How Does Lexapro Work?

Lexapro Escitalopram

The antidepressant Lexapro (chemical name: escitalopram) helps relieve the symptoms of depression by restoring a natural serotonin balance to the brain. Lexapro belongs to a class of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

Depression defines itself by a change in behaviors that result in the patient's loss of interest in daily activities, feelings of sadness or emptiness, inability to sleep and unsafe thoughts or actions (suicide, for example). Doctors describe severe, persistent depression as clinical depression, major depression or major depressive disorder.

Medical science does not yet fully understand the chemistry of depression. However, growing experiential data suggest an imbalance of the brain's neurotransmitters --- chemicals that allow nerve cells in the brain to communicate --- may contribute to the problem.

More specifically, there exists evidence to support the view that an imbalance of the neurotransmitter serotonin may play a part in an individual's developing depressive symptoms. Therefore, correcting the imbalance should correct the depression. Thus, research scientists developed the SSRI class of drugs that includes Lexapro.

A doctor or psychologist usually will start a patient on a daily 10 mg dose of Lexapro, which she may increase to 20 mg daily beginning with the second week.
Patients may see no benefits (improvement in their depression) for up to four weeks. However, continuing to take the drug will eventually relieve the symptoms of depression. To attempt to cure the underlying cause(s) of depression usually requires medicine combined with counseling.

Medco Health Solutions, on its members-only website, warns patients not to purchase Lexapro (escitalopram) from open Internet sites or from vendors outside the United States, stating: "Samples of escitalopram purchased on the Internet have been found to contain haloperidol (Haldol), a potent antipsychotic drug with dangerous side effects."