Lexapro Oral : Uses, Side Effects & Interactions

Lexapro (Escitalopram)

Uses

Lexapro (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. Lexapro (Escitalopram) falls under a category of selective serotonin repetect inhibitors (SSRI). It can improve your energy level and well-being feelings and reduce anxiety.

How to use Lexapro

Read the medication guide and, if available, the information sheet provided by the Patient Pharmacist before you start taking the Lexapro (Escitalopram) and every time you take a refill, if you have any questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Direct this medicine with your mouth or without your diet, usually by taking it once or twice a day. Dosage is based on your medical condition, treatment response, age and other medicines you may be taking. Be sure to tell your doctor and pharmacist about all the products you use (including Prescription Drugs, Nonprescription Drugs and Herbal Products).

If you are using the liquid form of this drug, then carefully measure the dose using special measurement equipment / spoon. Do not use domestic spoon because you can not get the right dose.

To reduce your risk of side effects, your doctor may direct you to start taking this medication on low doses and gradually increase your dose. Follow your doctor’s instructions carefully. Do not increase your dose or use this drug more often than prescribed. There will be no improvement in your situation, and the risk of your side effects will increase. Take this medication regularly to get the most benefit of this. To help you remember, take it every day at the same time.

It is important to continue taking this medicine even if you feel OK. Do not stop taking this medicine without consulting your doctor. When this medicine suddenly stops, some conditions may get worse. In addition, you may experience symptoms such as mood swings, headache, fatigue, changes in sleep, and short feelings similar to electric shock. To prevent these symptoms, when you are stopping treatment with this medicine, your doctor may gradually reduce your dose. Contact your doctor or pharmacist for more information. Report any new or deteriorating symptoms instantly.

It may take 1 to 2 weeks to feel the benefits of this medicine and it may take up to 4 weeks to realize the full benefit of this medication. Tell your doctor if your condition does not improve or if it worsens.

Side Effects of Lexapro

See also the warning section.

Nausea, dry mouth, difficulty in sleep, constipation, fatigue, drowsiness, dizziness, and more sweating may occur. If any of these effects persists or worsens, tell your doctor immediately.

Remember that your doctor has prescribed this drug because he or she has decided that your benefit is higher than the risk of side effects. Many people using Lexapro do not have serious side effects.

Tell your doctor immediately if you have a serious side effect, including: Reduced interest in sex, changes in sexual capacity, easy bruises / bleeding.

If you have a very serious side effect, get medical help, including: bloody / black / terry stool, unconsciousness, fast / irregular heartbeat, vomiting coffee grounds, seizures, eye pain / swelling / redness , Wide pupil, vision changes (like seeing rainbows around the night light, blurry vision).

Lexapro can increase serotonin and rarely cause a very serious condition, which is called serotonin syndrome / toxicity. The risk increases if you are taking other medicines that increase the serotonin, so tell your doctor or pharmacist about all the medicines that you take (see the Drug Interactions section). Get medical help immediately when some of the following symptoms develop: Fast heartbeats, hallucinations, loss of coordination, severe dizziness, severe nausea / vomiting / diarrhea, muscle shaking, unexplained fever, abnormal movement or restlessness

Rarely, men may have painful or longer build for 4 or more hours. If this happens, stop using this medicine and get immediate medical assistance, or there may be permanent problems.

A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, if you see symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, get medical help immediately, including: granular, itching / swelling (especially the face / tongue / throat), severe dizziness, shortness of breath

This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you do not list other effects above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

In the US – Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You can notify the FDA of side effects on 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.

In Canada – Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You can report the health effects of Canada on 1-866-234-2345.

Precautions

Before taking Lexapro (Escitalopram), tell your doctor or pharmacist whether you are allergic to it; Or for cold rolling; Or if you have any other allergens. This product may contain passive elements, which may cause allergic or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.

Before using Lexapro, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, in particular: personal or family history of bipolar / manic-depressive disorder, personal or family history of suicide attempts, liver disease, seizures, intestines Ulcers / bleeding (peptic ulcer disease)) or bleeding problems, low blood sodium (hyponatremia), glaucoma personal Family history (angle-off type).

Lexapro (Escitalopram) can cause a condition that affects the rhythm of the heart (QT prolonged). Prolonged QT can rarely cause serious (rarely fatal) fast / irregular heartbeat and other symptoms (such as severe dizziness, unconsciousness) that require immediate medical attention.

If you have some medical conditions or QT prolonged other medications are taking Qt can increase the risk of prolonging. Before using Lexapro (Escitalopram), tell your doctor or the pharmacist of all medicines you take, and if you have any of the following conditions: Some heart problems (heart failure, slow heartbeat, recently Heart attack, Qt moving in the EKG for a long time), family history of some of the heart’s problems (QT long death of sudden death in EKG).

Lower levels of potassium or magnesium in the blood can also increase the risk of QT being long. This risk can increase if you use certain medications (such as diuretic / “water tablets”) or if you have conditions like severe sweating, diarrhea or vomiting. Talk about using Lexapro (Escitalopram) safely with your doctor.

