Lexapro | reviews, indications, action, dosage (2023)

Lexapro contains the active substance escitalopram. Lexapro belongs to a group of antidepressants called Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs). These drugs act on the serotonergic system in the brain by increasing the levels of serotonin. Disturbances in the brain's serotonergic system play a key role in the development of depression and related disorders.

Lexapro contains escitalopram and is used to treat depression (major depressive episodes), anxiety disorders (such as panic disorder with or without agoraphobia, social anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder).

It may take several weeks of treatment before improvement begins. Keep taking Lexapro even if it takes some time for your condition to improve. If you do not feel better or if you feel worse, contact your doctor.

What is the composition of Lexapro, what substances does it contain?

The active substance is escitalopram. Each Lexapro tablet contains 5 mg or 10 mg of escitalopram (as oxalate).

The other ingredients of the drug are:
Tablet core: microcrystalline cellulose, colloidal anhydrous silica, talc, croscarmellose sodium and magnesium stearate.
Tablet coating: Opadry OY-S-28849 White: hypromellose (5 cP), macrogol 400, titanium dioxide (E 171).

See the list of products containing substances:

Dosage of Lexapro - how to use this medicine?

Always take this Lexapro exactly as your doctor has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.

Adults:

Depression
The usual recommended dose of Lexapro is 10 mg taken as one daily dose. The dose may be increased by your doctor to a maximum of 20 mg per day.

Anxiety disorder with panic attacks
The starting dose of Lexapro is 5 mg once a day for the first week of treatment, then the dose is increased to 10 mg a day. The dose may then be increased by your doctor to a maximum of 20 mg per day.

social phobia
The usual recommended dose of Lexapro is 10 mg taken as one daily dose. The dose may then be reduced by the doctor to 5 mg per day or increased to a maximum of 20 mg per day, depending on the patient's response to the medicine.

Generalized anxiety disorder
The usual recommended dose of Lexapro is 10 mg taken as one daily dose. The dose may be increased by your doctor to a maximum of 20 mg per day.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder
The usual recommended dose of Lexapro is 10 mg taken as one daily dose. The dose may be increased by your doctor to a maximum of 20 mg per day.

Elderly patients (over 65 years of age)
The recommended starting dose of Lexapro is 5 mg taken as one daily dose. Your doctor may advise you to increase the dose to 10 mg daily.

Children and youth
Lexapro should not normally be used in children and adolescents.

Lexapro can be taken with or without food.
The tablets should be swallowed with a drink of water. They should not be chewed as they are bitter in taste.

The tablets can be broken into two parts if necessary. To do this, place the tablet on a flat surface with the notch facing up and then break the tablet in half by pressing each end downwards with the index fingers of both hands as shown in the picture.

Overdose - using too high a dose

If you have taken more Lexapro than prescribed, contact your doctor immediately or go to the emergency department of your nearest hospital. This should be done even when the patient is not feeling anything
no ailments. Symptoms of overdose include dizziness, tremors, agitation, convulsions, coma, nausea, vomiting, arrhythmias, hypotension, and fluid and electrolyte disturbances.
Take the Lexapro box with you when you go to the doctor or hospital.

What can I eat and drink while taking Lexapro - can I drink alcohol?

Lexapro can be taken with or without food.
As with many medicines, taking Lexapro with alcohol is not recommended, although an interaction (interaction) of Lexapro with alcohol is not expected.

Combining alcohol with certain medications can be dangerous to your health and even life. Find out more aboutdrug-alcohol interactions.

Can Lexapro be used during pregnancy and breastfeeding?

If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, please inform your doctor. You should not use Lexapro if you are pregnant or breast-feeding until you have discussed the risks with your doctor
treatment benefits. If you use Lexapro in the last 3 months of your pregnancy you should be aware that the following symptoms may occur in your newborn baby: difficulty breathing, bluish skin, convulsions, hesitation
body temperature, difficulty in sucking, vomiting, low blood glucose, stiff or floppy muscles, overactive reflexes, tremors, jitteriness, irritability, lethargy, constant crying, drowsiness and difficulty sleeping.
If your newborn develops any of these symptoms, see your doctor right away.

Tell your doctor and/or midwife that you are taking Lexapro.
When taken during pregnancy, particularly in the last 3 months of pregnancy, medicines like Lexapro may increase the risk of a serious condition in babies, called persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn
(PPHN). It is manifested by rapid breathing and cyanosis. These symptoms usually appear in the first day after delivery. Contact your doctor and/or midwife immediately if your newborn has these symptoms.

Lexapro should not be stopped suddenly during pregnancy.

Lexapro is expected to pass into breast milk.

Citalopram, a medicine similar to escitalopram, has been shown to reduce sperm quality in animal studies. Theoretically, this may affect fertility, although effects on fertility in humans have not yet been observed.

Lexapro leaflet - download the full version of the leaflet for the patient

Download the full Lexapro Patient Leaflet. In addition to the information contained on our website, you will also find the following data here: side effects, contraindications, side effects, drug interactions, the effects of substances on driving and machinery, and other warnings and precautions. Download the patient leaflet in pdf format:

Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) - documentation for doctors and pharmacists

Download the Summary of Product Characteristics containing specific information about Lexapro including pharmaceutical form, clinical data, interactions with other medicinal products, pharmacological properties, pharmaceutical data. The SmPC is a document intended for qualified healthcare professionals only. Download the SmPC in pdf format:

No characteristics in the database.

CHARACTERISTIC