Lexapro (Escitalopram) is a well-liked drugs for treating melancholy, generalized anxiousness dysfunction (GAD), and different temper issues. It may be an efficient software in managing those prerequisites, nevertheless it’s necessary to grasp the unwanted side effects of Lexapro that can include taking this antidepressant drugs. Figuring out the possible dangers you are taking when selecting Lexapro is very important to your protection and well-being. 

Stay studying as we discover commonplace and serious unwanted side effects of Lexapro and take a look at imaginable interactions with different drugs or components. Whilst you’re knowledgeable of the dangers, you’re in a position to make the most productive choices referring to your psychological fitness care. 

Doable Dangers & Warnings of Taking Lexapro

Like maximum drugs, Lexapro will have unwanted side effects. Kids below 12, pregnant or breastfeeding ladies, and a few other people with sure allergic reactions must now not take Lexapro. Lexapro and being pregnant have their very own correlation, and when you’re pregnant whilst taking Lexapro, studying extra in regards to the two will can help you make the suitable determination earlier than Lexapro use. 

Moreover, other people with an imbalance of their serotonin ranges would possibly now not be capable of take selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like Lexapro. The drug has additionally been related to low sodium within the blood (hyponatremia) within the aged who wish to track their sodium consumption. 

Aspect Results of Lexapro

Whilst analysis presentations that Lexapro can successfully deal with signs of melancholy and anxiousness, figuring out attainable unwanted side effects is very important earlier than starting it or any drugs. At all times speak about the possible dangers as opposed to advantages related to its use and some other fitness considerations you might have together with your physician. They may be able to assist resolve if it’s protected so that you can take Lexapro long-term in accordance with your personal wishes and scientific historical past.

“Not unusual unwanted side effects of taking Lexapro are weak point, feeling drained, nausea, problems with sleep, anxiousness, or lack of urge for food. It might probably additionally motive sexual issues, reminiscent of reduced intercourse pressure and erectile disorder. It’s just right to pay attention to how the drugs is impacting you and what unwanted side effects you’re having. It might probably range from individual to individual. Remember to speak about it together with your psychiatrist to ensure that that is the most productive drugs possibility for you.”

– Talkspace therapist Bisma Anwar, LMHC

Not unusual unwanted side effects

Not unusual unwanted side effects of Lexapro use can vary from gentle to serious. Analysis presentations that excluding for sexual unwanted side effects, which most often don’t reinforce, most of the extra commonplace Lexapro unwanted side effects generally tend to reduce through the years. 

A large number of Lexapro unwanted side effects get to the bottom of inside two weeks of beginning the drugs. It’s easiest first of all a low Lexapro dosage and slowly build up the volume taken over a couple of weeks as steered by means of your physician.

Not unusual unwanted side effects related to Lexapro come with: 

• Nausea: Nausea is without doubt one of the maximum commonplace unwanted side effects of Lexapro. It most often happens inside the first few weeks after beginning remedy. Continuously it may well get to the bottom of through the years as your frame adjusts to the drugs. Taking Lexapro with meals or at bedtime might assist scale back nausea signs.
• Trade in intercourse pressure: Sexual unwanted side effects are some other commonplace prevalence when taking Lexapro. Those would possibly come with issues reminiscent of reduced libido, problem attaining orgasm, behind schedule ejaculation, and erectile disorder for males.
• Menstrual cycle adjustments and/or vaginal dryness: Girls might also revel in adjustments of their menstrual cycle or vaginal dryness whilst in this drugs.
• Insomnia: Insomnia is a possible facet impact of Lexapro, despite the fact that it’s much less commonplace than nausea or sexual issues. Insomnia usually starts the primary few weeks after beginning remedy however must reinforce through the years as your frame will get used to the drugs’s results. To attenuate insomnia signs, take a look at averting caffeine past due within the day and surroundings an ordinary sleep agenda by means of going to mattress at round the similar time every evening. If insomnia persists, communicate together with your physician about adjusting your dose or switching drugs.
• Drowsiness: Lexapro is understood to motive over the top fatigue and drowsiness in some other people. 
• Dry mouth: Dry mouth generally is a commonplace facet impact of Lexapro. 
• Diarrhea or constipation: Diarrhea or constipation might happen when the use of Lexapro.
• Higher sweating: Lexapro could cause some other people to revel in larger sweating. 
• Weight achieve: Whilst it’s going to range from individual to individual, weight achieve might happen when taking Lexapro. Take a look at our article on Lexapro weight achieve to be told in regards to the reasons and techniques to steer clear of those weight fluctuations.

