Lexapro has been proven in clinical trials to be an effective prescription medication that reduced the severity of depressionA
disease that affects millions of Americans each year, believed to
be caused by an imbalance of certain chemicals in the brain, called
neurotransmitters. and
GADAn overwhelming sense of apprehension
and fear often accompanied by physical symptoms such as tension, sweating,
or increased pulse rate. Anxiety symptoms are commonly associated
with depression.1, 2.
Lexapro is a member of the group of prescription drugs called 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 (SSRIs). Lexapro has
been prescribed to over 18 million U.S. adults.3 With just
one 10 mg tablet a day, Lexapro significantly improved the symptoms
of depression and anxiety for many patients. Among depressed adult patients who received Lexapro in placebo-controlled trials, 6% stopped treatment due to a side effect, as compared to 2% of adult patients receiving placebo.
In MDD patients aged 6-17, pooled safety data from 3 clinical trials of Lexapro (10 to 20 mg/day) vs placebo, showed a rate of discontinuation due to side effects was 3.5% for Lexapro vs 1% for those taking placebo4.
In the comprehensive GAD safety database6, among adult GAD patients taking Lexapro 10-20 mg/day in placebo-controlled trials, 8% stopped treatment due to a side effect, vs 4% of those receiving placebo1, 5, 6.
Explore additional information in this section such as Why
Take Lexapro, and How Lexapro
Works.
References: 1. Burke J, Gergel I, Bose A. Fixed-dose trial of the singel isomer SSRI escitalopram in depressed outpatients. J Clin Psychiatry. 2002;63:331-336
2. Davidson J, Bose A, Korotzer A, Zheng H. Escitalopram in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder: double-blind, placebo-controlled, flexible dose study. Depress Anxiety. 2004; 19:234-240
3. Wolters Kluwer Health, Lexapro Projected Unique Patient Counts since launch, March 2007
4. Emslie GJ, Ventura D, Korotzer A, Tourkodimitris S. Escitalopram in the treatment of adolescent depression: a randomized placebo-controlled multisite trial. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 1009; 48:721-729.,
5. Goodman WK, Bise A, Wang Q. Escitalopram 10mg/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.
6. LEXAPRO [package insert]. St. Louis, Mo: Forest Pharmaceuticals, Inc.;2009.