Lexapro Escitalopram is an oral medication used to treat anxiety in adults and major depressive disorder in young adults under 25 years old. Escitalopram is a second generation antidepressant drug, and it's more effective than its predecessor Citalopram. It belongs to a group of antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), which restores the serotonin levels in the brain. Therefore, it's effective against major depressive disorder, social anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

It also improves the general feeling of well-being and reduces nervousness. Although, this medication has been associated with the increase in suicide rates in adolescents, children, and young adults. For this reason, Lexapro Generic is only administered to children and young adults when the clinical benefits are higher than the risks.

Like most SSRIs, Lexapro Escitalopram is used for reducing the effects of pre-menstrual syndrome in women, especially in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. There's not enough information to test the effects of this medicine on the seasonal affective disorder. This medication has been proven to affect sexual functions, creating side effects like erectile dysfunction, reduced libido, anorgasmia, and delayed ejaculation. Lastly, prolonged doses can cause symptoms of addiction, and sudden withdrawal can lead to severe side effects.

Precautions

You should always consult your doctor before taking any medication, especially SSRI drugs like Lexapro Generic. Due to the sensitivity of the functions of these medications, it's best to always update your physician about your medical history and current medications. Lexapro Escitalopram has a black box warning from the FDA (Food and Drug Administration). A black box warning notifies patients and doctors of the dangerous effects of the drug. Like other antidepressants, Lexapro increases the risk of suicide when it's used to cure depression. This effect is pronounced in adolescents and young adults when the doses are changed or discontinued. So, families and caregivers should take note of any sudden change in feelings, behavior, or thoughts in patients. There's also a high possibility of serotonin syndrome in users. This occurs when there's a dangerously high concentration of serotonin in the human brain. Serotonin syndrome leads to side effects like agitation, irritability, hallucinations, confusion, rigid muscles, tremors, and seizures.

Sudden withdrawal of Lexapro Escitalopram from the body system, leads to symptoms like agitation, irritability, anxiety, feeling restless, high or low mood, changes in sleep habits, headache, dizziness, sweating, nausea, shaking, electric shock-like sensations, and confusion. Furthermore, this drug is also associated with weight gain. It leads to retention of body fluids. That is why your doctor may recommend physical activities while on this medication. Lastly, Lexapro Generic can cross into the uterus and affect the health of the unborn child. Pregnant women should practice caution when using this medication.

Instructions on Taking

As mentioned earlier, you should consult your doctor before using this drug. Lexapro comes with serious side effects if the instructions are not followed by the detail. Firstly, do not take this medication if you are allergic to drugs containing Citalopram, Escitalopram, or any of the ingredients listed in the manufacturer's instruction. Symptoms of allergies to Lexapro include sneezing, shortness of breath, rashes, and hives, swelling of the legs, face, tongue, and lips. Furthermore, do not take this drug with Pimozide, and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), such as Moclobemide, Phenelzine, and Tranylcypromine.

In fact, one day should elapse after you have finished taking MAOIs before you start taking Lexapro Escitalopram. You need to wait for 14 days after taking this drug before you begin taking any MAOIs. Taking Lexapro with these inhibitors can lead to severe convulsions and extremely high blood pressure. Before you use this mediicne, tell your doctor if you have any allergy to foods or preservatives Studies also show a likely effect of Lexapro Generic in reducing sperm quantity.

Dosage to Take

The efficiency of a drug is dependent on the type of dosage. Lexapro Escitalopram is sold either in the form of oral tablets in strengths of 5mg, 10mg, and 20mg, or oral suspension in strengths of 5mg/5mL. The recommended dose for this drug is 10mg. Although, it can be increased by your doctor to a daily dosage of 20mg. For major depressive disorder, a starting dose of 10mg should be administered daily. Although the dose can be increased to 20mg. Furthermore, acute episodes of requires several months of sustained pharmacological therapy. Patients, who used Lexapro Generic for a period of 8 weeks, demonstrated a benefit of such maintenance treatment. The drug should be used with caution in elderly people with renal impairment. A starting dose of 10mg is recommended for elderly people with renal impairment.

Side Effects of Lexapro Escitalopram

Lexapro oral tablets may cause drowsiness or other side effects, such as painful urination, increased thirst, sleepiness, an agitation or abnormal increase in muscle movement, sweating, shaking, unexpected nosebleeds, dizziness, heavy menstrual periods, and anxiousness. It may also cause possible stunted growth and weight change, constipation, weakness, lack of hunger, dry mouth, nausea, sexual problems, trouble sleeping, infection, and yawn.

Seek immediate medical attention if you experience severe side effects like the following:

• Allergic reactions with symptoms, such as swelling of tongue, eyes, lips, and other parts of the body, rash, welts, hives, and difficulty breathing;
• Suicidal thoughts;
• Convulsions or seizures;
• Low levels of sodium in the body causes the following symptoms: a headache, difficulty concentrating, unsteadiness, confusion;
• Weakness, thinking or memory problems, seizures;
• Serotonin syndrome includes the following symptoms: hallucinations, coordination problems, racing heartbeat, sweating or fever, muscle rigidity, and low blood or high blood pressure.

Interaction with Other Drugs

Lexapro oral tablets interact with other drugs, and it's important always to update your physician about your medical history. This medicine can thin your blood. Therefore, using this drug with blood thinners increases your chances of bleeding. Examples of such drugs are Warfarin, Ibuprofen, Meloxicam, Indomethacin, Keto Rola. Migraine drugs like Almotriptan have similar effects to Lexapro. Therefore, combining both medications can increase the severity of the side effects. Drugs used to reduce stomach acids can increase the side effects of Lexapro Escitalopram in the body.