Lexapro is the brand name for the chemical Escitalopram, a drug classed as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). Other SSRIs include Fluoxetine (Prozac), Fluvoxamine (Luvox), Paroxetine (Paxil), Citalopram (Celexa), and Sertaline (Zoloft). Lexapro is produced today by the Danish pharmaceutical company Lundbeck, and is marketed under the brand name Cipralex in Europe. Lexapro is basically a pure isolated form of the active isomer of Citalopram, and therefore works in the same way that the drug Celexa does. People with allergies or adverse reactions to Celexa should therefore not take Lexapro.
Like all SSRIs, Lexapro acts by increasing the amount of serotonin present in the synapses between nerve cells. Because serotonin is a mood enhancing neurotransmitter, the main use for SSRIs is as a treatment for depression. Some SSRIs, including Lexapro, have been shown effective in treating forms of anxiety disorders as well. Lexapro and other SSRIs do not add any serotonin or mood altering chemicals to your body, but rather help your body to better utilize its own natural mood stabilizing machinery.
Some of the most common side effects of Lexapro include reduced appetite, reduced libido, sexual dysfunction, constipation, diarrhea, dizziness, dry mouth, sweating, insomnia, drowsiness, fatigue, and nausea. Most users of Lexapro will experience one or more of these effects during the first months of use, but they are usually mild and fade with time. Less often, users of Lexapro may experience stomach pain, strange dreams, chest pain, blurry vision, heartburn, fever, severe headaches, muscle pains, sinus congestion, tingling sensations, tremors, vomiting, and the inability to orgasm.
Depression and anxiety are both very common mental illnesses, and unfortunately have a certain amount social stigma attached to them. People who do not suffer from these kinds of illnesses often have difficulty understanding why affected individuals can’t just ‘snap out of it’. Because of the stigma associated with the conditions, many people are unwilling to seek treatment, and often develop harmful self-medicating habits. It is important for people to understand that these disorders are an issue of brain chemistry, and are therefore very hard to overcome without treatment. Without treatment, these disorders generally get worse.
Fortunately, there are a wide variety of treatments available today for both depression and anxiety. Lexapro and other SSRIs are one form of treatment, but should ideally be used as a part of a multi-pronged approach to combat your disorder rather than as a solution in themselves. Healthy diet, frequent exercise, counseling, support groups, therapy, expressive arts, meditation, and prayer are all effective measures in treating both depression and anxiety.
