Lexapro how does it feel

Lexapro is not safe for everyone. Certain people should not take Lexapro or take with caution, including:. According to a black box warning the strictest warning for prescription drugs issued by the FDA , taking Lexapro can result in an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors, particularly in children, adolescents, and young adults.

Close monitoring by your psychiatrist or doctor is important particularly if you are an adolescent or young adult taking Lexapro. If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call Lexapro is an allosteric serotonin reuptake inhibitor, which differentiates it from other SSRIs. It is generally well-tolerated and effective.

Lexapro tablets are available in 5 milligram mg , 10 mg, and 20 mg strengths. The 10 and 20 mg tablets are scored and can be cut in half. The oral solution comes in a strength of 1 mg per milliliter mL. The usual recommended daily dosage of Lexapro is 10 mg, but you may begin at a lower dose and increased slowly if needed.

The manufacturer recommended doses of Lexapro are:. If you are experiencing the first episode of depression or anxiety, you may take Lexapro for a defined period such as between six months and one year. However, for individuals experiencing a chronic mental health condition, it may be necessary to take Lexapro for an extended period over many years. All listed dosages are according to the drug manufacturer. Check your prescription and talk to your doctor to make sure you are taking the right dose for you.

While there are not specific modified dose recommendations for Lexapro, the medication should be take with caution if you are older or have a major medical illness that affects your metabolism, such as kidney or liver disease. If this is the case, your health care provider may adjust your dose as necessary to reduce any related side effects.

Follow your doctor's instructions for taking Lexapro. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions about this medication.

It's important to recognize that you will not experience immediate relief from taking Lexapro. It can take anywhere from one to four weeks to feel better once you start taking Lexapro, and you may not experience the full benefits of the medication until you've been following a recommended treatment plan for a couple of months.

As your body adjusts to taking the medication, the side effects should gradually go away. If you notice that they are getting worse or are interfering with your quality of life, talk to your doctor about your concerns. Side effects can be minimized by carefully following the dosage directions given by your doctor and reporting any negative effects.

The most common side effects are:. Seek immediate help if you experience any of the following unusual side effects of Lexapro:. Caution should be used when taking Lexapro along with other medications. To help avoid any possible drug interactions, let your doctor know about any other prescription and over-the-counter medications you are currently taking. This may include symptoms such as gums that bleed more easily, nose bleed, or gastrointestinal bleeding.

Some cases have been life threatening. To date, there are no known problems associated with long term use of escitalopram. It is a safe and effective medication when used as directed. Escitalopram should not be taken with or within 2 weeks of taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors MAOIs. Escitalopram may increase the effects of other medications that can cause bleeding e. Sleep, energy, or appetite may show some improvement within the first 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 weeks to fully improve. Depression and certain other psychiatric disorders are themselves associated with increases in the risk of suicide. This risk may persist until significant remission occurs.

In short-term studies, antidepressants increased the risk of suicidality in children, adolescents, and young adults when compared to placebo. Short-term studies did not show an increase in the risk of suicidality with antidepressants compared to placebo in adults beyond age Adults age 65 and older taking antidepressants have a decreased risk of suicidality. Patients, their families, and caregivers should be alert to the emergence of anxiety, restlessness, irritability, aggressiveness and insomnia.

All patients being treated with antidepressants for any indication should watch for and notify their health care provider for worsening symptoms, suicidality and unusual changes in behavior, especially during the first few months of treatment.

Last Updated: January This information is being provided as a community outreach effort of the College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists. This information is for educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. This information contains a summary of important points and is not an exhaustive review of information about the medication. Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified medical professional with any questions you may have regarding medications or medical conditions.

Never delay seeking professional medical advice or disregard medical professional advice as a result of any information provided herein. The College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists disclaims any and all liability alleged as a result of the information provided herein. Search Close Menu. Sign In About Mental Illness. The medication side effects may be more severe in older adults, and your dose will need to be monitored closely by your physician. People taking Lexapro should avoid drinking alcohol and taking illicit drugs, as these substances can reduce the effectiveness of the medication and increase its toxicity.

The best way to avoid any possible drug interactions is to provide your doctor with a list of other prescription and over-the-counter medications, including supplements, you are currently taking. The following drugs have been known to interact with Lexapro and should be used with caution:. Blood thinners : Lexapro can increase the risk of bleeding when used with blood thinners such as NSAIDs, aspirin, and warfarin.

