Lexapro

Lexapro (escitalopram) is a medicine specially intended for the treatment of anxiety and major depressive disorder. This medicine is a SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) that works by restoring the balance of chemicals that may lead to the conditions mentioned. Do not share your medicine with other people even if you are sure they will benefit from it. There are a number of aspects every person is supposed to discuss with their health care provider, as these aspects may be important in determining their individual dose and treatment scheme. Make sure you notify your health care provider of the following health aspects you have that may affect the dose you are prescribed: a history of drug abuse, a history of suicidal thoughts, liver or kidney disease, epilepsy, or bipolar disorder. When you start taking this drug, watch for some dangerous signs, such as hostility, suicidal thoughts, irritability, worsened depression, anxiety, hyperactivity, aggressiveness, restlessness, trouble sleeping, or panic attacks. These symptoms may indicate your dose needs to be adjusted or some other changed will need to be made to your treatment schedule. It’s recommended to consult your doctor as soon as possible. Suicidal thoughts can occur in patients younger than 24 (the risk is a lot higher than for any other age groups). If you are younger than 24 you will have to visit your health care provider regularly during the first three months of your treatment to make sure everything is going as planned. Some 4 weeks may be required for you to notice the first benefits of the treatment – and until then you must take it as prescribed without exceeding the dose recommended. This medicine is FDA category C. It may cause life-threatening birth defects in unborn babies, but even if you get pregnant, you are not supposed to discontinue the treatment, as otherwise you may get seizures, which can be dangerous for both you and your baby. Never give your dose of Lexapro to other people to whom it was not prescribed, as these people may get serious reactions as a result. Lexapro is supposed to be taken by people whose health condition has been evaluated by a qualified health care professional, as otherwise a number of side effects and unpleasant reactions can take place. The following serious side effects can occur if you are not taking this drug right: loss of appetite, memory problems, vomiting, trouble concentrating, fast or uneven heartbeats, rigid muscles, tremors, loss of coordination, high fever, diarrhea, and shallow breathing.