Lexapro

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Depression
Treatment
20 Active Studies for Lexapro

What is Lexapro

EscitalopramThe Generic name of this drug
Treatment SummaryEscitalopram is a type of antidepressant medication called a selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor (SSRI). It works by restoring the balance of serotonin in the brain, which can help to reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety. Escitalopram is much stronger than other similar medications and is thought to have fewer side effects. It also works faster and is more effective than other SSRIs due to its specific action on serotonin transporters.
Lexaprois the brand name
image of different drug pills on a surface
Lexapro Overview & Background
Brand Name
Generic Name
First FDA Approval
How many FDA approvals?
Lexapro
Escitalopram
2002
362

Effectiveness

How Lexapro Affects PatientsEscitalopram is a type of medication called an SSRI (selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor) that helps boost serotonin levels in the brain. It is considered to be a fast-acting SSRI, and can cause abnormal bleeding or a condition called serotonin syndrome if taken with other drugs. If you need to stop taking escitalopram, it should be gradually reduced over time to avoid unpleasant side effects.
How Lexapro works in the bodyEscitalopram works to increase the amount of serotonin in the brain. It does this by blocking serotonin from being taken back up into the brain cells. It also binds to a secondary site on the serotonin transporter molecule, which further increases the amount of serotonin in the brain. After a while of this increased serotonin, the brain cells become less sensitive to it, which helps to create the full effect of the drug. Escitalopram does not bind to other types of receptors, which can help explain some side effects.

When to interrupt dosage

The measure of Lexapro is contingent upon the diagnosed affliction, including Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Depression. The amount fluctuates in line with the technique of delivery featured in the table beneath.
Condition
Dosage
Administration
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
20.0 mg, , 10.0 mg, 5.0 mg, 5.0 mg/mL, 15.0 mg, 1.0 mg, 2.0 mg, 1.0 mg/mL
, Oral, Tablet, film coated, Tablet, film coated - Oral, Solution, Solution - Oral, Tablet, Tablet - Oral, Tablet, coated, Tablet, coated - Oral, Tablet, orally disintegrating - Oral, Tablet, orally disintegrating, Kit
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
20.0 mg, , 10.0 mg, 5.0 mg, 5.0 mg/mL, 15.0 mg, 1.0 mg, 2.0 mg, 1.0 mg/mL
, Oral, Tablet, film coated, Tablet, film coated - Oral, Solution, Solution - Oral, Tablet, Tablet - Oral, Tablet, coated, Tablet, coated - Oral, Tablet, orally disintegrating - Oral, Tablet, orally disintegrating, Kit
Depression
20.0 mg, , 10.0 mg, 5.0 mg, 5.0 mg/mL, 15.0 mg, 1.0 mg, 2.0 mg, 1.0 mg/mL
, Oral, Tablet, film coated, Tablet, film coated - Oral, Solution, Solution - Oral, Tablet, Tablet - Oral, Tablet, coated, Tablet, coated - Oral, Tablet, orally disintegrating - Oral, Tablet, orally disintegrating, Kit

Warnings

Lexapro Contraindications
Condition
Risk Level
Notes
Severe Hypersensitivity Reactions
Do Not Combine
Escitalopram may interact with Pulse Frequency
Long QT Syndrome
Do Not Combine
Pulse Frequency
Do Not Combine
Pulse Frequency
Do Not Combine
Long QT Syndrome
Do Not Combine
There are 20 known major drug interactions with Lexapro.
Common Lexapro Drug Interactions
Drug Name
Risk Level
Description
Aclidinium
Major
The risk or severity of adverse effects can be increased when Escitalopram is combined with Aclidinium.
Artemether
Major
The risk or severity of QTc prolongation can be increased when Escitalopram is combined with Artemether.
Azelastine
Major
Escitalopram may increase the central nervous system depressant (CNS depressant) activities of Azelastine.
Cimetropium
Major
The risk or severity of adverse effects can be increased when Escitalopram is combined with Cimetropium.
Dronedarone
Major
Escitalopram may increase the QTc-prolonging activities of Dronedarone.
Lexapro Toxicity & Overdose RiskOverdosing on escitalopram may cause dizziness, seizures, unconsciousness, nausea, vomiting, low blood pressure, increased heart rate, and changes in the heart's electrical activity. There is no specific antidote for this drug, so monitoring vital signs and providing supportive care is the best way to treat overdose. Since this drug is quickly absorbed into the tissue after ingestion, methods such as dialysis are not likely to be very helpful.
image of a doctor in a lab doing drug, clinical research

