What is lexapro?

Lexapro is an antidepressant with a lot of the positive reviews from doctors as well as patients. This is a modern medication for the treatment of depression and has been approved by FDA. It is added to the list of the most sold antidepressants on the West market.

Lexapro contains the active ingredient Escitalopram. It is a standard serotonin reuptake inhibitor. But unlike tricyclic antidepressants which may cause dyskinesia Lexapro does not cause the symptoms of this neurologic disorder.

The spectrum of the pharmacological activity of Lexapro is broad because it increases a concentration of serotonin in the brain and the action of this neurotransmitter to the postsynaptic receptors.

Unlike many antidepressants, Lexapro almost does not bind to histamine, adrenergic, dopamine receptors, and therefore it has a high level of the pharmacological safety and less contraindications.

Lexapro is the antidepressant with mild action and without intense influence on the CNS and a fast inhibition of the symptoms of depressive and/or anxious disorder. The clinical effect of Lexapro is slowly developed within 2-4 weeks. Undoubtedly, it is not the best result but the maximal antidepressive effect is developed only 2-3 months of the treatment.

An obvious advantage of Lexapro is a prolonged action as a result of which the medicine should not be used more often and in high doses to treat depression.

Lexapro gives a good account of itself in the treatment and prevention of depression. It is also used for:

• Anxious disorders
• Panic attacks
• Phobia
• Obsessive-compulsory disorders

In what dose is Lexapro taken?

To achieve a stable antidepressive effect, Lexapro should be taken every day without missing any dose.

The Lexapro pills are taken once per day at any convenient time. In order to accelerate the uptake of the pill from the GIT, it should be taken with a full glass of water.

The standard single dose of Lexapro from which the treatment is started is 20 mg.

A pills of Lexapro 20 mg per day will effectively work for patients with antidepressive disorder and anxious and obsessive-compulsory disorder.

In case of the insufficient therapeutic effect of Lexapro 20 mg, the dose may be increased up to 40 mg of Lexapro per day.

The maximal dose of Lexapro 40 mg is taken 2 times per day (20 mg of Lexapro in the morning and evening), and for a short period. As soon as the patient will feel the improvement of the mood, have no anxiety, and fear, and dose is reduced up to 20 mg of Lexapro per day.

Possible side effects

The side effects of Lexapro appear in the first 2 weeks of the medicine use. Thentheirintensityislowered. Patients may have suicidal thoughts within these two weeks, and therefore doctors recommend to watch carefully patients in this period.

Besides the appearance of the suicidal thoughts, the side effects such as sleepiness, headache, tremor, dizziness, nervousness, low libido, poor concentration, nausea, and rapid heartbeat may occur while taking Lexapro.

The side effects of Lexapro run their course, and a medical intervention is not needed.

Precautions

• Avoid sudden termination of Lexapro. To terminate the treatment, the dose should be lowered gradually with interval of 1-2 weeks in order to avoid a withdraeal syndrome
• Lexapro is not recommended patients under 18 years and women during pregnancy and lactation
• Lexapro is not recommended to be used with tricyclic antidepressants and MAO inhibitors. The interaction of these medical products increase the risk of the side effects.