Escitalopram oxalate, brand name Lexapro, is a drug used to cure depression. This drugs is a type of serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) that works on the enzymes and chemicals of our body that are accountable for low feeling and depression. A patient should not take Lexapro if he is on any type of monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI). Lexapro is available in tablet and liquid forms and can be taken with or without food.
Escitalopram is a chemically 'cleaner' version of Citalopram. Escitalopram is widely prescribed to help treat depression, and it is also used in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder. It is highly selective in its action on the neurotransmitter serotonin and shows minimal effects on norepinephrine and dopamine neuronal reuptake. It is used to treat the depression associated with mood disorders. It is also used on occassion in the treatment of body dysmorphic disorder and anxiety.
Please note that the following side effects include only some of the most common and somewhat less common but do not include rarer side effects; the list is not exhaustive. Many people taking Escitalopram (Lexapro, Cipralex) experience none of these side effects. Please consult a physician about any unusual symptoms. The most commonly observed adverse side effects of Escitalopram include: insomnia, ejaculation disorder, anorgasmia, decreased libido, nausea, increased sweating, fatigue. Do not take Lexapro for 2 weeks before or after taking any drug classified as an MAO inhibitor. Drugs in this category include the antidepressants phenelzine and tranylcypromine. Combining these drugs with Lexapro can cause serious and even fatal reactions marked by such symptoms as fever, rigidity, twitching.