Common Lexapro Side Effects
is a drug, an anti-depressant, manufactured mainly to deal with serotonin in the human body. It is also referred to as cipralex or escitalopram. It is prescribed to patients who suffer major depression and other anxiety disorders. It can also be used to treat panic disorders, obsessive disorders and social anxiety. Lexapro side effects are few mainly because it is a very effective anti-depressant when it comes to inhibiting serotonin. Just like when one is using any other drug, the chances of getting side effects are there even if minimal.
Some of the most common lexapro side effects are headaches, ejaculation problems, nausea and fatigue. According to scientists, almost a quarter of the patients on lexapro experience headaches and nausea. Between 10 and 15% of the men on lexapro report ejaculation problems once they start using the anti-depressant. However, this condition is easily treated and most men resume normal activity in a short time. Other minor lexapro side effects include sweating, decreased libido, diarrhea, constipation and trembling. Most doctors say that most lexapro side effects disappear after using the drug for a few days because the body becomes tolerant to it. Other more intense lexapro side effects include heart palpitations, lack of sleep and suicidal thoughts. However, not everybody who takes lexapro experiences these side effects. Different people react differently to different drugs.
Other patients on lexapro also manifest side effects such as hostility, panic attacks, restlessness, elation and mood swings. Some lexapro side effects also come forth in form of rapid heart beats, hallucinations, confusion, changes in blood pressure, active reflexes, agitation and irritability as well as seizures and sometimes getting into comas. If these side effects become unbearable or worrying, patients should consult their physician to confirm that they are safe to use. This is more so if the patient feels that they may cause harm either to their bodies or to others around them.
To avoid severe lexapro side effects, patients should discontinue use of certain other drugs two weeks before they start taking lexapro. Some of these drugs include monoamine oxidase inhibitors like Marplan, Nardil, Azilect, Eldepryl and Parnate. On the other hand, if these drugs need to be reintroduced back to the body, another two weeks should be set aside to ensure the body cleans out all the lexapro in the body. Patients should also make sure they visit their doctor regularly especially the first 3 months of taking the drug in order to monitor all lexapro side effects on the patient.