Escitalopram should help you feel calm and relaxed. It could take some time for escitalopram to have its full effect. This effect should reduce your behaviour problem. For example, it may… • help you control your temper • help you stop hurting yourself • help you stop breaking things.
Lexapro (containing the active ingredient escitalopram) is a safe and effective treatment that is commonly prescribed for anxiety. Lexapro is an SSRI, which regulates serotonin production and reuptake in the brain to improve your moods and overall mental wellbeing to reduce symptoms of anxiety.
These drugs — including Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, Celexa, and Lexapro — alter the way the body handles the “feel-good” brain chemical serotonin — a hormone responsible for regulating mood and happiness. As a result, things that once provoked strong reactions may now leave the same individual unaffected or even apathetic.
A smaller study from New Zealand involving 180 people on long-term antidepressant therapy found that 64.5% experienced emotional blunting. 7 Related side effects included sexual difficulties (71.8%), not feeling like themselves (54.4%), and a reduction in positive feelings (45.6%).
Lexapro increases serotonin levels in the brain, helping regulate mood.
The takeaway. Lexapro is an antidepressant prescription drug used to treat depression and anxiety. You may experience side effects such as fatigue, diarrhea, or headaches within the first week or two of taking Lexapro.
Lexapro has an average rating of 8.2 out of 10 from a total of 517 reviews for the treatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder. 78% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 9% reported a negative experience.
Many people describe SSRIs as “turning the volume down” on their anxious thoughts. This can also help you engage more with psychotherapy and other wellness-related activities such as mindfulness. SSRIs may also reduce the physiological symptoms of anxiety (sleep, muscle tension, headaches).
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. These include fluoxetine (aka Prozac), paroxetine (aka Paxil), sertraline (aka Zoloft), fluvoxamine (aka Luvox), citalopram (aka Celexa), and escitalopram (aka Lexapro). They tend to be the first line choice for multiple anxiety disorders and depression.
When you're benefiting from antidepressants, you should feel: A mood that is less depressed, less irritable, happier, and more content. Excitement for and pleasure in everyday activities and events. An ability to regulate your eating patterns without eating too much or too little.
In the case of SSRIs, SNRIs, and related medications, the effects of taking antidepressants when not depressed can include developing a condition known as serotonin syndrome. Symptoms of this condition include the following: Confusion. Agitation.
Common side effects of Lexapro include nausea, sexual side effects, and insomnia. For some people, these go away as your body gets used to the medication. More serious side effects of Lexapro are rare. These include suicidal thoughts or behaviors, abnormal bleeding, and serotonin syndrome.
In post-hoc analyses, escitalopram seemed to have an effect on agreeableness. Further, a trend was found for increased conscientiousness. Thus it is possible that SSRIs may have an effect on aspects of personality such as agreeableness and conscientiousness independent of the treatment effect on depression.
Official answer. Even though it takes Lexapro only a few hours to increase serotonin levels within the brain, it may take several weeks to start working. Signs that Lexapro has started working include an improvement in your sleep, energy, or appetite. In some, this may happen in as little as 1 to 2 weeks.
Does Lexapro make you feel worse at first? Due to side effects during the first few weeks of treatment, some say that Lexapro can make you feel worse at first. Side effects usually start to subside after about two weeks, so know that feeling “worse” doesn't last very long.
Each person will experience slightly different side effects, but the most common side effects are drowsiness, headache, insomnia, nausea, and vomiting. These effects may emerge during the first weeks of starting Lexapro. If the starting dose of Lexapro is too high, these side effects may be even worse.
Paroxetine—the most sedating of the SSRIs and often prescribed to assist anxious patients with sleep—produces significant declines in total sleep time, sleep efficiency, and total REM time, and increases awakenings and REM latency, and, may have the worst sleep profile of all SSRI's.
SSRIs are the most commonly prescribed class of antidepressants. This is because they're effective and well-tolerated antidepressants with little side effects. With many SSRIs available as generic products, this medication class typically costs less. SNRIs and bupropion are also common choices for similar reasons.
Benzodiazepines most commonly used to treat anxiety disorders are clonazepam (Rivotril)*, alprazolam (Xanax) and lorazepam (Ativan). Also used are bromazepam (Lectopam), oxazepam (Serax), chlordiazepoxide (once marketed as Librium), clorazepate (Tranxene) and diazepam (Valium).
If you have a form of anxiety or phobia, an antidepressant could help you feel calmer and more able to deal with other problems. It could also help you feel more able to benefit from other anxiety treatments, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).
Serotonin plays a role in many of your body's functions: Mood: Serotonin in your brain regulates your mood. It's often called your body's natural “feel good” chemical. When serotonin is at normal levels, you feel more focused, emotionally stable, happier and calmer.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
SSRIs are a type of medication people may use as a treatment for depression. People may also use SSRIs to treat mental health conditions that can cause intrusive thoughts, such as: OCD.
Lexapro is prescribed long-term, allowing it to create neuroadaptation in the CNS, brain, and body. Long-term effects of Lexapro may develop making continuing treatment untenable. Lexapro is not a cure.
While taking Lexapro for anxiety, you may experience less anxiety and panic attacks. The medication may also help improve your mood, sleep, and emotions. You may also have improved energy levels. However, like other medications, Lexapro can also have side effects, such as nausea and vomiting.