• young woman sitting on the floor with hands to face
    depression
  • Are you on Lexapro?
  • Do you have nausea, dizziness, or insomnia?
  • This article will look at long term side effects caused by Lexapro.

What is Lexapro?

Lexapro belongs to a class of drugs known as Serotonin reuptake Inhibitors, SSRIs for short. The generic name is Escitalopram.

What is it used for?

Lexapro is a prescription medicine used to treat the symptoms of major depressive disorder and  generalized anxiety disorder. It is used off-label for a variety of conditions such as binge eating disorder, body dysmorphic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, premenstrual disorder, vasomotor symptoms associated with menopause.

 How does Lexapro work?

 It works by increasing the amount of the chemical Serotonin in your brain. Having more Serotonin helps decrease the symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Serotonin is a key neurotransmitter that stabilizes our mood, feelings of well-being, and happiness. It enables brain cells and other nervous system cells to communicate with each other. Serotonin in this way impacts your entire body.

 Lexapro dosing:

  • Lexapro comes in the following form as tablets or a solution:
  • Tablets are 5,10mg and 20mg and the solution is 5mg per 5ml.

Lexapro warning:

Antidepressants increase the risk of suicidal thinking and behavior (suicidality) in children, adolescents, and young adults. This was seen in short-term studies when antidepressants were compared to placebo for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) and other psychiatric disorders.

All drugs may cause side effects. The goal of this article is to educate you, if you are a on drug, how it works and what you might expect in terms of common side effects. There will be always some people who have no or only mild side effects. If you do have side effects, call your heath care provider ASAP to get advice accordingly.Do not STOP your medication without talking to your health care provider.

 

Most common side effects:

  • GI side effects such as loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, constipation
  • Weakness and drowsiness
  • Dizziness
  • Sweating
  • Insomnia
  • Dry mouth
  • Decreased sexual drive and impotence
  • Weight changes
  • Yawning
  • Bruising & bleeding

If you have the following side effects call your Doctor right away:

  • Eye symptoms such as : blurred vision,tunnel vision, eye pain  swelling, or seeing halos around lights. This is because Lexapro can affect the muscles of your eye.
  • Brain symptoms: increased suicidal thoughts, racing thoughts, unusual risk-taking behavior, feelings of extreme happiness or sadness. This is because Lexapro is affecting chemical Serotonin in your brain.
  • Low Sodium symptoms: severe weakness, confusion, feeling unsteady, falls, headache. This is because Lexapro affects a hormone called ADH (anti diuretic hormone).
  • Heart symptoms: Fast and irregular heartbeat. This could be because Lexapro can affect your heart rhythm and cause a condition called QT prolongation
  • Severe nervous system symptoms: high fever, muscle twitching, muscle stiffness, fast heart rate and palpitations, sweating, hallucinations

 

Have a good day and THINK YOUR HEALTH.See the complete video here.

 

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