What is Depression?
Anyone, regardless of age, race, gender, or socioeconomic status,
can suffer from depression. Depression influences people's attitudes
toward themselves, others, and life in general. It takes away feelings
of well-being and may change a person's thinking and behavior.
Depression is often a misunderstood or unrecognized problem. It is
not a weakness or a personality flaw. It isn't anxiety or worry about
an important test or problems at work, and it's not just a day or
two of being moody or having the blues. Depression is a real medical
condition that affects millions of people every year.
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What Are the Signs of Depression?
There are several signs and symptoms that help a healthcare professional
determine if a person has depression. These include:
- Depressed or irritable mood most of the day—nearly every
day
- Loss of interest or pleasure in activities (such as hobbies,
work, or being with friends) most of the day—nearly every
day
- A sudden change in weight or appetite
- Inability to sleep or sleeping too much
- Agitation or restlessness
- Constant fatigue or loss of energy
- Frequent feelings of worthlessness or guilt
- Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
- Frequent thoughts of death or suicide
Important: if you or someone you know has thoughts
of suicide, seek professional help immediately through your healthcare
provider, or call 411 to get the phone number for the nearest local
suicide hotline. One doesn't need to have all these signs and symptoms
to have depression. Symptoms will vary from person to person and may
even change in the same person from time to time.
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What Causes Depression?
Depression is caused by an imbalance of certain chemicals in the
brain. Other things that may cause a person to be depressed—or
to be more likely to become depressed—include:
- Life experiences such as divorce, death of a spouse, loss of a
job, or serious financial problems
- Abuse of alcohol or other drugs
- Certain medications and diseases
- Hormonal changes in women after childbirth or at menopause
- A family history of depression
- Sometimes the cause of a person's depression is not known. Whatever
the cause, there are treatment options available.
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How Does Lexapro Improve Depression?
Lexapro is an antidepressant that is a member of the family
of medications known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
Lexapro helps to restore the brain's chemical balance by increasing
the available supply of serotonin, a substance in the brain believed
to influence mood. Lexapro appears to relieve depression by increasing
serotonin levels.
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How Lexapro Should Be Taken
Lexapro is easy to take. It should be taken once a day, at any time
of day, with or without food. For best results, Lexapro should be
taken every day—and prescriptions should be filled ahead of
time to avoid missing a dose.
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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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What to Expect from Lexapro
For many patients, relief from symptoms such as depressed mood or
anxiety symptoms associated with depression may begin after taking
Lexapro for 1 or 2 weeks, but most people can expect to feel the full
benefits of Lexapro in 4 to 6 weeks.
For the greatest benefit, Lexapro should always be taken exactly
as prescribed by a healthcare provider. It is important to continue
taking Lexapro even after relief from depression begins. People don't
suddenly become depressed, and full recovery takes time. Healthcare
providers may recommend continued Lexapro treatment even if symptoms
are improving or resolved, to help keep the depression from coming
back.
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Does Lexapro Cause Side Effects?
The most common adverse reactions in adults treated with Lexapro (approximately 5% or greater and at least twice the incidence of placebo) are nausea, insomnia, ejaculation disorder, fatigue and somnolence, increased sweating, decreased libido, and anorgasmia.
Furthermore, patients
who were treated with Lexapro experienced no clinically important
weight changes as a result of therapy. Patients should be sure to
talk with their healthcare provider promptly if they have any side
effects when taking Lexapro. For more details, please see the Important Risk
Information on the bottom of this page.
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What Else Can Patients Do to Aid Recovery?
Patients should make sure to keep follow-up appointments with their
healthcare providers, who need to know how therapy is going and may
want to change the treatment plan.
While healthcare providers should be the main source of support in
depression treatment, talking to close friends or family members can
sometimes be very helpful.
A healthcare provider may suggest that a patient see a mental health
therapist in addition to taking Lexapro.
A therapist can provide valuable advice on how to cope with the challenges
of life and help a patient to understand their depression.
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Lexapro is Prescribed with Confidence
Lexapro is an effective therapy for the treatment
of depression. Healthcare providers and patients alike can feel confident
knowing that relief from depression is possible with Lexapro.
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