LEXAPRO (escitalopram oxalate) is a member of a group of prescription drugs known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). LEXAPRO is an effective and well-tolerated treatment for both major depressive disorder (MDD) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).

LEXAPRO has been prescribed to over 15 million patients in the U.S.¹ With just one 10 mg tablet a day, clinical trials suggest that many patients' depressive and anxiety symptoms begin to improve within a week or two after taking LEXAPRO. Full antidepressant/antianxiety effects may take 4 to 6 weeks.

Lexapro is Well Tolerated with Few Side Effects

LEXAPRO is a powerful medicine that is well tolerated. In studies of patients taking 10 mg a day of LEXAPRO, the number of people who stopped taking LEXAPRO due to side effects was comparable to those who took placebo (sugar pill) in the treatment of depression, and low in the treatment of GAD.^2,3,4,† If you think you are experiencing side effects, you should talk with your healthcare professional about your concerns. A simple adjustment in dose may be all that is required.

The most frequent side effects reported with LEXAPRO are nausea, insomnia, problems with ejaculation, somnolence, increased sweating, fatigue, decreased libido, and anorgasmia.^2,5 Patients taking LEXAPRO typically have mild to moderate side effects which tend to go away with continued treatment. One study of patients taking 10 mg of LEXAPRO showed that these side effects usually do not cause patients to stop taking LEXAPRO. In that study, only 4% of patients stopped taking LEXAPRO due to side effects, compared with 3% of the patients taking placebo.^2,5

^†8% for Lexapro vs 4% for placebo in the comprehensive GAD safety database.

How SSRIs Work

The brain chemistry of depression and anxiety is not fully understood. However, a growing body of evidence supports the view that people with these disorders have an imbalance of the brain's neurotransmitters. These are chemicals in the brain that allow nerve cells to communicate. One of these neurotransmitters is serotonin. An imbalance in serotonin may be an important factor in the development of depression and anxiety. LEXAPRO appears to relieve the symptoms of depression and anxiety by increasing serotonin with minimal effect on many of the other chemicals in the brain.

Lexapro Treats Both Depression and GAD

If you suffer from either depression or GAD, you should ask your doctor about LEXAPRO. For most people, one 10 mg tablet a day of LEXAPRO controls the symptoms of either of these disorders.^2,5 With a simple dosing schedule of only one tablet daily, LEXAPRO makes it easy for you to take your medicine on schedule and keep your symptoms under control.