Lexapro Novel Uses: Which Conditions Have a Clinical Trial Featuring Lexapro?

231 active studies are currently assessing the utility of Lexapro in the management of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Depression.
Condition
Clinical Trials
Trial Phases
Depression
218 Actively Recruiting
Phase 3, Phase 2, Not Applicable, Phase 4, Phase 1, Early Phase 1
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
7 Actively Recruiting
Not Applicable, Phase 2, Phase 3
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
68 Actively Recruiting
Not Applicable, Phase 2, Phase 3, Phase 1, Early Phase 1

Lexapro Reviews: What are patients saying about Lexapro?

4Patient Review
10/31/2022
Lexapro for Anxiousness associated with Depression
It's tough switches medications, and it took about three months for me to transition from Effexor to Lexapro. I'm now on 20mg and have experienced a decrease in appetite. If you're struggling with making a similar switch, consider taking lorazepam to help ease the process; it definitely aided me.
3.3Patient Review
10/5/2022
Lexapro for Depression
I tried Lexapro a few months ago but stopped because the first week was really tough. I decided to give it another go recently and have been taking it in the morning. It's helped me feel stable during the day, but I crash around 7pm and become tired and irritable.
3Patient Review
9/22/2022
Lexapro for Depression
I started on 10 mg to help with postpartum depression, it definitely helped but now they doubled my dosage and I take it at night. The increased dosage has caused me to have obsessive thoughts which then lead to anxiety attacks if I can't remember something. Not sure I'm going to continue with it.
2.7Patient Review
10/28/2022
Lexapro for Panic Disorder
I was on this medicine for around two months. I started with a low dose of 10mg, but after a couple weeks with no change, my doctor upped it to 15mg. Even at this lower dosage, though, I had really terrible side effects that made me unable to function normally. It felt like there was always a fire inside me and I would have these awful nightmares.
2.3Patient Review
9/15/2022
Lexapro for Depression
I was on Lexapro for over six months. I started at 20mg and it helped a little bit at first. I had energy, but everything else felt the same. Slowly, though, I started feeling numb. My emotions flatlined and I could only tell annoyance and irritation apart from other emotions easily. I had energy but no desire to do anything with it or motivation to get better. Additionally, my sex drive disappeared entirely.
1.7Patient Review
10/15/2022
Lexapro for Major Depressive Disorder
I found that this drug actually made my initial symptoms worse. I lost all sense of morality and consciousness while on it.
image of drug pills surrounding a glass of water symbolizing drug consumption

Patient Q&A Section about lexapro

These questions and answers are submitted by anonymous patients, and have not been verified by our internal team.

Is Lexapro a strong antidepressant?

"Lexapro clinical studies have shown to be more effective in treating Major Depressive Disorder and Generalized Anxiety Disorder than those who take a placebo."

Answered by AI

How does Lexapro make you feel?

"You may experience side effects such as fatigue, diarrhea, or headaches when you first start taking Lexapro, which is an antidepressant prescription drug used to treat depression and anxiety."

Answered by AI

What does Lexapro do for you?

"Escitalopram is used to treat depression and anxiety. It is an antidepressant that affects chemicals in the brain that may be unbalanced in people with depression or anxiety."

Answered by AI

Is Lexapro and Xanax the same thing?

"Different prescription drugs that can treat general anxiety as well as anxiety with depression are Lexapro and Xanax. Lexapro is an SSRI drug while Xanax is a benzodiazepine."

