Lexapro
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Millions of people all over the world suffer from depression. Those who take help of a doctor may not always get desired relief. This is because the different drugs used in the treatment of depression, affect various people in different degrees. Sometimes the same drug may work well for one person but not for another. Then there is the problem of side effects. Anti-depressant medication is known to cause several side effects. In such a scenario, Escitalopram has come as a boon to those millions of people crippled by depression. It is available under the brand name Lexapro.
Escitalopram was developed by the laboratories of Forest and Lundbeck. They started developing the drug in 1997, and submitted an application for the same to the FDA in 2001. It was approved by FDA in August 2002. New drugs generally take a much longer time to traverse the distance, between their development and release in the market. Lexapro did it so fast because its pharmacology is similar to citalopram, an existing anti-depressant, which the Forest and Lundbeck laboratories were familiar with. This is one anti-depressant that has been making giant strides since it was released in the market. It is currently one of the most highly effective anti-depressants in the market. Patients who have been administered Lexapro have reported significant improvement in relatively time. This has been further proved by a study, where patients of depression were given a small amount that is 10 mg of Lexapro every day. At the end of the study it was reported that the subjects got remarkable relief from their symptoms and that too without suffering from any significant side-effects. Though Lexapro is a powerful drug, it is generally well tolerated by most people. All this has made it one of the fastest selling anti-depressants.
Escitalopram belongs to a category of anti-depressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs. Clinical depression results from an imbalance of certain chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters, Escitalopram works by restoring the required levels of neurotransmitters, and this is turn leads to the increased production of serotonin, which has a positive affect on the mood. Typically Lexapro is used in treating patients of major depression and anxiety disorders.
People who take Lexapro need to be very careful about not taking it with a class of drugs known as Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor or MAOI. Examples of MAOI are:
- Nardil - Phenelzine
- Eldepryl/ Emsam - Selegiline
- Marplan - Isocarboxazid
- Parnate - Tranylcypromine
- Azilect - Rasagiline
Patients who are taking any of the above drugs are advised to start taking Lexapro at least two weeks after stopping the MAOI. Similarly those who are on Lexapro and have to start on MAOIs, should stop Escitalopram and wait for 2 weeks before beginning with an MAOI. This is because these two drugs interact with each other to produce very serious complications which could turn fatal as well.
When a patient begins a course of Lexapro, he/she should regularly visit the doctor who has prescribed the medicine, regularly for the beginning twelve weeks. This is because patients starting on SSRIs may sometimes pass through a phase, when there symptoms worsen. They may suffer from any of the following-
- Panic attacks
- Anxiety
- Mood swings
- Behavioral changes
- Irritability/ Hostility
- Restlessness/ Hyperactivity
- Sleep disturbance
A medical specialist would be able to positively guide the patient who has been suffering from the above symptoms, by adjusting the dose of the medicine till the patient is comfortable with it. SSRIs have the potential to cause serious lung problems in newborn babies. This is why pregnant or breastfeeding women, who are on a course of Lexapro, should discuss the matter with their doctor. Furthermore the drug should not be taken by anyone less than 18 years of age, without consulting a doctor.
It generally takes about 4 weeks or more, for Lexapro to start working. Patients are advised to take it exactly as it was prescribed by their doctor. They should try to take their dose at the same time everyday. Moreover, they should never stop taking the medicine without being advised by their doctor to do so. Many patients of depression stop taking their medicines, once they have been in a satisfactory state of mind for quite some time. But this is a mistake, as depression is a condition that is prone to relapsing. Those who stop their medication suddenly, suffer from a number of withdrawal symptoms. These may include-
- Dizziness
- Brain Shivers or Brain Zaps
- Irritability
Though it is a very safe and easily tolerated drug, Lexapro may show some side-effects in certain patients. These may be:-
- Gastro-intestinal distress
- Drowsiness
- Nausea
- Problems in sexual behavior
- Weight change
- Dry mouth
- A ringing sound in the ears
Apart from MAOIs, there are other drugs that may react unfavorably with Lexapro. Drugs that are taken for fever, pain, swelling or arthritis, like ibuprofen, aspirin, diclofenac, nabumetone, naproxen, indomethacin, etodolac, piroxicam etc. may cause the patient to develop a tendency to easily bleed or bruise. Though this is not a side effect that should cause any worry, patients are advised to tell their doctor about all over the counter drugs they use frequently, including herbal products, vitamins and minerals. More examples of such drugs, which the doctor should know about are:
- Other antidepressants like imipramine, citalopram, paroxetine, amitriptyline, flouxetine, nortriptyline, fluvoxamine, sertraline, almotriptan, rizatriptan and others.
- Any blood thinner
- Lithium
- Cimetidine
- Carbamazepine
The doctor may not prescribe Lexapro if you are using any other anti-depressant. He may have to carry out some special tests on you to zero in on the correct dosage else the medicine may not work desirably.