What are the serious side effects of Lexapro?
James Craig
Published Jan 10, 2026
A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, get medical help right away if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing. This is not a complete list of possible side effects.
What are the dangers of taking Lexapro?
What are the possible side effects of Escitalopram? Headache, nausea, diarrhea, dry mouth, increased sweating, feeling nervous, restless, fatigue, or having trouble sleeping (insomnia). These will often improve over the first week or two as you continue to take the medication.
What is the number one side effect of Lexapro?
The most commonly observed adverse reactions in Lexapro patients (incidence of approximately 5% or greater and approximately twice the incidence in placebo patients) were insomnia, ejaculation disorder (primarily ejaculatory delay), nausea, sweating increased, fatigue, and somnolence.
Does Lexapro cause sudden death?
High doses of the antidepressants citalopram (Celexa) and escitalopram (Cipralex, Lexapro) do not appear to carry greater risk of sudden cardiac death than comparable doses of other selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), according to a new study in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry.
Does Lexapro mess up your brain?
A single dose of one of the world's most widely-prescribed drugs for the treatment of depression causes quantifiable changes in the entire brain in a matter of a few hours.
38 related questions foundDoes your brain go back to normal after antidepressants?
"The fact that antidepressant withdrawal can be so prolonged suggests that the drug has changed the brain and that those changes are taking a very long time to return to normal and it may be the case that sometimes they don't go back to normal."
Does Lexapro change your personality?
Fact: When taken correctly, antidepressants will not change your personality. They will help you feel like yourself again and return to your previous level of functioning.
Can you drink caffeine with Lexapro?
Interactions between your drugs
No interactions were found between caffeine and Lexapro.
What is the success rate of Lexapro?
The overall response and remission rates after escitalopram monotherapy were 68.4% and 46.4%, respectively. The response rate was 76.9%, 63.7%, and 63.0%, in mild, moderate, and moderate–severe subgroups, respectively, showing significant difference among them (P < .
Is Lexapro good for your heart?
Patients taking Lexapro also tended to have healthy changes in heart function and they reported feeling calmer and more controlled than the placebo group. "Our findings support the hypothesis that short-term use of SSRIs improves levels of biomarkers associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes," explained Jiang.
When do Lexapro side effects peak?
Peak blood levels are reached approximately 5 hours after a dose but it may take up to a week for levels to become stabilized in the body. An improvement in depressive or anxiety symptoms may not be noticed for 1-4 weeks.
Is it better to take Lexapro in the morning or at night?
What is the best time of day to take Lexapro for anxiety? While Lexapro can be taken in the morning or the evening, because it may cause trouble sleeping, some people find it better to take it in the morning.
Is 10 mg of Lexapro enough?
The recommended dose of Lexapro is 10 mg once daily. A flexible-dose trial of Lexapro (10 to 20 mg/day) demonstrated the effectiveness of Lexapro [see Clinical Studies]. If the dose is increased to 20 mg, this should occur after a minimum of three weeks. The recommended dose of Lexapro is 10 mg once daily.
Is 5 mg of Lexapro enough?
An initial dose of 5 mg is recommended for the first week before increasing the dose to 10 mg daily. The dose may be further increased, up to a maximum of 20 mg daily, dependent on individual patient response. Maximum effectiveness is reached after about 3 months. The treatment lasts several months.
How long can you stay on Lexapro?
Clinicians generally recommend staying on the medication for six to nine months before considering going off antidepressants. If you've had three or more recurrences of depression, make that at least two years.
Can Lexapro worsen anxiety?
Can Lexapro cause anxiety? Some patients experience new or worsened anxiety when taking Lexapro. 13 If you are taking Lexapro or escitalopram and feel like your anxiety is increasing, contact your doctor to discuss whether this is the right medication for you or if the dosage should be adjusted based on these effects.
Does Lexapro calm you down?
Escitalopram should help you feel calm and relaxed. It could take some time for escitalopram to have its full effect. This effect should reduce your behaviour problem.
Is it worth it to take Lexapro?
Lexapro has an average rating of 8.2 out of 10 from a total of 483 ratings for the treatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder. 78% of reviewers reported a positive effect, while 9% reported a negative effect.
How long does Lexapro take to kick in?
Most people report feeling the effects of their Lexapro within 4 weeks. It can take some people as little as a day or as long as 6 weeks to feel the effects of their treatment.
Can I take vitamin D with Lexapro?
Interactions between your drugs
No interactions were found between Lexapro and Vitamin D3. However, this does not necessarily mean no interactions exist. Always consult your healthcare provider.
What should I avoid while taking Lexapro?
Do not use escitalopram with buspirone (Buspar®), fentanyl (Abstral®, Duragesic®), lithium (Eskalith®, Lithobid®), tryptophan, St. John's wort, amphetamines, or some pain or migraine medicines (eg, rizatriptan, sumatriptan, tramadol, Frova®, Imitrex®, Maxalt®, Relpax®, Ultram®, Zomig®).
Can I take Tylenol with Lexapro?
Interactions between your drugs
No interactions were found between escitalopram and Tylenol. However, this does not necessarily mean no interactions exist. Always consult your healthcare provider.
Which is better Zoloft or Lexapro?
A 2014 study published in International Clinical Psychopharmacology suggested that Lexapro may be more effective and better tolerated than Zoloft or Paxil. Lexapro has different binding site interactions which may lead to better efficacy and tolerability.
Do antidepressants shorten your life?
The analysis found that in the general population, those taking antidepressants had a 33 percent higher risk of dying prematurely than people who were not taking the drugs. Additionally, antidepressant users were 14 percent more likely to have an adverse cardiovascular event, such as a stroke or a heart attack.
Do antidepressants Make You Crazy?
Antidepressants may trigger hypomania or mania in some people. This may stop if you stop taking the antidepressant. But sometimes it may be a sign of bipolar disorder.