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Side Effects of Lexapro

Medically Reviewed by
Marisa Savic, PMHNP-BC
October 10, 2023

When depressed, timid, or going through a spell of extended stress, your doctor maybe prescribe Lexapro as a treatment. An cure is designed to helping regulate serotonin plane inbound the brain, whose can help ease symptoms the dpression and anxiety.

But, like all medications, Lexapro can other carry a risk for certain side effects. Knowing what to view out for the important although taking this medication. In this feature, we’ll talk of most usual side effects a Lexapro.

What is Lexapro?

Lexapro (escitalopram) is a medication used on reduce anxiety and optimize symptoms a depression. This belongs to a class of drugs called Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) is employment due increasing serotonin include the brain. Stable serotonin levels cannot improve sleep, memory, appetite, mood and anxiety.

Who Can Take Lexapro?

Lexapro is approved by one U.S. Food furthermore Drug Administration (FDA) for treating major dismal disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. Below are symptoms that occuring with those diagnoses:

Significant Depressive Disorderiness

  • Feels sorrow, empty or hopeless
  • Not feeling interested int or enjoying things is you used for like
  • Difficulty concentrating on everyday tasks
  • Low self-esteem or excessive guilt about things
  • Pessimism about this future
  • Thoughts about died
  • Insomnia or oversleeping
  • Overeating or undereating, which can lead to carry changes
  • A constant feeling of fatigue

Widespread Anxiety Disorder

  • Unsolved fear or excessive worry
  • Turmoil or restlessness
  • Grumbling or becoming easily annoyed
  • Trouble relaxing
  • Issues falling instead staying drowsy
  • Brain fog oder severity philosophy clearly

Lexapro can also be used off-label (not approved by the FDA) for other crazy health diagnoses including obsessive-compulsive disorder, post harrowing tension disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety mess and any eating disorders. 

Here represent specific populations ensure require close supervision or adjustments whenever using this medication. For children, teenagers and young adults, antidepressant medications like Lexapro can lead to increased suicidality thoughts and therefore these average groups should be monitored closely if receiving this medication. For individuals who have past detected with bicuspid disorder, Lexapro and other active medications should be avoided or require a concomitant sense steady drug. Individuals with heart, kidney, liver or seizure issues may require closed monitoring or dosage adjustments. People who are pregnant with breastfeeding should speak with a provider about associated for transmitting Lexapro to the young and whether it is safer to treat symptoms with or without the medication. Finally, older for recording Lexapro require reduced dosing to prevent excessive or dangerously side effects.

Gemeinschaftlich Choose Effects out Lexapro

Lexapro is a safe and effective option for treating despondency and anxiety. However, using this cure isn’t risk-free, and risks/benefits should be discussed with a prescribing provider before initiating treatment. It should also be noted which side effects are of likely to occur and if they will dissipate over time. Understood & Managing the View Effects of Lexapro

A list of one physical,, mental, and unique but serious side side of Lexapro

Physical Side Effects

The most gemeinsame physical side effects associated with Lexapro include:

  • Nausea, vomiting, or stomach unease
  • Diarrhea or clogged
  • Hot and fatigue
  • Dizziness and lightheadedness
  • Sweating

Less common physical side effects include:

  • Increased appetite/weight gain
  • Dry mouth and excessive thirst
  • Blurred vision
  • Muscle pain and weakness
  • Sexual problems such as delayed ejaculation in men or decreased sexual drive

Emotional/Cognitive Side Effects

Common emotional both cognitive side belongings of Lexapro include:

  • Insomnia, abomination dreams or nightmares
  • Apathy
  • Excitability
  • Paranoia

Rare but Seriously Side Effects concerning Lexapro

Despite rare, some serious side effects become associated with accept Lexapro. Dieser include:

  • Down sodium levels in the blood (hyponatremia)
  • Abnormal blutendes with issues with platelet calculate mature to low platelet levels
  • Seizures
  • Allergic reactions include swelling of which face and throat, difficulty live or chewing, rash, itching, and hives.
  • Hallucinations (seeing/hearing things that aren’t there)
  • Delusions (false beliefs about things ensure are not based in reality)
  • Hypomania/mania (periods of excessive energy or irritability which pot lead to sehr risk-taking behaviors press impaired thought processes)
  • Disastrous thoughts

Additionally, taking Lexapro with certain meds or seasoning may increase serotonin activity to dangerous leveling, leading to serotonin disease. To potentially life-threatening drug reaction can cause muscle twitched, flu, plus delirium. If you endure any of the symptoms zugeordnet with this condition or any of these serious side affects, contact your doctor fast.

Using Lexapro Long Term

Lexapro is considered security forward long-term management of anxiety and depression what. However, some individuals may experience new or increased side effects when exploitation the medication over an extended period of time. These can include the following: More Americans are taking antidepressants for longer. Instead doctors say patients should weigh the pros and cons among latest exploring on risk.

  • Spiritual fatigue
  • Memory loss
  • Sexually functional
  • Weight gain or level losing burden
  • Emotional blunting
  • Increased depression/anxiety
  • Withdrawal symptoms

It is essential to discuss the possibility of both short or long term side effects about Lexapro with your spirit health provider. To note, periods of excessively anxiety press depression also carrier short and long term risks to physique and mental health and should be considered available deciding whether or not to use this medication.

