Nausea, dry mouth, trouble sleeping, constipation, tiredness, drowsiness, dizziness, and increased sweating may occur. If any of these effects last or get worse, tell your doctor promptly.
What Should I Avoid While Taking Escitalopram? Avoid drinking alcohol or using illegal drugs while you are taking antidepressant medications. They may decrease the benefits (e.g., worsen your condition) and increase adverse effects (e.g., sedation) of the medication.
Being younger than age 25 years. Taking Lexapro may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors, particularly in children and in adults younger than age 25 years. In fact, the drug has a boxed warning about this risk. This is a serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
If you are experiencing your first episode of depression or anxiety, you may take Lexapro for a defined period—such as between six months and one year. For individuals with a chronic mental health condition, it may be necessary to take Lexapro for an extended period (over many years).
Lexapro withdrawal symptoms can be severe, particularly if you attempt to stop abruptly. Instead, the dosage should be slowly tapered down over a period of time and under the guidance of medical professionals who can help prevent or mitigate any withdrawal symptoms.
Grapefruit juice is an inhibitor of the cytochrome P450 isozyme 3A4, a metabolic enzyme utilized by escitalopram. Theoretically, elevated levels of escitalopram may occur. Until further information is available, clinicians should warn patients to avoid consumption of grapefruit juice while taking escitalopram.
However, because of the potential for side effects, 5-HTP and L-tryptophan should never be taken in combination with escitalopram or other SSRIs, unless a doctor is closely monitoring the combination.
Most people who take antidepressants don't need to cut out caffeine completely, says Dr. Netherton. But it's important to pay attention to how much caffeine you're getting throughout the day and how it's making you feel.
No interactions were found between caffeine and Lexapro.
Lexapro weight gain can be a common side effect, but it doesn't impact everyone who takes this medication. Multiple studies conclude that SSRIs like Lexapro can result in weight gain. However, it varies from person to person depending on individual factors such as age, lifestyle habits, diet, and activity level.
Lexapro may cause serious or life-threatening side effects such as birth defects, heart conditions, serotonin syndrome, and an increased risk of suicide.
Lexapro is the brand name of generic escitalopram. It is a serotonin-specific or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant which only affects serotonin levels in the brain.
While the National Alliance on Mental Health explains that there are currently no known problems with long-term use of an SSRI like Lexapro, the Anxiety and Depression Association of America cautions that there actually could be some adverse outcomes to long term use, such as an increased risk for heart attack and ...
Interactions between your drugs
No interactions were found between Lexapro and Vitamin D3.
Interactions between your drugs
No interactions were found between Lexapro and magnesium oxide. However, this does not necessarily mean no interactions exist. Always consult your healthcare provider.
You may think of alcohol as something to lift your mood, but mixing it and Lexapro may actually do the opposite: Alcohol can make your depression worse. You may not want to risk feeling even more depressed or anxious than you were before you took an antidepressant.
What happens if you drink alcohol while taking Lexapro? Drinking alcohol while taking Lexapro isn't recommended. Both alcohol and Lexapro can cause side effects like increased depressive thoughts, sleep problems, and dizziness. Combining the two may cause drowsiness, nausea, reduced alertness, and serotonin syndrome.
The Side Effects of Lexapro
Adding a disinhibiting agent such as alcohol into the mix can impair a person's judgment,” she says. “It may cause arrythmias, electrolyte imbalance, liver damage, and increase sedation, drowsiness, and respiratory depression. Of course, not everyone will experience these effects.”
Lexapro and alcohol together can cause side effects such as dizziness, changes in mood, increased anxiety, drowsiness, nausea, and sleep problems. Combining the two substances can also lead to more serious interactions, including worsening depression, liver problems, and serotonin syndrome.
What dose of Lexapro is used for anxiety? The typical dose⁷ of Lexapro for anxiety is 10mg daily. Your doctor may start you at 5mg and taper up to 10mg to prevent your anxiety symptoms from worsening during the first two weeks of treatment.
Each person will experience slightly different side effects, but the most common side effects are drowsiness, headache, insomnia, nausea, and vomiting. These effects may emerge during the first weeks of starting Lexapro. If the starting dose of Lexapro is too high, these side effects may be even worse.
People taking Paxil and Effexor often have more intense withdrawal symptoms. These drugs have short half-lives and leave the body faster than drugs with long half-lives. The faster an antidepressant leaves the body, the worse the withdrawal symptoms. This is because of the sudden imbalance of chemicals in the brain.