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How long does it take for lexapro to work?
Topic: How long does it take for lexapro to work?
Because of its low side effects and high effectiveness, Lexapro is a popular antidepressant. However, you might wonder how long it takes for Lexapro in your treatment of depression and anxiety disorders.
What’s Lexapro?
Lexapro, a prescription brand medication, is also available under the generic name Escitalopram. This medication is part of a class of antidepressant medications called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). The first approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration was in 1986. Lexapro was approved in 2002. Other SSRIs that are commonly used include citalopram, escitalopram oxalate(Cipralex), sertraline oxalate [Zoloft], and fluoxetine (Prozac).
Lexapro is used to treat major depressive disorder (MDD) and generalized anxiety disorder in adults. The second antidepressant approved in the United States for treating MDD in adolescents aged 12-17 years.
What does Lexapro do?
By altering the brain’s chemistry, SSRIs such as Lexapro can help with anxiety and depression. Some medications prevent the reabsorption of serotonin (a neurotransmitter that transmits messages between brain cells) from being absorbed. The medication blocks the reabsorption of serotonin, which helps the brain cells receive messages faster by increasing the levels.
Although researchers don’t know how this affects depression and anxiety symptoms, it is quite common for Lexapro users to feel a lift in mood, regain interest and see their depression symptoms diminish.
How long does it take for lexapro to work?
How long does Lexapro take to work?
Lexapro works in the same way as other drugs of its class and affects the brain’s chemistry. It increases neurotransmitters, including serotonin. However, Lexapro is slower than other medications because it takes a long time to work.
Lexapro is not expected to work immediately for patients who use it to treat anxiety and depression. Patients should not expect to see a significant improvement in their symptoms immediately.
Lexapro usually improves the physical symptoms of depression first. You might notice an improvement in your sleep patterns, energy, and appetite after one to two weeks. This is a sign that the medication works, but it is unlikely to notice any significant changes in your mood or emotional symptoms until you have been using Lexapro for at least four to six weeks.
Patients who take Lexapro for anxiety will likely experience the most rapid reduction of symptoms, as many symptoms are physical. However, it may take patients who use the medication for depression longer to experience improvements in symptoms such as depressed mood or a loss of interest in certain activities.
What are the most common side effects of Lexapro®?
Lexapro is generally more tolerated than antidepressants of its class. Therefore, the side effect associated with Lexapro may be less than those associated with antidepressants. Some people may tolerate Lexapro better than others. Side effects of Lexapro can be slightly different for adults and children.
Lexapro can cause side effects in adults such as:
- Weight loss
- Anxiety
- Nausea
- Weakness
- Dry mouth
- Infection
- Unusual changes in sex drive and other sexual issues such as erectile dysfunction or premature ejaculation.
- Shake
- Sweating
- Appetite loss
- Drowsiness, sleepiness, or disturbances
- Dizziness
- Trouble sleeping
- Constipation
- Yawning
Young adults, adolescents, teens, and children may experience some of the same side effects as adults. However, they may also experience symptoms such as:
- Problems with urinating
- Slow growth, weight loss, or weight change
- A higher thirst
- A sudden increase in muscle movement or excessive agitation
- Nosebleeds
- Periods of heavy menstruation
- Suicidal thoughts
Lexapro can also cause rare but serious side effects. These include severe allergic reactions, very high blood pressure, seizures, convulsions or convulsions, and low salt levels: Serotonin syndrome, manic episodes, and vision problems. You should seek immediate medical attention if you have any severe side effects or life-threatening symptoms.
These side effects can be serious, so please seek medical attention immediately.
Summary
Most people will feel the brain effects of Lexapro within four to six weeks. While physical symptoms such as anxiety and depression may improve within a few weeks, mood-related symptoms can take longer.
Some drugs have a higher risk of drug interactions, such as monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) or serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitions (SNRIs). Lexapro may benefit you if you have a major depressive disorder, panic disorder, including panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or bipolar disorder.
To determine if Lexapro is right for you, seek medical advice from your healthcare provider.
People also ask:
Can Lexapro work immediately?
Patients using Lexapro to treat mental health problems such as depression and anxiety should not expect the medicine to start working right away. Patients should not expect to immediately notice a change in their symptoms.
How does Lexapro work for anxiety?
Escitalopram is used to treat depression and anxiety. It works by helping to restore the balance of a certain natural substance (serotonin) in the brain. Escitalopram is in a class of medications called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
Is it better to take Lexapro in the morning or at night?
If you have trouble falling asleep at night, try taking your Lexapro dose in the morning rather than later in the day. Be sure to speak with your healthcare provider to make sure it is safe to take your medications at this time.
Is Lexapro a good medication for anxiety?
Lexapro (escitalopram) is good for treating depression and anxiety. It is generally well-tolerated and has fewer drug interactions than other antidepressants.
Does Lexapro Make You Happy?
Escitalopram will not change your personality or make you euphorically happy. It will only help you feel like yourself again. Don’t expect to feel better overnight. Some people feel worse for the first few weeks of treatment before they start to feel better.
What can you not mix with Lexapro?
Escitalopram can cause a serious condition called serotonin syndrome if it is taken with certain medications. Do not use escitalopram with buspirone (Buspar®), fentanyl (Abstral®, Duragesic®), lithium (Eskalith®, Lithobid®), tryptophan, St.
Can you feel Lexapro on the first day?
Lexapro is a prescription antidepressant medicine used to treat depression and anxiety. You may experience side effects such as fatigue, diarrhea, or a headache during the first two weeks after taking Lexapro.
Can Lexapro make you lose weight?
While Lexapro helps reduce your depression, it can reverse the changes in your appetite caused by illness. In turn, you can lose or gain weight. But this effect is more related to your condition than to the side effects of the drug.
Can I have an occasional drink while on Lexapro?
Whenever you drink while taking Lexapro, you run the risk of potentially serious side effects. If you drink alcohol, it is best to drink in moderation while taking medicine. If you are taking Lexapro, talk to your doctor before drinking alcohol.
Does Lexapro change your personality?
Fact: When taken correctly, antidepressants will not change your personality. They will help you feel like yourself again and return to your previous level of functioning.
Can I take Tylenol while on Lexapro?
No interaction between escitalopram and Tylenol has been observed.
Can I take vitamins while on Lexapro?
If you’ve been diagnosed with depression or anxiety disorder, your doctor may have prescribed a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). The most common SSRIs are Lexapro, Prozac, Paxil, and Zoloft. These are safe for most people, but when taken with supplements or vitamins, the results can be risky.
How long should I stay on Lexapro?
Doctors generally recommend staying on the drug for six to nine months before considering stopping antidepressants. If you’ve had at least three recurrences of depression, plan for at least two years.
Does Lexapro Make You have no emotions?
But sometimes SSRIs go beyond just improving mood and making a person feel very few emotions. “Some people feel like they have lost the richness of everyday life.”
What is Lexapro equivalent to?
Both prescription drugs are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The other drugs in the SSRI class are Prozac (fluoxetine), Celexa (citalopram), and Paxil (paroxetine). Although Lexapro and Zoloft are similar, they have notable differences in both their indications and their cost.
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