What are the side effects of taking Lexapro long term?

Long-term effects of Lexapro include:
  • Weight gain.
  • Elevated colon cancer biomarkers (carcinoembryonic antigens)
  • Insomnia.
  • Emotional numbness.
  • Sexual dysfunction.
  • Addiction/dependence.
  • Suicidal ideation.
  • Nausea.


Can Lexapro cause permanent damage?

Lexapro has been widely used during pregnancy but has been linked to a number of birth defects. Some of these effects are severe, permanently debilitation or may cause death.

How long can you stay on Lexapro?

Take your time.

Clinicians generally recommend staying on the medication for six to nine months before considering going off it. If you've had three or more recurrences of depression, make that at least two years.


What happens if you take Lexapro for a long time?

Are There Any Risks For Taking Escitalopram For Long Periods Of Time? To date, there are no known problems associated with long term use of escitalopram. It is a safe and effective medication when used as directed.

What are the rare side effects of Lexapro?

Common side effects of Lexapro include nausea, sexual side effects, and insomnia. For some people, these go away as your body gets used to the medication. More serious side effects of Lexapro are rare. These include suicidal thoughts or behaviors, abnormal bleeding, and serotonin syndrome.


The 'extreme' side-effects of antidepressants - BBC News



What should I avoid while taking Lexapro?

Do not use escitalopram with buspirone (Buspar®), fentanyl (Abstral®, Duragesic®), lithium (Eskalith®, Lithobid®), tryptophan, St. John's wort, amphetamines, or some pain or migraine medicines (eg, rizatriptan, sumatriptan, tramadol, Frova®, Imitrex®, Maxalt®, Relpax®, Ultram®, Zomig®).

What is the number one side effect of Lexapro?

The most commonly observed adverse reactions in Lexapro patients (incidence of approximately 5% or greater and approximately twice the incidence in placebo patients) were insomnia, ejaculation disorder (primarily ejaculatory delay), nausea, sweating increased, fatigue, and somnolence.

Can you take Lexapro for years?

Escitalopram is a commonly used antidepressant. Antidepressants are safe for short-term use. However, prolonged use can cause side effects with previously undetected clinical risks.


Is Lexapro linked to dementia?

If someone takes too much of the drug, it may also cause forgetfulness. In another study, researchers at Loyola University Medical Center learned that when treating patients with the depression medicine Lexapro or escitalopram, it caused levels of two neurotoxic compounds connected with dementia to drop markedly.

Is it OK to take antidepressants for life?

For people with chronic or severe depression, medication may be needed on a long-term basis. In these cases, antidepressants are often taken indefinitely. That is, in part, because depression is not an illness that can be cured.

What happens if you take antidepressants for years?

Specifically, weight gain seems to be a common long-term risk, especially the medications that affect serotonin levels. This could be due to the fact that serotonin is associated with an increase in appetite. There is also a risk of higher blood sugar levels and diabetes with taking antidepressants long-term.


When should I quit Lexapro?

Lexapro is usually taken for a period of many years, either until a person feels that they don't need it anymore or until they begin experiencing negative side effects and decide to switch medications. However, ceasing to take Lexapro should not be undertaken lightly—or without clinical oversight.

Will my brain go back to normal after Lexapro?

If the symptoms develop later or gradually, they may constitute a relapse of the depression. Ultimately, these withdrawal symptoms will improve with time, but they can be unpleasant for days and possibly even weeks. In time, the brain readjusts and people should experience a return to their normal state.

What does Lexapro do to your brain?

SSRIs treat depression by increasing levels of serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is one of the chemical messengers (neurotransmitters) that carry signals between brain nerve cells (neurons). SSRIs block the reabsorption (reuptake) of serotonin into neurons.


Does Lexapro damage the liver?

Although thought to be generally safe and with minimal drug-drug interactions, clinicians should be aware of the possibility of escitalopram-induced liver injury when initiating depressed patients on antidepressant treatment. This requires extra vigilance as most patients may remain asymptomatic.

Does Lexapro do more harm than good?

Our review supports the conclusion that antidepressants generally do more harm than good by disrupting a number of adaptive processes regulated by serotonin. However, there may be specific conditions for which their use is warranted (e.g., cancer, recovery from stroke).

What are the 9 memory robbing drugs?

Caution! These 10 Drugs Can Cause Memory Loss
  • Antianxiety drugs (Benzodiazepines) ...
  • Cholesterol-lowering drugs (Statins) ...
  • Antiseizure drugs. ...
  • Antidepressant drugs (Tricyclic antidepressants) ...
  • Narcotic painkillers. ...
  • Parkinson's drugs (Dopamine agonists) ...
  • Hypertension drugs (Beta-blockers)


Can Lexapro lead to Alzheimer's?

According to the University of Regina research, popular SSRI (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) antidepressant medications, such as Prozac, Paxil, Lexapro, Zoloft, etc., are associated with a twofold increase in the odds of developing some form of cognitive impairment, such as dementia, including Alzheimer's.

Can Lexapro cause hair loss?

Although the risk of hair loss associated with escitalopram is generally rare, physicians should routinely inquire about hair loss in patients taking escitalopram. Published online: June 25, 2020.

How long should stay on Lexapro anxiety?

When and how to stop taking Lexapro. Once the Lexapro has started working, your doctor will likely recommend that you stay on it for at least six to 12 months.


Is Lexapro weight gain permanent?

Would Stopping Lexapro Reverse the Weight Gain? Long-term antidepressant studies regarding weight gain show that weight fluctuations may persist for years during and following treatment [7, 8]. This may be due to ongoing mood, appetite, and metabolic changes as well as other factors such as age, gender, or race.

Does long-term use of Lexapro cause weight gain?

A person taking Lexapro may experience some weight gain, especially with long-term use. That risk may continue for up to six years. 3 There are many reasons for why this may occur. One of Lexapro's weight gain mechanisms is that it increases serotonin levels, and serotonin plays a role in weight control.

Is Lexapro a strong antidepressant?

Lexapro was shown in clinical studies to be significantly more effective than placebo in the treatment of Major Depressive Disorder and Generalized Anxiety Disorder.


Is Lexapro more for anxiety or depression?

Lexapro is prescribed to treat depression and generalized anxiety disorder. Zoloft is prescribed to treat depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and several other mental health conditions.

Does Lexapro cause brain fog?

Can Lexapro Cause Brain Fog? Yes. Brain fog is a common symptom for many patients, both when starting and stopping Lexapro.