Lexapro (escitalopram) is an antidepressant doctors may prescribe for treating depression. People often take Lexapro as a form of long-term depression treatment.
Lexapro is the brand name of the drug escitalopram. It belongs to a class of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) and can help with depression and anxiety symptoms by restoring the balance of serotonin in the brain.
Healthcare professionals often prescribe Lexapro as a long-term treatment option. However, the duration can vary for each person.
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According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, taking Lexapro to treat depression for prolonged periods of time is considered safe. There are currently no known problems linked to the long-term use of this medication.
However, some reports suggest that taking escitalopram long-term may cause some side effects, such as increasing the levels of carcinoembryonic antigen in the blood. This may increase the risk of developing cancer, but more research is needed to confirm this.
What are the benefits to staying on Lexapro long term?
One of the primary benefits of Lexapro is that it can help relieve or manage anxiety and depression by increasing the levels of serotonin in your brain. It can also help manage symptoms of depression, such as:
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What are the risk factors to staying on Lexapro long term?
Taking Lexapro is generally safe. However, it is not risk-free. This medication may interact with certain drugs, such as cold medications and cough suppressants. This may cause a significant increase in serotonin, leading toserotonin syndrome, a potentially life threatening reaction.
Symptoms of serotonin syndrome can include:
tachycardia, a heart rate over 100 beats per minute
Lexapro may also decrease your platelet counts. Platelets are cell fragments in your blood cells that form clots, helping to stop or prevent bleeding. A low platelet count can increase the chance of severe bleeding.
You should always inform a doctor if you have health conditions that can cause severe bleeding, such as a blood clot disorder, or if you take medications that increase your risk of bleeding, such as aspirin or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
Other side effects you may experience when taking Lexapro may include:
nervousness
headaches
restlessness and difficulty sleeping
fatigue
dry mouth
nausea and vomiting
diarrhea
increased sweating
difficulty achieving orgasm and ejaculatory delay
decreased libido
In some rare cases, Lexapro may cause severe side effects such as seizures and even coma.
There is also some evidence that taking Lexapro long-term may cause an increase of carcinoembryonic antigen levels in the blood, increasing people’s risk of developing cancer in the future. The same evidence reported that after discontinuing Lexapro, carcinoembryonic antigen levels decreased.
However, more research is needed to confirm if Lexapro may increase the risk of cancer.
Alternative treatment options
Lexapro is not the only treatment available for depression. There are several alternative options available, such as:
Medication
There are various types of antidepressant medications that you can take that may help improve depression symptoms, such as:
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Talk therapy and lifestyle changes can also be important in treating depression. This may include a combination of therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and interpersonal therapy (IPT).
These types of talk therapy aim to modify certain behaviors and thinking patterns that can lead to anxiety and depression.
During therapy, the specialists may also teach you mindful exercises that can help you manage and reduce your stress levels and anxiety. This may help reduce the chance that depression will reoccur.
Lifestyle measures
Doctors may recommend lifestyle changes to help naturally improve your anxiety and depression. These may include:
practicing mindful activities, such as medication and breathing exercises
doing activities that lower your stress levels, such as listening to music or reading a book
scheduling self-care activities during the week
doing activities and hobbies that you enjoy and that make you happy
If you find that your depression symptoms are impacting your day-to-day life, consider speaking with a healthcare professional. They can work with you to put together a suitable treatment plan.
Summary
Lexapro (escitalopram) is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) medication that doctors often prescribe for the long-term treatment of anxiety and depression. This medication is considered safe for prolonged use.
However, taking Lexapro may cause some side effects that can vary from mild to severe. It can interact with certain medications, which can cause severe complications such as serotonin syndrome, a life threatening condition.
It is important to always tell a doctor about any medication you are taking or health conditions that you have to reduce the risk of serious side effects when taking Lexapro.
