The following information is a summary. It is not intended to replace a doctor's instructions.

How Does Lexapro Work?

Lexapro is the newest member of the family of antidepressant medications known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

Lexapro helps to restore the brain's chemical balance by increasing the available supply of serotonin, a substance in the brain believed to influence mood.

Evidence suggests an imbalance of serotonin, a chemical messenger in the brain, is an important factor in the development and severity of depressive symptoms, such as sad mood, fatigue, lack of pleasure, etc.

Lexapro appears to work by increasing the available supply of serotonin. Here's how:
- The chemical messenger serotonin is released from one nerve cell and passed to the next.

- In depression, too much serotonin is reabsorbed by the first nerve cell. This decreases the amount of serotonin available for the next nerve cell.

- Lexapro blocks the reabsorption of serotonin by the first nerve cell. This increases the amount of serotonin available for the next nerve cell.

- By correcting the imbalance of the supply of serotonin, LEXAPRO improves symptoms of depression.

Because LEXAPRO appears to relieve depression by increasing serotonin levels with minimal effect on many of the other chemicals in the brain, it may cause relatively few and mild side effects, which generally tend to go away with continued treatment.

Frequently Asked Questions about LEXAPRO (escitalopram oxalate) and depression

Why was I prescribed LEXAPRO?
LEXAPRO is a prescription medication for the treatment of depression. Just like diabetes, heart disease, or asthma, depression is a real medical condition. It is believed to be caused by an imbalance of certain chemicals in the brain that affect mood. Symptoms vary and may include persistent sad mood, fatigue, or lack of pleasure. The good news is that LEXAPRO is an effective, well-tolerated therapy that can help improve symptoms of depression.

Won't depression just go away on its own?
No. Everyone gets sad sometimes—a brief "blue mood," disappointments, grief after losing a loved one. Depression, though, is different. You can't just "snap out of it"—no more than you could snap out of a case of diabetes. Depression is a disease that requires medical attention and treatment. Otherwise, if left untreated, depression can last months or, in some cases, years. In order to help you get better, you need treatment, which is why your doctor or other healthcare professional prescribed LEXAPRO.

What is LEXAPRO?
LEXAPRO is an antidepressant that is the newest member of the family of medications known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). LEXAPRO was developed by isolating a part of the CELEXATM (citalopram HBr) molecule, known as an isomer. As a result, LEXAPRO is able to provide effective and well-tolerated therapy for depressed patients.

How does LEXAPRO improve depression?
LEXAPRO helps to restore the brain's chemical balance by increasing the available supply of serotonin, a substance in the brain believed to influence mood.

When will I start feeling better?
In clinical studies, many patients treated with LEXAPRO began to feel improvement in their depression beginning in 1 or 2 weeks, although full antidepressant effect may take 4 to 6 weeks. You should follow up with your doctor or other healthcare professional and report your progress.

Can I stop taking LEXAPRO once I feel better?
No, you should take your medication as long as your doctor or other healthcare professional advises, even if you start feeling better, because otherwise your depression could return or worsen. Your doctor or other healthcare professional may ask you to keep taking LEXAPRO even if you are feeling better, to help keep your depression from coming back.

Are there side effects with LEXAPRO?
LEXAPRO is well tolerated by most people. The most commonly reported side effects of LEXAPRO are nausea, insomnia, problems with ejaculation, somnolence, increased sweating, and fatigue. Most of the side effects experienced by patients taking LEXAPRO are mild to moderate and go away with continued treatment, and usually do not cause patients to stop taking LEXAPRO.

Does LEXAPRO cause weight gain?
People treated with LEXAPRO experienced no clinically important weight change as a result of therapy. If you have concerns about any other side effects, you should talk with your doctor or other healthcare professional.

How and when should I take LEXAPRO?
LEXAPRO should be taken once every day. It may be taken with or without food, in the morning or evening. Also remember to fill prescriptions ahead of time to avoid missing a dose. To get the best results, it is important to follow all of your healthcare professional's instructions about how and when you should take LEXAPRO.

Can I take LEXAPRO with other medications?
LEXAPRO can be taken with most other medications except another family of antidepressants called monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). LEXAPRO and MAOIs should not be taken together or within 14 days of each other. As with other SSRIs, caution is indicated in taking LEXAPRO with tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs). Before you begin taking LEXAPRO, make sure to tell your doctor or other healthcare professional if you are taking any other medications, including over-the-counter medications, herbal remedies, diet supplements, etc.

What else can I do for my depression in addition to taking LEXAPRO?
When taking LEXAPRO, be sure to keep follow-up appointments with your doctor or other healthcare professional. He or she needs to keep track of how you are doing as you make progress toward recovery. In addition to taking a medication such as LEXAPRO, you may also want to participate in psychotherapy or “talk therapy.” These counseling sessions can provide you with valuable support that can help you better understand how depression affects you and ways you can cope with the illness. While your doctor or other healthcare professional should be your main source of support in depression treatment, talking with a close friend or family member can sometimes be very helpful.

What if I have more questions about LEXAPRO?
Your doctor or other healthcare professional should be able to answer any additional questions you may have about LEXAPRO and your depression treatment.

Will LEXAPRO affect my sex drive?
Although changes in sexual desire, sexual performance, and sexual satisfaction may occur while a person experiences a depression episode, they may also be a consequence of treatment with SSRI therapies. Reliable estimates of changes in sexual behavior related to medication are difficult to obtain, because patients and physicians are often reluctant to discuss them. In clinical trials, a low percentage of patients taking LEXAPRO have reported sexual side effects, primarily ejaculatory delay in men. If you have questions about sexual dysfunction, speak with your doctor or other healthcare professional.