Lexapro

escitalopram

Lexapro is in a class of medicines called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) that are marketed for the treatment of anxiety and major depressive disorders. The drug works by restoring the balance of specific chemicals in the brain in order to improve mood feelings of well-being.

Common side effects observed in patients using Lexapro are:

• nausea
• drowsiness
• dizziness
• fatigue
• increased sweating
• trouble sleeping

If any of the following rare but serious side effects occur, patients should immediately contact their doctors:

• changes in sexual performance/satisfaction * uncontrolled muscle movements
• unusual or severe mental/mood changes (including rare thoughts of suicide)
• easy bruising/bleeding
• black stools
• vomit that looks like coffee grounds
• fast/irregular heartbeat
• fainting
• seizures
• changes in the amount of urine.

If men taking this drug experience a painful or prolonged erection that lasts four or more hours, they should stop using Lexapro and seek immediate medical attention to avoid permanent problems.

In July 2006, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) updated information about SSRI’s to include facts about a life-threatening condition called serotonin syndrome. This condition occurs when SSRI’s are taken at the same time as medicines used to treat migraine headaches, called triptans.

Also in July 2006, the FDA release information about a study on the effect SSRI’s may have on pregnancy. The study found that babies born to women who took SSRI’s at least 20 weeks into their pregnancies were 6 times as likely to have persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPHN) than babies born to mothers who did not take SSRI’s during pregnancy.

Babies who are born with PPHN have abnormal blood flow through the heart and lungs and do not get enough oxygen to their bodies. PPHN makes babies very sick and is possibly fatal.

Source: “Escitalopram (marketed as Lexapro) Information,” Food and Drug Administration, May 2, 2007; “ESCITALOPRAM - ORAL,” Webmd.com, May 2007.