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Lexapro
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Important Resources for Lexapro:
Lexapro is a prescription drug used for the treatment of depression and anxiety.
Lexapro belongs to a family of anti-depressant drugs called Selective Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors (SSRI's). The closest relative to Lexapro in this family is Celexa (citalopram).
Lexapro is marketed by Forest Pharmaceuticals.
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Uses
Lexapro is specifically indicated for the treatment of:
How Lexapro is Taken
Lexapro is available in 5, 10, and 20 mg oral tablets. It is also available in a peppermint flavored 5 mg/mL oral solution.
The recommended dose of Lexapro is 10 mg once daily. An increase to a maximum dose of 20 mg per day may be started after one week.
Lexapro is administered once daily, in the morning or evening, with or without food.
How Lexapro Works
Lexapro is believed to work by inhibiting the brain cells' reuptake of serotonin, which classifies it as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI).
Blocking reuptake of serotonin by brain cells raises the levels of serotonin in the spaces between brain cells (called "synapses"). Increased serotonin in the synapses of the brain are believed to alleviate the symptoms associated with depression and anxiety.
How the Body Affects Lexapro
Peak circulating levels occur at about five hours post-dosing.
Lab studies indicate that the liver enzymes CYP3A4 and CYP2C19 are the primary enzymes involved in the metabolism of escitalopram. Escitalopram is metabolized to the metabolites S-DCT and S-didemethylcitalopram (S-DDCT).
Side Effects
The most common side effects (occurring in >2% of treated patients) observed with Lexapro use are:
- Insomnia
- Diarrhea
- Dry Mouth
- Somnolence (sleepiness)
- Dizziness
- Increased sweating
- Constipation
- Fatigue
- Indigestion
Risks and Precautions
Lexapro may produce behavioral and mood changes including thoughts of suicide.
Patients' families are advised to watch out for unusual changes in behavior such as anxiety, agitation, panic attacks, insomnia, irritability, hostility, aggressiveness, impulsivity, restlessness, hypomania, mania, worsening of depression, and suicidal thoughts.
Drug Interactions
The following drugs are likely to demonstrate drug interactions with Lexapro:
- Drugs affecting the central nervous system including alcohol
- NSAID's like aspirin
- Cimetidine
- Lithium
- Pimozide
- Celexa
- Sumatriptan
- Drugs metabolized by the liver enzyme CYP2D6
In addition to the above, a potentially fatal condition called "serotonin syndrome" may occur when Lexapro is used with other drugs affecting serotonin levels (including anti-migraine triptan drugs and antidepressant MAOIs).
Effectiveness
In major depressive disorder
In one meta-analysis of trial data, escitalopram showed greater effectiveness compared with several other SSRIs (citalopram, fluoxetine, paroxetine, sertraline and venlafaxine XR) in the treatment of major depressive disorder.[1]
In generalized anxiety disorder
One study showed long-term escitalopram treatment led to improvement of anxiety in 92% of study ubjects.[2]
References
- ↑ http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1413963
- ↑ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16420082
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