Escitalopram: what is it used for? What are the secondary effects?

Major depression, generalized anxiety, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder… Common psychological realities, but devastating for those who suffer from them. Pharmacologically, they are treated with escitalopram. It is an antidepressant medication, one of the most prescribed, which is part of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.

Escitalopram is marketed under well-known names such as Cipralex ®, Lexapro ®, Ezentius ®, Ipran ® or Neuroipran ®. Its mechanism of action is quite effective compared to other medications.

That is why this is one of the most prescribed psychotropic drugs to treat mood disorders.. After reaching the market in 2001, through the Lundbeck and Forest laboratories, hope was placed in it due to its rapid action. Despite this, as with any other medication, it should be used in a context supervised by a specialist and be aware of its possible adverse effects. We explain everything to you.

What is escitalopram and what is it used for?

The functioning of the drug is closely related to serotonin. This substance has the exceptional ability to behave in the blood as a hormone and in the brain as a neurotransmitter.

Thus, one of its main purposes is to regulate our state of mind: it generates well-being, motivation, energy, optimism and, in essence, all those capacities that define the human being and that allow us to function, relate and create.

In mood disorders, such as depression or panic disorders, we can talk about a lack of this neurotransmitter. Therefore, as we know, in clinical practice it is common to resort to a pharmaceutical approach for the patient to recover this neurochemical balance.

Escitalopram achieves this due to its mechanism of action: blocks serotonin reuptake. That is, it prevents it from being captured in the postsynaptic receptors. So, causes its concentration to increase in intersynaptic spaces.

This property, that of helping the brain to have an adequate amount of this neurotransmitter, is found in many other drugs, such as fluoxetine. So what sets escitalopram apart from the rest? Why is this psychotropic drug one of the most prescribed? Let’s see it.

Advantages of escitalopram

For a time it was even said that there was a reason why escitalopram was so widely prescribed. For many, it was due to the marketing orchestrated to convince mental health professionals to prescribe it.

However, a study published in Expert Opinion on Drug Metabolism & Toxicology and in Expert review of Neurotherapeutics suggests that escitalopram is at least as effective as other antidepressants in its class. In fact, it is well tolerated, has a faster action and an excellent cost/benefit ratio.

What is escitalopram used for?

The main indications for this medication are the following:

Social phobiaMajor depressionPanic disorderObsessive-compulsive disorderGeneralized anxiety disorder

Escitalopram Side Effects

The side effect profile of escitalopram, according to Vademecum, is very similar to that of the others SSRI. They are quite tolerable symptoms in general, and will undoubtedly depend on the duration of the treatment itself. Thus, and on average, the most common conditions would be the following:

FatigueDrowsinessConstipationHeadacheHeartburnWeight gainDry mouth

Less common include skin reactions, taste alterations, pupil dilation, hair loss, vaginal bleeding, weight loss and tachycardia. The rarest are depersonalization, hallucinations, bradycardia, and temporary sexual dysfunction.

It is clear that these types of drugs can only be prescribed by certain specialist doctors (psychiatrists, neurologists). It is important to avoid combining it with other psychotropics such as monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).

Tips to combat the side effects of escitalopram

If you have just been prescribed this treatment, It is important that you know how to manage the side effects that it can cause. Here’s how to combat some:

Weight gain: reduce the consumption of sugary and sweet drinks, select nutritious and low-calorie foods, follow a regular exercise routine.Dry mouth: drink water regularly, chew sugarless gum, avoid tobacco and breathe more through your nose.Drowsiness: Take a short nap during the day (not to exceed 45 minutes) and do some physical activity in the afternoon.Constipation: drink plenty of water and follow a diet rich in fiber.

A very useful medicine, but it should be used with caution

It is well known that antidepressants and psychotropics in general can provide real relief for many problems. Despite this, there is still a lot of stigmatization regarding its widespread use.

Remember that this type of medication must be accompanied by good personalized therapy for each context, in addition to constant evaluation by your specialist doctor and psychologist.

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