What is Lexapro?
- Lexapro is a member of a class of medicines called selective serotonin
reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
- Lexapro has been prescribed to over 18 million U.S. adults.5
- Lexapro works by increasing the available supply of serotonin, a substance in the brain believed to influence mood.1
Lexapro for Depression
- Lexapro at a dose of 10-mg per day is effective in the treatment
of depression (Major Depressive Disorder):1,2
- The efficacy, tolerability and safety of Lexapro in the treatment
of depression is based on several clinical trials involving more
than 1,100 adult patients, including men and women, ages 18-65, with moderate-to-severe
depression.3
Lexapro for Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
- Lexapro at a dose of 10-20 mg per day is effective in the treatment
of GAD1,4:
- In clinical trials, Lexapro at 10-20 mg per day significantly
improved symptoms when compared to placebo.4
- The efficacy, tolerability and safety of Lexapro in the treatment
of GAD is based on three positive, placebo-controlled studies involving
approximately 850 adult patients with moderate-to-severe anxiety3.
Taking Lexapro
- Lexapro can be taken every day along with many other medicines.1
(Always tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription medicines
or over-the-counter remedies you take.)
- The most common adverse events reported in clinical trials were
nausea, insomnia, ejaculation disorder, somnolence(drowsiness), increased sweating,
fatigue, anorgasmia (difficulty achieving orgasm) and decreased libido.1
References: 1. Lexapro [package insert]. St Louis, Mo: Forest Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2009.
2. Burke WJ, Gergel I, Bose A. Fixed-dosed trial of the single isomer SSRI escitalopram in depressed outpatients. J Clin Psychiatry. 2002;63:331-336.
3. Data on file, Forest Laboratories, Inc.
4. Goodman WK, Bose A, Wang Q. Escitalopram 10-mg/day is effective in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder. Poster presented at: 23rd Annual Conference of the Anxiety Disorders Association of America; March 27-30, 2003; Toronto, Canada.
5. Wolters Kluwer Health, Lexapro Projected Unique Patient
Counts since launch, May 2007.
Back to top >>