Lexipro the Depression Treatment

Lexipro is widely used to treat depression because of its effectiveness in controlling the symptoms and due to its minimal side effects. In controlled studies, Lexipro significantly improved the symptoms of depression for many patients beginning at week 1 or 2 (full antidepressant effect may take 4 to 6 weeks). Furtehr in clinical trials, the number of people who stopped taking their medicine due to side effects was about the same for people taking Lexipro at 10 mg per day as it was for placebo.

Lexipro can be used safely and effectively in patients who have previously used other depression medicines. In one study of patients with depression, patients who started on one medicine but did not respond to it were switched to Lexipro. In this study, patients were able to be quickly and safely switched to Lexipro. A high percentage of patients who switched to Lexipro responded to treatment.

Depression can be a life long medical condition that may require continuous long-term treatment. If your symptoms are currently controlled by medicine and then you stop taking it for a few days, you run the risk of a relapse. It is important to take your medicine as long as your healthcare professional advises, even if you start feeling better; otherwise your depression or anxiety could return or worsen.

General Info about Lexipro

Lexipro is an antidepressant in a group of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Lexipro affects chemicals in the brain that may become unbalanced and cause depression or anxiety. In a nutshell, Lexipro is used to treat anxiety and major depressive disorder.

An important risk to consider if that you may have an increased risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior at the start of treatment with an antidepressant medication, especially if you are under 18 years old. While you are taking Lexipro you will need to be monitored for worsening symptoms of depression and/or suicidal thoughts during the first weeks of treatment, or whenever your dose is changed. In addition to you watching for changes in your own symptoms, your family or other caregivers should be alert to changes in your mood or symptoms. Your doctor will need to check you at regular visits for at least the first 12 weeks of treatment.

Contact your doctor promptly if you have any of the following side effects, whether they are new symptoms or if they are symptoms they you had but have gotten worse: mood changes, anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, irritability, agitation, aggressiveness, severe restlessness, mania (mental and/or physical hyperactivity), thoughts of suicide or hurting yourself. If you are planning a pregnancy, or if you become pregnant while taking Lexapro, do not stop taking the medication without first talking to your doctor.