Lexam is the brand name of the prescription medicine escitalopram, which is used to treat anxiety in adults and major depressive disorder in adults and adolescents who are at least 12 years old. Used for:
- Depression
- Depressive Psychosis
- Arteriosclerotic Dementia w/ Depressive Features
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder
- Dementia w/ Depressive Features
Prescription only
This medicine is available only with a doctor's prescription.
Private script
This is a private script, and it is not eligible for government PBS subsidy. The cost of this may be claimed from private health insurance providers depending on the level of cover.
Dose
Take ONE tablet daily (starting 10mg, max 20mg)
Active Ingredient
Escitalopram Oxalate
Available Strengths
10mg, & 20mg
Side effects
Headache, nausea, diarrhoea, 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.
The dose provided is from the
consumer medicines information leaflet.Always follow the doctors direction when using prescription medication.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice any of the following and they worry you.
The side effects of Lexam are, in general, mild and disappear after a short period of time. Do not be alarmed by this list of side effects. You may not experience any of them.
Common side effects include:
- painful urination;
- dizziness, drowsiness, tiredness, weakness;
- feeling anxious or agitated;
- increased muscle movements, feeling shaky;
- sleep problems (insomnia);
- sweating, dry mouth, increased thirst, loss of appetite;
- nausea, constipation;
- yawning;
- nosebleed, heavy menstrual periods; or
- decreased sex drive, impotence, or difficulty having an orgasm.
Contact your doctor at once if you have:
- blurred vision, tunnel vision, eye pain or swelling, or seeing halos around lights;
- racing thoughts, unusual risk-taking behavior, feelings of extreme happiness or sadness;
- pain or burning when you urinate;
- (in a child taking escitalopram) slow growth or weight gain;
- low levels of sodium in the body-headache, confusion, slurred speech, severe weakness, vomiting, loss of coordination, feeling unsteady; or
- severe nervous system reaction-very stiff (rigid) muscles, high fever, sweating, confusion, fast or uneven heartbeats, tremors, feeling like you might pass out.
There is no evidence that this medicine is addictive, however you may get side effects if you suddenly stop taking it. Tell your doctor if you get any side effects after stopping LEXAM.
Do not use escitalopram within 14 days before or 14 days after you have used an MAO inhibitor. A dangerous drug interaction could occur. MAO inhibitors include isocarboxazid, linezolid, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, and tranylcypromine.
Do not use if you are taking other medications including
- pimozide, a medicine used to treat mental disorders
- monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), such as phenelzine, tranylcypromine and moclobemide, which are also used for the treatment of depression.
Be sure your doctor knows if you also take stimulant medicine, opioid medicine, herbal products, or medicine for depression, mental illness, Parkinson's disease, migraine headaches, serious infections, or prevention of nausea and vomiting. These medicines may interact with escitalopram and cause a serious condition called serotonin syndrome.
Tell your doctor if you have or have had any of the following medical conditions:
- a tendency to bleed or bruise easily
- diabetes
- heart disease
- kidney disease
- liver disease
- manic depression (bipolar disorder)
- a history of seizures or fits
- restlessness and/or a need to move often
- raised intraocular pressure (fluid pressure in the eye), or if you are at risk of angle-closure glaucoma.
- you are receiving electroconvulsive therapy
Before you use
Lexam Escitalopram (Generic)
(
Escitalopram Oxalate
)
, it is important that you read the consumer medicines information leaflet for information including side effects, warnings, dosage, ingredients and other useful information.
Take Lexam as a single dose either in the morning or in the evening, with or without food.
Do not use Lexam 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®).
Lexapro (escitalopram), which belongs to a class of antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), is often prescribed to treat depression or anxiety disorders, but it does have side effects. Specifically, Lexam weight gain is not uncommon
Overall, the data is mixed, with insomnia reported as a common side effect of Lexapro, while some research suggests that Lexapro may actually improve sleep. It's important to understand that insomnia is a very common symptom of both depression and anxiety, the two disorders Lexapro is commonly prescribed to treat.9 Nov 2020
It's important to recognize that you will not experience immediate relief from taking Lexam. It can take anywhere from one to four weeks to feel better once you start taking this drug. You might notice improvements in your sleep, energy levels, and appetite within the first week or two.
You may be tempted to stop taking antidepressants as soon as your symptoms ease, but depression can return if you quit too soon. Clinicians generally recommend staying on the medication for six to nine months before considering going off it.
Anxiety disorders are the most common of mental disorders and affect nearly 30% of adults at some point in their lives. But anxiety disorders are treatable and a number of effective treatments are available. Treatment helps most people lead normal productive lives.
The combination of Lexam and alcohol should be avoided due to potentially dangerous side effects. Even a small amount of alcohol can lead to a large amount of unpleasant effects. Mixing these two substances may actually lead to heightened symptoms of depression and anxiety.
