How Do I Take Lexapro?
For best results, you should take Lexapro once a day, every day,
with or without food. You should also fill your prescriptions ahead
of time to avoid missing a dose.
What About Lexapro's Side Effects?
With Lexapro, as with all SSRIs,
side effects have been reported during treatment. Most
of the side effects will not cause
you to stop treatment. The most frequent side effects reported with Lexapro are nausea,
insomnia, problems with ejaculation, somnolenceProlonged drowsiness or sleepiness. (drowsiness),
increased sweating, fatigue, decreased libido, and anorgasmiaThis is the inability of a person to ever achieve an orgasm while
having sexual intercourse. (difficulty achieving orgasm).1,2
Additionally, in controlled
studiesA study in which a test treatment is compared with a treatment that
has known effects. The control group may receive no treatment, standard
treatment (which may be another medicine or another approach to care),
or placebo (sugar pill.), clinically important changes in body weight were similar
for patients treated with Lexapro and those treated with placebo.4
You should be sure to talk with your doctor promptly if you have
any side effects while on Lexapro. For additional information about side effects, see Important Risk Information
What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking Lexapro?
Before starting Lexapro, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you have:
- History of mania or seizure disorders
- Kidney or liver problems
- Bleeding disorders
Also, to avoid a serious or potentially life-threatening condition, tell your healthcare provider if you are taking, or planning to take, any prescription or over-the-counter medications, including:
- Other SSRIs, serotonin/noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), certain migraine or headache medications (triptans or tramadol), or tryptophan
- Any other medication prescribed for a psychiatric or neurological condition
- NSAID pain relievers (such as ibuprofen or naproxen), aspirin, warfarin, or blood thinners
- Diuretics
Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant during therapy, or are breastfeeding.
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References:
1. 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.
2. Lexapro [package insert]. St Louis, Mo: Forest Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2009.
Forest Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; 2006.