Lexapro was developed by isolating the active component of Celexa®
(citalopram HBr).
Lexapro is part of a family of drugs known as selective serotoninA
neurotransmitter that is believed to influence mood. SSRIs help relieve
the symptoms of depression by increasing the available supply of serotonin
in the brain. reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs. Lexapro helps
to increase the supply of
a chemical messenger in the brain called serotonin. Lexapro appears
to relieve the symptoms of depression and anxiety by increasing serotonin
with minimal effect on many of the other chemicals in the brain.
How SSRIs Work
The brain chemistry of depression and anxiety is not fully
understood. However, a growing body of evidence supports the view
that people with these disorders have an imbalance of the brain's
neurotransmitters. These are chemicals in the brain that allow nerve
cells to communicate. One of these neurotransmitters is serotonin.
An imbalance in serotonin may be an important factor in the development
of depression and anxiety.
- Serotonin is released from one nerve cell and becomes accessible to the next.
In the process, some of the serotonin released is reabsorbed by
the first nerve cell
- SSRIs block the reabsorption of serotonin into the first nerve
cell
- It is this blocking action that causes an increased amount of
serotonin to become available
- This is how SSRIs affect the balance of serotonin in the brain