I was prescribed Lexapro today for anxiety, panic disorder, and OCD. I just did some research on the drug, and a few things I read made me uneasy about taking it. For one, nothing I have read supports that Lexapro helps with OCD, and I really want that to be cured. Also, I read a whole list of warnings:
"Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: skin rash or hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have any new or worsening symptoms such as: mood or behavior changes, anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, or if you feel impulsive, irritable, agitated, hostile, aggressive, restless, hyperactive (mentally or physically), more depressed, or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself.
Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
-seizures
-tremors, shivering, or twitching
-problems with balance or coordination
-confusion, fast heartbeat|||Good question, and good research. I have been in the pharmaceutical and medical industry for 20 years and have taken Lexapro and about 6 or 7 other drugs for depression, anxiety, and OCD, so I know what I am saying.
1. All drugs in the class of Lexapro are capable of helping depression, OCD, and anxiety. There are no guarantees, but the drugs in this class all are capable of helping.
2. Lexapro is a really popular drug these days because it works very well for most patients, and is pretty safe to boot.
3. A package insert or label contains all sorts of warnings and statements and lists of bad things that can happen; the FDA makes us put that stuff in there so medical professions can know exactly what to do/think/look for and how to make descisions. Every drug for OCD/depression/anxiety is going to have such a laundry list. Here is the thing that most people don't think about - the FDA is one of the most conservative organizations in the world, and they approved the drug for sale because they find it to be overall safe and effective, with a positive risk:benefit profile. In other words, it's safe enough to give to a lot of people, but there is no gaurantee that some bad things will not happen.
4. If you take it for two weeks you will almost certainly feel worlds and worlds better.
5. OCD is not really curable, but it very much controllable.
Good luck. :-)|||Lexapro is a SSRI that helps treat all of the above. Depression, anxiety, OCD and other mental illnesses are all the result of low levels of free seritonin in the brain. Seritonin is a neurotransmitter that helps regulate mood.
The warnings are the standard "please don't sue us" language. The most common side effects are drowsiness, dizziness, and minor tremors. It is a very effective medication and it is pretty easy on the body. One pointer is to take it as your doctor instructed. It takes a week or so to really start to kick in and show improvement. Don't take more, it doesn't help. Don't stop taking it without working with your doctor and tapering off of it SLOWLY. If you quit cold-turkey, there is a good likelihood that you will crash and relapse big time.
Hang in there, and good luck!|||I was on lexapro and neurontin for anxiety. I didn't have any of the side effects. Each person is different. If you are that uneasy about the drug then tell your doctor your concerns, and maybe he will prescribe you something different. I haven't found any prescriptions that did not have side effects. Most of the side effects people will not experience, but there is always that chance. Call your doctor in the morning and talk about your concerns.|||The only bad side effect I had on Lexapro was that I could never orgasm while on it. The side effect went away immediately when I stopped taking the medication.
Other than that, the medication didn't help me with depression, but I didn't experience any other significant side effects.
I now take Abilify 10 mg for depression along with some other bi-polar meds.
Good luck! I hope Lexapro works for you to combat anxiety.
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