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About Lexapro Side Effects: Anxiety Attacks

Lexapro is a prescription medication for treatment of anxiety or depression, classified as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). It is prescribed to improve the overall quality of life for individuals suffering from anxiety or depression disorders. Over 18 million adults in the United States have been prescribed this medication, according to the manufacturers. As with any kind of prescription medication, there are several side effects associated with taking Lexapro, such as anxiety attacks.

  1. Depression Side Effects

    • The manufacturers of Lexapro state that the most common side effects for depression sufferers are sleeplessness, vomiting, nausea, extensive sleepiness or drowsiness, fatigue, ejaculation problems, excessive sweating, lessened libido and sexual dysfunctions, such as anorgasmia.

    Anxiety Side Effects

    • For those taking Lexapro to deal with anxiety disorders, the most common side effects reported by the manufacturers are drowsiness and insomnia. However, the incidence of side effects associated with generalized anxiety disorders was low.

    Anxiety Attacks

    • In the early stages of treatment with selective serotonin reputake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as Lexapro, some symptoms of anxiety attacks might be experienced. These anxiety symptoms include agitation, restlessness, panic attacks, pounding or racing heart and lightheadedness.

    Prevention/Solution

    • Extremely anxious patients should begin taking Lexapro in smaller dosages to avoid the possibility of anxiety attack symptoms that might occur at the beginning of treatment. Patients are advised to wait out the anxiety symptoms, as they generally subside within the first two weeks.

    Warning

    • There are certain possible risks associated with taking Lexapro for depression and anxiety disorders. Some of these possible risks include clinical worsening, thoughts of suicide or possible suicide, withdrawal effects (such as tremors and agitation) and serotonin syndrome (confusion, restlessness, excessive sweating, fast heart rate, etc).

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