lexapro antidepressants
escitalopram (EEE sih TAL oh pram)
What is the most important information I should know about Lexapro?
• Do not stop taking Lexapro without first talking to your doctor lexapro antidepressants. It maytake several weeks for you to start feeling better lexapro antidepressants.
• Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardousactivities lexapro antidepressants. Lexapro may cause dizziness lexapro antidepressants. If you experience dizziness, avoidthese activities lexapro antidepressants.
• Use alcohol cautiously lexapro antidepressants. Alcohol may increase drowsiness and dizzinesswhile taking Lexapro or affect your condition lexapro antidepressants.
What is Lexapro?
• Lexapro is in a class of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors lexapro antidepressants. Lexapro affects chemicals in the brain that may become unbalanced and causedepression lexapro antidepressants.
• Lexapro is used to treat depression lexapro antidepressants.
• Lexapro may also be used for purposes other than those listed in thismedication guide lexapro antidepressants.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Lexapro?
• Do not take Lexapro if you have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI)such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), or tranylcypromine (Parnate)during the last 2 weeks lexapro antidepressants. A dangerous drug interaction can occur if Lexapro iscombined with any of these medications lexapro antidepressants.
• Before taking Lexapro, tell your doctor if you
· have liver disease,
· have kidney disease,
· suffer from seizures, or
· suffer from mania or have suicidal thoughts lexapro antidepressants.
• You may not be able to take Lexapro, or you may require a dosage adjustmentor special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listedabove lexapro antidepressants.
• Lexapro should not be taken during treatment with citalopram (Celexa) lexapro antidepressants. Also, if you have had an allergic reaction to citalopram (Celexa), you may alsohave an allergic reaction to Lexapro lexapro antidepressants. Do not take Lexapro without first talkingto your doctor if you have had an allergic reaction to either medication inthe past lexapro antidepressants.
• Lexapro is in the FDA pregnancy category C lexapro antidepressants. This means that it is notknown whether Lexapro it will be harmful to an unborn baby lexapro antidepressants. Do not take Lexaprowithout first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnantduring treatment lexapro antidepressants.
• Lexapro passes into breast milk and may affect a nursing infant lexapro antidepressants. Do nottake Lexapro without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feedinga baby lexapro antidepressants.
How should I take Lexapro?
• Take Lexapro exactly as directed by your doctor lexapro antidepressants. If you do not understandthese instructions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them toyou lexapro antidepressants.
• Take each dose with a full glass (8 ounces) of water lexapro antidepressants.
• To ensure you get the correct dose, measure the liquid form of Lexaprowith a dose-measuring spoon, cup, or dropper, not with a regular table spoon lexapro antidepressants. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist where you canget one lexapro antidepressants.
• Lexapro may be taken with or without food lexapro antidepressants.
• Lexapro is usually taken once a day lexapro antidepressants. Follow your doctor's instructions lexapro antidepressants. Take the dose at the same time each day lexapro antidepressants.
• Do not stop taking Lexapro without first talking to your doctor lexapro antidepressants. It maytake several weeks for you to start feeling better lexapro antidepressants.
• Store Lexapro at room temperature away from moisture and heat lexapro antidepressants.
What happens if I miss a dose?
• Take the missed dose as soon as you remember lexapro antidepressants. However, if it is almosttime for the next regularly scheduled dose, skip the missed dose and take thenext one as directed lexapro antidepressants. Do not take a double dose of this medication unless otherwisedirected by your doctor lexapro antidepressants.
What happens if I overdose?
• Seek emergency medical attention lexapro antidepressants.
• Symptoms of a Lexapro overdose include nausea, vomiting, tremor, drowsiness,dizziness, sweating, and a fast heartbeat lexapro antidepressants.
What should I avoid while taking Lexapro?
• Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or performing other hazardousactivities lexapro antidepressants. Lexapro may cause dizziness lexapro antidepressants. If you experience dizziness, avoidthese activities lexapro antidepressants.
• Use alcohol cautiously lexapro antidepressants. Alcohol may increase drowsiness and dizzinesswhile taking Lexapro or affect your condition lexapro antidepressants.
What are the possible side effects of Lexapro?
• If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop takingLexapro and call your doctor immediately or seek emergency medical treatment:
· an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of the throat;swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; or hives);
· an irregular heartbeat or pulse;
· low blood pressure (dizziness, weakness);
· high blood pressure (severe headache, blurred vision); or
· chills or fever lexapro antidepressants.
• If you experience any of the following less serious side effects, continuetaking Lexapro and talk to your doctor:
· headache, tremor, nervousness, or anxiety;
· nausea, diarrhea, dry mouth, or changes in appetite or weight;
· sleepiness or insomnia; or
· decreased sex drive, impotence, or difficulty having an orgasm lexapro antidepressants.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur lexapro antidepressants. Talk to yourdoctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome lexapro antidepressants.
What other drugs will affect Lexapro?
• Do not take Lexapro if you have taken a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI)such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), or tranylcypromine (Parnate)during the last 2 weeks lexapro antidepressants. A dangerous drug interaction can occur when Lexaprois combined with any of these medications lexapro antidepressants.
• Before taking Lexapro, tell your doctor if you are taking any of thefollowing medicines:
· another antidepressant such as citalopram (Celexa), fluoxetine (Prozac),fluvoxamine (Luvox), sertraline (Zoloft), paroxetine (Paxil), trazodone (Desyrel),or nefazodone (Serzone);
· a tricyclic antidepressant such as amitriptyline (Elavil), imipramine(Tofranil), doxepin (Sinequan), nortriptyline (Pamelor), and others;
· a seizure medication including carbamazepine (Tegretol) or felbamate(Felbatol);
· a stomach medicine such as cimetidine (Tagamet, Tagamet HB), ranitidine(Zantac, Zantac 75), or omeprazole (Prilosec);
· an antibiotic such as erythromycin (Eryc-Tab, E-Mycin, E.E.S., Erythrocin,P.C.E., others) or clarithromycin (Biaxin);
· an antifungal medication such as fluconazole (Diflucan), itraconazole(Sporanox), or ketoconazole (Nizoral); or
· a migraine medication such as almotriptan (Axert), eletriptan (Relpax),frovatriptan (Frova), naratriptan (Amerge), rizatriptan (Maxalt), sumatriptan(Imitrex), or zolmitriptan (Zomig);
· the asthma medication zafirlukast (Accolate); or
· lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid, Lithonate, Lithotabs) lexapro antidepressants.
• You may not be able to take Lexapro, or you may require a dosage adjustmentor special monitoring during treatment if you are taking any of the medicineslisted above lexapro antidepressants.
• Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with Lexapro lexapro antidepressants. Talkto your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-countermedicines, including herbal products lexapro antidepressants.
Where can I get more information?
• Your pharmacist has additional information about Lexapro written forhealth professionals that you may read lexapro antidepressants.
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