Lexapro is commonly prescribed for both anxiety and depression. This is because it has positive effects on serotonin levels in the brain, which helps regulate mood.
Lexapro increases serotonin levels in the brain, helping regulate mood.
Sleep, energy, or appetite may show some improvement within the first 1-2 weeks. Improvement in these physical symptoms can be an important early signal that the medication is working. Depressed mood and lack of interest in activities may need up to 6-8 weeks to fully improve.
How Lexapro Works. Scientists aren't sure exactly how Lexapro works. One theory is that Lexapro helps balance serotonin levels in the brain, which can reduce anxiety and enhance mood. 2 Serotonin is a neurotransmitter involved in mood, sleep, and other functions.
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.
With most SSRIs—including Lexapro—you might notice your appetite, energy, and/or sleep start to improve within the first two weeks of beginning the medication. It can take 6 to 8 weeks or more, however, to improve other symptoms (like decreased interest in activities or depressed mood).
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.
When you first start taking Lexapro, it's normal for some people to experience side effects like trouble sleeping and an upset stomach. Changing when or how you take it — morning instead night, with food instead of without food — can help make a difference.
Antidepressants like escitalopram help to improve or lift your mood so you feel better. You may notice that you sleep better and get on with people more easily because you're less anxious. You will hopefully be more relaxed about things that used to worry you. Escitalopram will not change your personality.
Doctors believe that it helps stabilize mood and causes happiness and a sense of well-being. Doctors prescribe Lexapro to treat major depressive disorder (MDD) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).
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.
You may experience side effects such as fatigue, diarrhea, or headaches within the first week or two of taking Lexapro.
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.
Do not use escitalopram with buspirone (Buspar®), fentanyl (Abstral®, Duragesic®), lithium (Eskalith®, Lithobid®), tryptophan, St. John's wort, amphetamines, or some pain or migraine medicines (eg, rizatriptan, sumatriptan, tramadol, Frova®, Imitrex®, Maxalt®, Relpax®, Ultram®, Zomig®).
Most people who take antidepressants don't need to cut out caffeine completely, says Dr. Netherton. But it's important to pay attention to how much caffeine you're getting throughout the day and how it's making you feel.
The combination of Lexapro and alcohol should be avoided due to potentially dangerous side effects. Even a small amount of alcohol can lead to a large amount of unpleasant effects. Mixing these two substances may actually lead to heightened symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Lexapro may cause weight gain because it blocks the serotonin transporter, which increases levels of serotonin in the brain, but also increases appetite and decreases metabolism. Research has shown approximately 40% of people taking antidepressants such as Lexapro will gain 7% or more of their starting body weight.
Lexapro reaches peak concentration in the blood about 5 hours after taking it. However, it does not work immediately and needs around 2 weeks to reach steady and consistent concentrations in the blood. This means the timing of the daily dose is unlikely to affect how a person feels.
Many antidepressants, including Lexapro, can take around 2 to 6 weeks to start having an impact on anxiety symptoms. The time it will take for anyone to feel improvement in their symptoms will vary based on their health history, the symptoms they are experiencing, and the way the medication makes them feel.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
These are the most commonly prescribed antidepressants for people with depression. These have been tried for ADHD: Escitalopram (Lexapro)
Escitalopram is also used to treat generalized anxiety disorder (GAD; excessive worry and tension that disrupts daily life and lasts for 6 months or longer) in adults, teenagers, and children 7 years of age and older. Escitalopram is in a class of antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
This medicine may cause some people to become drowsy, have trouble with thinking or controlling body movements. Make sure you know how you react to escitalopram before you drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are not alert or well-coordinated.
Escitalopram is a kind of antidepressant known as an SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor). These work by increasing levels of a mood-enhancing chemical in your brain called serotonin. Usually you will be prescribed escitalopram to treat depression.