Drug name: Lexapro
Active Ingredients:
- escitalopram
Other names used:
- Cipralex®
- Escitalopram®
- Esipram®
- Seroplex®
Therapeutic effect of Lexapro: Escitalopram is the active ingredient of Lexapro and it is an anti-depressant of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) class. This medicine is known for its high serotonin reuptake inhibition and is mainly used for treating anxiety disorders and depressive disorders in adults.
Indications: Lexapro tablets are administered to treat:
- Depression
- Panic situations with or without anxiety disorder
Precautions and Restrictions: Do not use Lexapro tablets if the following conditions apply to you:
- Highly sensitive to Lexapro or its ingredients
- Personal or family history of Bipolar disorder (condition in which people go back and forth between periods of a very good or irritable mood and depression)
- Personal history of suicidal thoughts or attempts
- Personal history of heart attacks in case of problems related to the heart
- Diabetes
- Epilepsy
- Various liver disorders
- Allergic reactions to dyes, foods, and other stuff
- Children below the age of 15
- Pregnancy
- Lactation
Side effects of Lexapro: Antidepressant tablets can cause certain side effects. The below mentioned adverse reactions may or may not occur and proof of such reactions experienced by one person is no proof that these effects will occur with others as well.
Side effects that occur more often are:
- Sleep disorders
- Dysgeusia
- Female sexual dysfunction called anorgasmia
- Erectile dysfunction
- Decreased sex drive
- Inflammation of the sinuses
- Fever
- Excessive perspiration
- Weakness
- Impairment in spatial perception and stability
- Somnolence
- Insomnia
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Loss of appetite
- Urge to vomit
Some of the side effects that are rare are:
- Swelling beneath the skin, purpura, ecchymosis, Itching, rashes, nipple problems, and ischuria
- Irritability, panic disorder, depersonalization disorder, anxiety, agitation, confusion, mania, and hallucinations
- life threatening drug reaction that causes the body to have too much serotonin, motor impairment, tremors, rapid contraction and relaxation of the muscles, muscle pain, and joint pain
- Serious allergic reactions, dry mouth, vomiting and problems in vision
- Insufficient secretion of arginine vasopressin, absence of adequate sodium in the body fluids outside the cells, and sudden fall in blood pressure when the person stands up
If a person is using Lexapro tablets for a long period he or she may experience withdrawal syndrome accompanied by symptoms such as urge to vomit, headache and dizziness.
These symptoms and reactions are not a comprehensive list of side effects caused due to Lexapro tablets. For the complete list of side effects please see the information provided by the drug manufacturer or consult a doctor or a medical expert.
Interactions: Prior to taking Lexapro tablets it is best to consult a medical care provider or expert and also apprise him of the medication you are currently under, even if the medicine is a non prescribed one or herbal medicine. Lexapro may react with the following drugs:
- Beta-adrenergic blocking agents
- Medicines used to treat Arrhythmia
- Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs)
- Alcohol
- Oral anticoagulants
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
- Tricyclic antidepressants
- Atypical antipsychotics
- Hypericum perforatum derivatives
- Amino acids
- Lithium preparations
- Medicines used in the treatment of epileptic seizures
- Serotonin releasing agent (SRA)
- Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)
Additional Information: People are advised not to give Lexapro tablets to any person without proper medical prescription. Do not use this medicine in any other type of health related complication. Keep the medicine and syringes away from children, to avoid any problems.