Answered by AI

Clinical Trials for Lexapro

Image of St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton in Hamilton, Canada.

Psychotherapy for Depression

18 - 65
Female
Hamilton, Canada
The RESPOND trial explores the link between early life adversity and later life depressive symptoms. The investigators have designed a new psychological therapy tailored to address the symptoms that can be caused by difficult experiences in early life. These symptoms include low mood, emotional dysregulation, and distressing thoughts and beliefs related to difficult or traumatic experiences. The investigators would like to see if this new therapy helps people feel better. The investigators are also studying the biological changes that can occur as a result of early life adversity, and how this therapy may influence those changes. To do this, The investigators ask questions about participants' physical and mental health and take blood samples.
Recruiting
Has No Placebo
St. Joseph's Healthcare HamiltonBenicio Frey, MD, PhD
Image of Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, United States.

Stepped Care Treatment for Anxiety

7 - 17
All Sexes
Houston, TX
Childhood anxiety disorders (CAD) are common and impairing. Family based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is efficacious in treating CAD. Yet, many children do not receive care due to barriers such as limited provider availably, high treatment costs, and constrained family resources (e.g., time). To combat these barriers, other treatment methods have been developed. The stepped care treatment models maximize resources by providing low-intensity, low-cost interventions as a first time treatment, while stepping up care for those needing more intensive treatment. Specifically, a stepped care model for CAD that begins with a parent-focus intervention has great promise to deliver efficacious and cost-effective treatment without having to engage the child. While stepped care approaches show promise in treating CAD with comparable efficacy to standard CBT, there remains a large research-to-practice gap. The stepped care model for CAD that begins with a parent-focused intervention has yet been explored, and very little is known about intervention mediators that explain mechanisms of change. This research is being done to improve the reach and quality of services using a stepped care model, offering an affordable and practical solution to the widespread gap in youth mental health care.
Waitlist Available
Has No Placebo
Baylor College of Medicine
Have you considered Lexapro clinical trials? We made a collection of clinical trials featuring Lexapro, we think they might fit your search criteria.Go to Trials
Image of Detroit Recovery Project in Detroit, United States.

Peer-Delivered Behavioral Activation for Depression

18+
All Sexes
Detroit, MI
Low-income individuals have limited access to evidence-based interventions for mental health. Peer recovery specialists, individuals in recovery from mental health and/or substance use problems, have the potential to increase access to evidence-based interventions for individuals from low-resource communities, particularly when trained and supervised in models that are acceptable and feasible in these communities. This study will examine the effectiveness and implementation potential of a peer-delivered evidence-based intervention (Behavioral Activation) among individuals receiving services from a community-based treatment setting providing integrated physical and behavioral healthcare.
Waitlist Available
Has No Placebo
Detroit Recovery Project
Image of UCSD Interventional Psychiatry in San Diego, United States.

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Depression

18 - 85
All Sexes
San Diego, CA
The investigators propose a single-arm, open-label study to evaluate the effectiveness, safety, tolerability and feasibility of at-home transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) as a treatment for depression, particularly in cases where patients have not responded well to traditional therapies. Treatment will be delivered over a 2-week period with daily weekday treatments i.e., five tDCS sessions, each lasting 20 minutes, spaced by approximately 20-minute inter-session intervals, for a total of three hours a day. Participants will self-administer treatment at home under direct remote supervision. Pre- and post- treatment neurophysiological biomarkers sessions will also be carried out. The study aims to examine changes in mood, brain activity, and related clinical outcomes before, during, and after treatment, with the goal to provide more information that can be used for future studies.
Recruiting
Has No Placebo
UCSD Interventional Psychiatry
Have you considered Lexapro clinical trials? We made a collection of clinical trials featuring Lexapro, we think they might fit your search criteria.Go to Trials
Have you considered Lexapro clinical trials? We made a collection of clinical trials featuring Lexapro, we think they might fit your search criteria.Go to Trials
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