Serotonergic medications : Serotonin syndrome is a dangerous complication caused by increasing serotonin levels too much. Medications that may increase the risk of serotonin syndrome include:. You should only discontinue Lexapro under the guidance of your doctor at an appropriate time such as when symptoms have been stable for a certain period.

It's never a good idea to stop your medication abruptly. Whether you or a loved one has accidentally or intentionally overdosed on escitalopram, the symptoms will typically be mild and non-specific and worsen over time. One of the earliest signs is tachycardia, or rapid and irregular heartbeat.

Other early signs of Lexapro overdose include:. If you or a loved one show a combination of these symptoms and you suspect an overdose call or go to the emergency room. Toxic and potentially life-threatening complications that later emerge may include:. This list is not intended to be all-inclusive or to replace information provided by your doctor. A number of other side effects for both usage and withdrawal have been reported by the public.

If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor. Most of the time, particularly in the case of antidepressants, other medication options are available. Be good to yourself. Take your medications and be safe. Dealing with racing thoughts? Always feeling tired? Our guide offers strategies to help you or your loved one live better with bipolar disorder. Sign up for our newsletter and get it free. Food and Drug Administration. In some cases these can continue even after stopping the medicine.

Speak to your doctor if you are worried. But sometimes people respond better to one antidepressant than to another. Escitalopram and citalopram are both medicines used to treat depression.

Escitalopram can make you feel less hungry, so you may lose weight when you first start taking it. If you start to have problems with your weight while taking escitalopram, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. Some people find they can't concentrate properly while they're taking escitalopram. It might be best to stop driving and cycling for the first few days of treatment until you know how this medicine makes you feel. Escitalopram will not affect any type of contraception, including the combined pill or emergency contraception.

There's some evidence that escitalopram can reduce the quality of sperm, but it's not known whether this reduces male fertility. The effect should reverse once you stop taking the medicine. Speak to your doctor if you're concerned. For women, there's no firm evidence to suggest that taking escitalopram will reduce your fertility. But speak to a pharmacist or doctor if you're trying to get pregnant. They may want to review your treatment. The good effects of escitalopram may, after a while, improve your sex life as your mood lifts and you become interested in life and relationships again.

Sexual side effects usually pass after the first couple of weeks. However, very rarely, they can be long lasting and may not get better even after stopping the medicine. If these happen and are a problem for you, go back to your doctor to see if there's another treatment you can try. You can drink alcohol while taking escitalopram, but it may make you feel sleepy.

It might be best to stop drinking alcohol until you see how the medicine makes you feel. Antidepressants, including escitalopram, are just one of several approaches to treating depression or anxiety. If you're interested in any of these treatments, talk to your doctor. Cannabis can also make drowsiness worse with escitalopram, especially in people who have just started taking it. Methadone can increase the risk of side effects in people taking escitalopram.

Talk to your doctor if you think you might use recreational drugs while taking escitalopram. Page last reviewed: 14 December Next review due: 14 December Escitalopram On this page About escitalopram Key facts Who can and cannot take escitalopram How and when to take it Side effects How to cope with side effects Pregnancy and breastfeeding Cautions with other medicines Common questions. About escitalopram Escitalopram is a type of antidepressant known as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor SSRI.

Help us improve our website Can you answer a quick question about your visit today? It usually takes 4 to 6 weeks for escitalopram to work. Side effects such as feeling sick nausea and headache are common. They're usually mild and go away after a couple of weeks. If you and your doctor decide to take you off escitalopram, your doctor will probably recommend reducing your dose gradually to help prevent extra side effects. Escitalopram is also called by the brand name Cipralex.

Escitalopram can be taken by adults over the age of Check with your doctor before starting to take escitalopram if you: have had an allergic reaction to escitalopram or any other medicines in the past have epilepsy or are having electroconvulsive treatment - escitalopram may increase your risk of having a seizure have a heart problem - escitalopram can speed up or change your heartbeat have a low heart rate, plus you have had severe diarrhoea and vomiting for a long time or take tablets that make you pee more diuretics have ever taken any other medicines for depression - some rarely used antidepressants can interact with escitalopram to cause very high blood pressure even when they have been stopped for a few weeks are trying to become pregnant, already pregnant or breastfeeding have an eye problem called glaucoma - escitalopram can increase the pressure in your eye If you have diabetes , escitalopram can make it more difficult to keep your blood sugar stable.

Take escitalopram once a day. You can take it with or without food. If you have trouble sleeping, it's best to take it in the morning.