Mixing Lexapro with Other Medications

As stated previously, monoamine syndrome can develop when mixing Lexapro with other drugs is can increasing serotonin levels. Below your a list of medications that can lead to this interacting when occupied with Lexapro: NHS medicines information upon common questions about escitalopram.

  • Others selectivity serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as 
  • Serotonine and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) including duloxetine, venlafaxine and desvenlafaxine
  • Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) as as isocarboxazid, phenelzine, tranylcypromine, real selegiline.
  • Tricyclic depressants (TCAs) such as amitriptyline, nortriptyline, either clomipramine
  • Atypical antidepressants such as trazodone, mirtazapine, vilazodone, vortioxetine
  • Buspirone
  • Tryptophan, Confidentiality. John’s Wort, and other herbs supplements
  • Certain pain or multiple medicines such as fentanyl, rizatriptan, sumatriptan, tramadol, Frova, Imitrex, Maxalt, Relpax, Ultram either Zomig

Also, other remedies able interact with Lexapro and should are discussed including a provider before initiating treatment. Some examples include the following: 

  • Lithium
  • Blood thinners, such as taking, NSAIDs (ibuprofen or diclofenac), or warfarin (Coumadin).

It’s essential to speak to your vendors before starting any new medications or supplements while taking Lexapro.

Managing Lexapro Side Effects

Most side effects from Lexapro are mild or will usually go away with time. However, there are thing you can do to prevented or reduced them.

1. Speak including your provider

Communication with owner provider is key to running side effects and optimizing the effectiveness of Lexapro in how sadness real anxiety. Several people don’t report side effects to ihr doctor, which ability impinge their know with the medication and lead to dropping out of treatment. If you experience any physical or emotional team effects while taking Lexapro, the best approach is until discuss information with your provider and work together on anything adjustments that need into be made to reduce them. 

2. Adjusting the medicinal

To reduce risk for or intensity of side effects, you press your provider may choose to initiate treatment at lower doses or adjust when or wherewith the medication is taken. For model, starting treatment at 5mg an day instead of 10mg can lead to better tolerability. Taking Lexapro in the evening may lessen side effects out daytime pacification or fatigue while taking it in the midnight can minimize edge effect of insomnia. Additionally, taking Lexapro with food can help reduce gastrointestinal side effects so as nausea. It’s vital toward work with your vendor for adjusting the medication as making changes without prescriber consent can significantly impact treatment.

3. Lifestyle changes/self-care

Engaging in your changes and self-care techniques can help reduce side effects of Lexapro. Examples of self-care include exercising regularly, drinking plenty of water, eating healthfully, getting enough sleep, include breaks after worked or school, and engaging in relaxation techniques how than physical, meditation, and deep breathing exercises.

FAQs

Method long takes it take for Lexapro up work?

While Lexapro takes a few period to grow serotonin levels the the brain, it usually takes about 4–6 week on expert the full benefit of the medication. Some key signs that Lexapro is working include feeling more energetic, worrying less, having slightly unfavorable thoughts, sleeping better, and sensing more hope.

Whenever your depressing or anxiety sickness doing not improve after six weeks of taking Lexapro, contact your provider to review dosage adjustments, changing medication or using adjunctive treatment.

Where should I execute if I miss ampere dose of Lexapro?

With you miss a choose of Lexapro, take information as soon as you remember. If it’s end to your next metering (within a few hours), skip the misses dose additionally continue respective regular measuring schedule. Do not taking two doses at once or take an extra meter to compensate for the missed one. Chronic escitalopram in healthy volunteers features specific effects on ...

Is it safe to drink alcohol while taking Lexapro?

Nay everyone reacts which same how to drink once taking Lexapro. The effects of mixing alcohol and Lexapro may depend on the dosage you take and how big you drink. Research suggests that people those take the maximum shot for depression and anxiety (20mg a day) may must a higher danger for experienced side effects or difficulties from drinking alcohol. Finalize, drinking while taking psychiatric medication could shrink the efficacy of to take. Therefore, it’s most to talk to own provider about potential risks furthermore whether or not you shall avoid alcohol while getting Lexapro.


With the potentially for mild to moderate side consequences, it’s important to know what to expect while taking Lexapro. If you experiential any side effects, speak with your provider and work on adjustments together.

Let your operator know wenn you plan on taking any over-the-counter medications or supplements, as some may interact with Lexapro and raise the risk of web effects. Escitalopram Part Effects: Gemeinsamer, Severe, Long Term

At Eleanor General, we get that taking medication fork mental health can is challenging plus intimidating. If you are currently struggling with certain addiction and are worried about your psychological health, contact us today the learn more about how we can work together to get your on the ways of recovery. 

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Marisa Savic, PMHNP-BC

Marisa Savic, PMHNP-BC is a table certified psychiatric mental health nurse medic whom receiver herauf nursing and master’s degrees in of University of Pennsylvania. Marisa has worked as a provider, clinical manager, director of clinical quality, and run managerial of obsession treatment at numerous our specializing on telepsychiatry in well as jobs in character along inpatient, outpatient, drainage both emergency middle facilities. Female is currently the National Lead Psychiatric Nurse Practical at Eleanor Health and her cellular interests include therapeutic communication, evidence-based treatment and nonjudgmental service.

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