine oxidase like intravenous methylene blue, and Zyvox Linezolid. Combining these medicines may lead to high blood pressure, muscle rigidity, confusion, tremor, and high fevers. If you are planning to take a MAO inhibitor, it is recommended that you wait for at least 14 days after completing your course of Lexapro. In the same way, you should wait for a minimum of 14 days after completing a course of MAO inhibitors before your start using Escitalopram.
Using SSRIs medications can increase the risk of developing gastro-intestinal bleeding when they are taken with aspirin, Warfarin, non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs, and other drugs that can cause bleeding. Lexapro Escitalopram can also interact with other drugs that can increase serotonin which include Lithium, Meperidine, Triptans, St. John’s Wort, and Tramadol.
Side Effects of Lexapro Escitalopram
There are some common side effects that are associated with Lexapro. It is important that you remember that your physician has prescribed this medication for you because they believed that the health benefits far outweigh the side effects. However, you should contact your doctor if you noticed some serious side effects. Some of the common adverse reactions you can experience when taking this medicine include blurred vision, drowsiness, diarrhea, restlessness, fever, dry mouth, headache, frequent urination, difficult sleeping, nausea, increased sweating, indigestion, decrease in sexual desire or ability, increase/decrease appetite, weight changes, and taste alterations.
It is important to mention that Escitalopram, just like other antidepressant drugs can also increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviour in adolescents and children in short term surveys. Before commencing the treatment with Lexapro in a child or young people, it is important that the risk and the clinical need are balanced to see which outweighs the other. However, there have been no studies that indicate an increase in the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviour in people above the age of 24 years. It is important that individuals taking the medication should be closely monitored by their physicians during the course of the treatment. Other possible side effects include pain in shoulder or neck, and influenza-like symptoms.
It is very critical that you call your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following serious adverse effects when taking Lexapro: abnormal bleeding, serotonin syndrome, manic episodes, seizures, high fever, suicidal thoughts and behaviour, low sodium, muscle rigidity, slurred speech, and glaucoma. Many patients have reported experiencing withdrawal symptoms after stopping the medication. These symptoms include dizziness, poor mood, vivid dreams, tingling, irritability, or tiredness. It is therefore important that you do not stop your treatment without the consent of your doctor. In most cases, your physician will gradually reduce your dosage of the drug instead of sudden stoppage.
You need to inform your doctor if you are pregnant or are planning to get pregnant while taking the medication. You should also let him/her know if you are breastfeeding. This is because the safety of Lexapro Escitalopram during breastfeeding and pregnancy has not been ascertained. The medication should not be administered during pregnancy except if the health care provider believes that the health benefits greatly outweigh the possible hazards to the growing foetus.
Conclusion
Lexapro Escitalopram is a drug that is used for the treatment of general anxiety disorder and depression. The medication is in a class of drugs known as SSRIs. There are some side effects that come with the usage of this medicine. However, there are some patients who do not experience any of the aforementioned side effects while taking this drug.
