If you’ve been feeling down lately, you may suffer from depression. This mental illness can make every aspect of your life difficult. Everything seems to be a struggle, and nothing pleases you. It’s no wonder that so many people feel this way at some point in their lives.
Luckily, there is hope, and one of the best ways to get better is by taking medication for depression, known as antidepressants.
Ask any psychiatrist, therapist, or general doctor, and they’ll tell you that antidepressants are one of the most commonly prescribed medications worldwide. But why is this so? Why do these medications remain so popular in a world where there’s an abundance of stressors and anxieties from everyday life?
The answer is that antidepressants have been shown time and time again to be effective in helping treat depression. Everyone experiences ups and downs in life. It’s normal to feel sad once in a while, but when these feelings persistently affect your ability to function normally on a day-to-day basis, it’s a good sign that you might need some help with your depression.
Antidepressants like Lexapro can be highly beneficial in treating various kinds of depression because they work by increasing the amount of serotonin that your brain produces.
If you or someone you love is struggling with depression, read more about Lexapro for depression and its benefits and risks.
What Is Lexapro?
Lexapro is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor or SSRI. SSRIs are a type of antidepressant that increases serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that plays a role in mood, emotion, and impulse control.
SSRIs can effectively treat the major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and certain types of social anxiety. Lexapro is most commonly used to treat the major depressive disorder, but other SSRIs you can come across in the market include Celexa, Zoloft, and Prozac.
How Lexapro Works For Depression
Research suggests that Lexapro works for depression in a few different ways.
For starters, Lexapro works to boost serotonin levels in the brain, which in turn can help people with depression feel happier. Lexapro also helps fight depression by reducing the amount of serotonin that is reabsorbed after it’s been released. This means more serotonin is available to bind to receptors in the brain.
Lexapro can also help reduce the stress hormone cortisol, elevated in those suffering from depression.
Another theory suggests that Lexapro works for depression by increasing the amount of norepinephrine in the brain. Norepinephrine is another essential neurotransmitter for mood.
Benefits of Lexapro for Depression
There are many benefits to taking Lexapro for depression, the most prominent being that it helps alleviate the symptoms of depression. This can make life easier for you in every way. It can help you get more sleep, feel less anxious, and feel less sad. It can also make it easier to be productive.
Lexapro can also be effective for long-term use. You likely won’t have to take it for the rest of your life. However, most people find that they can taper off it once they have recovered from their depression.
Side Effects of Lexapro for Depression
It’s essential to keep in mind that Lexapro can also have negative side effects. Some of these side effects might be uncomfortable or even dangerous. Still, they are often worth the risk if they help alleviate the symptoms of depression.
The most common side effects of Lexapro are nausea, vomiting, headache, trouble sleeping, and anxiety.
Some less common side effects of Lexapro for depression include dry mouth, shakiness, dizziness, and weight gain. Some people even experience hallucinations or visual/auditory changes. While these aren’t as common, it’s important to note that the more you take Lexapro, the more likely you will experience these side effects.
Taking Lexapro With Alcohol
Drinking Lexapro with alcohol can lead to drowsiness, dizziness, and confusion. Additionally, it can increase the risk of nausea and vomiting; these side effects can be especially problematic for people who have taken Lexapro to help with their nausea and vomiting related to chemotherapy.
While it’s not recommended that you drink while taking Lexapro, it’s important to note that taking Lexapro doesn’t cause alcohol dependence or make you more likely to become addicted to alcohol. But if you drink a lot of alcohol while taking Lexapro, you may increase your risk of experiencing side effects.
How To Know if Lexapro Is Right for You
Considering Lexapro for depression, it’s essential to understand that every person responds to it differently. Also, everyone’s depression is different. This means you must talk to your doctor about your options for treating depression.
Monitor your dosage closely if you and your doctor decide that Lexapro is right for you. Also, remember that you should take Lexapro for depression at the same time every day. This helps your body get used to the dosage more quickly and also helps to avoid some of the common side effects.
At the end of two weeks, if you’re still feeling depressed, you can discuss whether you should stay on Lexapro or switch to a different medication. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to treating depression with medication, so it’s important to work with a mental health professional to decide on a treatment strategy that’s right for you.
If you start taking Lexapro, it’s important to be patient and give the drug enough time to work. Remember, Lexapro takes two to three weeks to kick in, so give it three full weeks before you decide whether it’s working for you.
The Final Words
If you or someone you love is suffering from depression, you might be tempted to try a quick fix like Lexapro for depression.
Lexapro has been proven to be an effective treatment for depression, but it’s important to remember that it may take two to three weeks to kick in. Be sure to give the drug enough time to work, and discuss whether you should stay on Lexapro or switch to a different medication if you’re still feeling depressed after 14 days.
As such, taking it as directed is important to get the most out of it. You can also help speed up the healing process by getting plenty of sleep and staying active. You can also benefit from learning relaxation techniques and practicing mindfulness.