DRUGS belonging to the Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) group are utilized of the treatment of depression and anxiety symptoms. They act by restoring the balance of serotonin, the mood-influencing biochemical that could be predominantly found in brain health cells. However, SSRIs, without exception, consist of their side-effects that can easily be severe. The severity of side-effects spurred medical research and generated newer SSRIs, current of which is Lexapro (Escitalopram Oxalate).
Named Cipralex in many west European countries, Lexapro continues to be demonstrated to be superior over its predecessor SSRI in relation to promptness of action, lower dosage, and more manageable side-effects if taken faithfully as prescribed from the physician. Despite its hallmarks of dosage and lower side-effects, essentially the most significant benefit of Lexapro is that it acts faster than remainder.
Importance of quick action: Usually, Lexapro begins to show positive effects within 10-to-14 times of the start of treatment (many times, it starts in just a week). Complete healing does not happen through this time span, but the patient makes enough progress to retain confidence throughout medication. This confidence is very important because depression and anxiety are psycho-somatic illnesses requiring this patient to own faith in the treatment.
Though, as said above, start of an improvement throughout patient's condition usually happens within 10-14 days of start of Lexapro treatment, all it takes is four-to-six weeks for full effect for being seen. Thereafter, under health advice, the treatment may continue for a couple of weeks more if warranted or is tapered off (never abruptly stopped, to play down withdrawal symptoms).
Comparison with other SSRIs: In comparison, other SSRIs take a longer amount of time to to act; some take four-to-six weeks. For a reasonable comparison, let us take a look at research findings on two sets of patients who didn't respond by way of the end of the eighth week of treatment. One set was being administered Lexapro, as well as the other set Celexa (Citalopram), another SSRI drug. Right at the end of many 24th week, it was found that 55% of Lexapro patients achieved relief, compared with 51% of Celexa patients.
In other words, 4% of Celexa patients needed to be administered Celexa for longer than 24 weeks to reach the relief-level that Lexapro patients achieved in 24 weeks. The undeniable fact that the Lexapro dosage was half (10-20mg each day) the Celexa dosage (20-40mg every day) is extraneous until the point.
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side effects of Ambien In conclusion, though we've got compared Lexapro with only an extra SSRI, Celexa, you will need to be sure to note that it is the immediate predecessor of Lexapro in the SSRI family. The gap between Lexapro and Celexa concerning speed of only widens as we Celexa side effects compare Lexapro with SSRIs older than Celexa.