Whilst maximum unwanted side effects are gentle, some might change into extra serious if now not addressed. If unwanted side effects persist for longer than two weeks or start to intrude together with your talent to serve as day-to-day, you must touch your physician straight away.

Severe unwanted side effects

When taking any drugs, it’s essential to pay attention to all the possible unwanted side effects. 

“Lexapro is a good drugs to regard melancholy and anxiousness however it may well even have severe unwanted side effects. Just be sure you communicate on your physician about some other fitness problems you’ve gotten, in addition to different drugs you may well be taking earlier than beginning on Lexapro. This will assist tell your physician and scale back the possibilities of you having unwanted side effects.” 

– Talkspace therapist Bisma Anwar, LMHC

Severe unwanted side effects from taking Lexapro might come with: 

• Suicidal ideas or behaviors: Suicidal ideas or behaviors might happen in other people taking this drugs – particularly the ones below 25 – so that you must track for indicators of larger melancholy or suicidal habits whilst the use of this drug.
• Adjustments in habits: Some other people in finding an build up in aggression or agitation after starting Lexapro.
• Serotonin syndrome: Serotonin syndrome can happen when an excessive amount of serotonin builds up within the frame — signs come with confusion, agitation, and fever. It is a recognized imaginable facet impact of Lexapro to pay attention to. 
• Mania: Lexapro can cause manic episodes in some other people taking it for bipolar dysfunction. 
• Seizures: Extra analysis is had to resolve if Lexapro will increase the chance of seizures in other people with a seizure dysfunction. Then again, the drug can lead to some other people with no situation having seizures. 
• Unusual bleeding or bruising: Unusual bleeding or bruising when taking Lexapro can also be because of its talent to inhibit platelet aggregation in some other people.
• Problem respiring or swallowing: Lexapro could cause an hypersensitivity. Even though uncommon, the reaction would possibly occasionally lead to problem respiring and/or swallowing. 

Should you revel in any of those serious unwanted side effects whilst taking Lexapro, search scientific consideration immediately. 

Lexapro Interactions

Positive drugs and alcohol can engage with and have an effect on the efficacy of Lexapro remedy. You must pay attention to attainable interactions when taking this or any drug. Remember to discuss together with your physician or pharmacist and percentage what different medicine or medication you’re taking. Grapefruit and grapefruit juice often engage with some SSRI drugs, so make sure you take a look at together with your pharmacist or physician about that interplay. 

Lexapro interactions with different medicine

Some prescription and over the counter medicine, nutrients, or dietary supplements can engage with Lexapro. Repeatedly recognized interactions can happen with: 

• Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)
• Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs)
• Different SSRIs 
• Positive antihistamines reminiscent of diphenhydramine (Benadryl) 

Positive combos of substances and medication can build up the chance of growing bad unwanted side effects or scale back the effectiveness of 1 or each medicine. 

For instance, combining Lexapro with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) could cause severe reactions, together with hypertension and seizures. Research have connected headaches to Lexapro and MAOIs when taken inside 14 days of one another.

After all, sure drug interactions with antibiotics — like clarithromycin, which will motive an abnormal center rhythm that may be life-threatening — must now not be taken whilst on Lexapro.

Lexapro interactions with alcohol

Keep away from ingesting alcohol when taking an SSRI antidepressant like Lexapro. Alcohol’s sedative houses may build up the chance for hostile reactions when mixed with the drug’s energetic components. Be informed extra about what can occur when Lexapro and alcohol, so that you’re totally acutely aware of attainable reactions.

Communicate with a Physician About Lexapro

Communicate to a health care provider or on-line psychiatrist at Talkspace in regards to the attainable unwanted side effects of Lexapro — each commonplace and severe — earlier than taking it or some other anxiousness or melancholy drugs. Lexapro can successfully deal with melancholy and different psychological fitness prerequisites, nevertheless it isn’t appropriate for everybody. Figuring out the dangers related to its use and figuring out what to search for is an important. 

You don’t must are living with psychological fitness prerequisites that negatively have an effect on your existence. Assist is to be had via remedy, psychiatrist-prescribed drugs, and way of life adjustments. Should you’re involved and on the lookout for interventions that will help you organize the indicators of your melancholy or some other temper dysfunction, communicate on your physician or therapist to determine if Lexapro may well be an possibility for you. 

To get solutions to extra questions on Lexapro, reminiscent of the variation between Celexa vs. Lexapro or how lengthy it takes for Lexapro to paintings, take a look at our sources or communicate to a health care provider as of late.