Lexapro may make you dizzy or drowsy. Alcohol or marijuana can make you more dizzy or deaf. Unless you can safely do this, do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that requires caution. Avoid alcoholic beverages. If you are using marijuana, talk to your doctor.

Lexapro can contain sugar and / or aspartame in liquid form. If you are advised to take precautions in diabetes, phenylketonuria (PKU), or any other condition, then you need to limit / prevent these substances in your diet. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about using this medicine safely.

Before surgery, tell your doctor or dentist about all the products that you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs and herbal products).

Due to the side effects of Lexapro, such as QT prolongation, loss of coordination or bleeding, older adults may be more sensitive. They may be more likely to lose too much salt (hyponatremia), especially if they are also taking “water tablets” (diuretics) with this medicine. The risk of falling from the loss of coordination can increase.

Children may be more susceptible to the side effects of Lexapro, especially loss of appetite and weight loss. Monitor weight and height in children taking this drug.

During pregnancy, Lexapro should be used only when explicitly necessary. It can harm an unborn child. In addition, mothers who have used this drug during the last 3 months of pregnancy, children born in them may rarely develop symptoms of withdrawal such as feeding / difficulty breathing, visits, muscles Cramping or crying constantly If you see any of these symptoms in your newborn, then tell the doctor immediately.

Since untreated mental / mood problems (such as depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder) can be a serious condition, do not stop using Lexapro unless directed by your doctor. If you are planning a pregnancy, then become pregnant, or think that you may be pregnant, discuss the benefits and risks of using this drug during pregnancy immediately with your doctor.

Lexapro passes in breast milk and may have undesirable effects on a nursing infant. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.

Interactions

Drug interactions can change how your medicines work or increase your risk for serious side effects. This document does not contain all possible drug interactions. Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescriptions / non-prescription drugs and herbal products) and share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop or change any drug supplements without the approval of your doctor.

Some products that can interact with this drug include: Other medicines that can cause bleeding / bruising (Antiplatelet Drugs such as Clopidogrel, NSAIDs such as Ibuprofen, “Blood Thinner” such as Warfarin).

Aspirin can increase the risk of bleeding when used with this drug. However, if your doctor has instructed you to take low-dose aspirin for heart attack or stroke prevention (usually on a diet of 81-325 mg in a day), then you should continue it until That your doctor will not instruct you. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Taking the MAO inhibitor with this drug can be a cause of serious (potentially fatal) drug interactions. During treatment with this drug, avoid taking the MAO inhibitor (isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue, moclobemide, phenelzine, procarbazine, rasagiline, safinamide, selegiline, tranylcypromine). Most MAO inhibitors should not be taken for two weeks before and after treatment with this drug. Ask your doctor about when to start or stop this medication.

If you are taking other medicines that increase serotonin then the risk of serotonin syndrome / toxicity increases. Examples include Street Drugs, including MDMA / “Bliss,” St. John’s Plant, some antidepressants (such as fluoxetine / paroxetine, SNRI, duloxitine (venlafaxine), tryptophan, others). The risk of serotonin syndrome / toxicity can be high when you start or increase the dose of these medicines.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist whether you are taking other products including alcohol, marijuana, antihistamines (such as cetirizine, diphenhydramine), sleeping or anxiety medicines (such as alprazolam, diazepam, zolpidem), muscle relaxants, and alcoholic painkillers Are there. (Such as codeine).

Check the label on all your drugs (such as allergens, pain / fever, or cough-and-cold products), because they may contain material that causes drowsiness or increases the risk of bleeding. Ask your pharmacist about using those products safely.

In addition to Lexapro, many medications can affect heart rhythm (Qt) prolongation, including amiodarone, pimozide.

Lexapro (Escitalopram) is similar to cold citalopram. Do not use sedative drugs while using Lexapro.

This drug can interfere with some medical / laboratory tests (including brain scans for Parkinson’s disease), potentially incorrect examination results. Ensure that the lab staff and all your doctors know that you use this medicine.

Over Dose

If someone is treated and has serious symptoms such as difficulty in getting out or breathing, call 911. Otherwise, call the Poison Control Center immediately, American residents can call their local toxin control center at 1-800-222-1222. Canadians can call a provincial poison control center.

Notes

Do not share this medication with others.

Keep all regular medical and psychiatric appointments.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose, then as soon as you remember it, take it. If it is near the next dose time, then leave the thesis dose and set your normal dose. Do not double the dose to catch up.

Storage

Store at room temperature away from light and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medications away from children and pets.

Until instructed to do so, do not flush the medicines under the toilet or drain them in the drain. When this period expires or is not required, leave this product appropriately. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company.

Disclaimer: DrLinex has made every effort to ensure that all information is factually accurate, comprehensive and up-to-date. However, this article should not be used as a licensed health care professional’s choice of knowledge and expertise. You should always consult your doctor or other health care professional before taking any medication. The information given here is subject to change and it has not been used to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions or adverse effects. The lack of warning or other information for any drug does not indicate that the combination of medicine or medication is safe, effective or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.

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