4.enjoylife

LEXAPRO1Lexapro(LEX-a-pro)Escitalopramoxalate(ES-sigh-talo-pramOX-a-late)ConsumerMedicineInformation(CMI)WhatisinthisleafletThisleafletcontainsanswerstosomecommonquestionsaboutLexapro.
ItdoesnotcontainalltheinformationthatisknownaboutLexapro.
Itdoesnottaketheplaceoftalkingtoyourdoctororpharmacist.
Allmedicineshaverisksandbenefits.
Yourdoctorhasweighedtheriskofyouusingthismedicineagainstthebenefitshe/sheexpectsitwillhaveforyou.
Ifyouhaveanyconcernsaboutusingthismedicine,askyourdoctororpharmacist.
Keepthisleafletwiththemedicine.
Youmayneedtoreaditagain.
WhatLexaproisusedforLexaproisusedtotreatdepression.
Itbelongstoagroupofmedicinescalledselectiveserotoninreuptakeinhibitors(SSRIs).
Theyarethoughttoworkbytheiractionsonbrainchemicalscalledamineswhichareinvolvedincontrollingmood.
Depressionislongerlastingormoreseverethanthe"lowmoods"everyonehasfromtimetotimeduetothestressofeverydaylife.
Itisthoughttobecausedbyachemicalimbalanceinpartsofthebrain.
Thisimbalanceaffectsyourwholebodyandcancauseemotionalandphysicalsymptomssuchasfeelinglowinspirit,lossofinterestinactivities,beingunabletoenjoylife,poorappetiteorovereating,disturbedsleep,oftenwakingupearly,lossofsexdrive,lackofenergyandfeelingguiltyovernothing.
Lexaprocorrectsthischemicalimbalanceandmayhelprelievethesymptomsofdepression.
Lexapromayalsobeusedtotreatpatientswhomayavoidand/orarefearfulofsocialsituations.
Lexapromayalsobeusedtotreatpatientswhohaveexcessiveanxietyandworry.
Lexapromayalsobeusedtotreatirrationalfearsorobsessionalbehaviour(obsessive-compulsivedisorder).
Obsessive-compulsivedisorderinvolveshavingbothobsessionsandcompulsions.
Obsessionsareunwantedthoughtsthatoccuroverandoveragain.
Compulsionsaretheongoingneedtorepeatcertainactionsasaresultofthesethoughts.
Yourdoctor,however,mayprescribeitforanotherpurpose.
Askyourdoctorifyouhaveanyquestionsaboutwhyithasbeenprescribedforyou.
Thismedicineisonlyavailablewithadoctor'sprescription.
Lexaproisnotaddictive.
However,ifyousuddenlystoptakingit,youmaygetsideeffects.
TellyourdoctorifyougetanysideeffectsafterstoppingLexapro.
BeforeyoutakeitWhenyoumustnottakeitDonottakeLexaproifyouareallergictoit,toanymedicinecontainingescitalopram,oranyoftheingredientslistedattheendofthisleaflet.
Symptomsofanallergicreactionmayincludeshortnessofbreath,wheezingordifficultybreathing,swellingoftheface,lips,tongueorotherpartsofthebody,orrash,itchingorhivesontheskin.
DonottakeLexaproatthesametimeasthefollowingothermedicines:pimozide,amedicineusedtotreatmentaldisordersmonoamineoxidaseinhibitors(MAOIs),suchasphenelzine,tranylcypromineandmoclobemidewhicharealsousedforthetreatmentofdepression.
OnedaymustelapseafteryouhavefinishedtakingmoclobemidebeforeyoustarttakingLexapro.
IfyouhavetakenanyotherMAOIyouwillneedtowait14days.
AfterstoppingLexapro,youmustallow14daysbeforetakinganyMAOIincludingmoclobemide.
TakingLexaprowithMAOIsmaycauseaseriousreactionwithasuddenincreaseinbodytemperature,extremelyhighbloodpressureandsevereconvulsions.
YourdoctorwillLEXAPRO2knowwhenitissafetostartLexaproaftertheMAOIhasbeenstopped.
Donottakeitaftertheexpirydateprintedonthepack.
Ifyoutakeitaftertheexpirydatehaspassed,itmaynotworkaswell.
Theexpirydatereferstothelastdayofthemonth.
Donottakeitifthepackagingistornorshowssignsoftampering.
BeforeyoustarttotakeitTellyourdoctorif:1.
youhaveallergiestoanyothersubstancessuchasfoods,preservativesordyes.
2.
youarepregnantorintendtobecomepregnant.
MedicineslikeLexaprohavebeenshowntoreducethequalityofsperminanimalstudies.
Theoretically,thiscouldaffectfertilitybutimpactonhumanfertilityhasnotbeenobservedasyetwithLexapro.
DonottakeLexaproifyouarepregnantunlessyouandyourdoctorhavediscussedtherisksandbenefitsinvolved.
Makesureyourdoctorand/ormidwifeknowyouareonLexapro.
Whentakenduringpregnancy,particularlyinthelastthreemonthsofpregnancy,medicineslikeLexapromayaffectthegeneralconditionofyournewbornbabyandmayincreasetheriskofaseriousconditioninbabies,calledpersistentpulmonaryhypertensionofthenewborn(PPHN),makingthebabybreathefasterandappearbluish.
Thesesymptomsusuallybeginduringthefirst24hoursafterthebabyisborn.
Ifthishappenstoyourbaby,youshouldcontactyourdoctorand/ormidwifeimmediately.
IfusedduringpregnancyLexaproshouldneverbestoppedabruptly.
Askyourdoctororpharmacistforadvicebeforetakinganymedicine.
3.
youarebreast-feedingorplanningtobreast-feed.
DonottakeLexaproifyouarebreast-feedingunlessyouandyourdoctorhavediscussedtherisksandbenefitsinvolved.
Itisnotrecommendedthatyoubreast-feedwhiletakingLexaproasitisexcretedinbreastmilk.
4.
youhave,orhavehad,thefollowingmedicalconditions:atendencytobleedorbruiseeasilydiabetesheartdisease,especiallylongQTsyndromeorotherconductiondisordersconditionscausingchangesinthelevelsofsodium,potassiumormagnesiumintheblood(electrolytes)kidneydiseaseliverdiseasebipolardisorder(manicdepression)ahistoryofseizuresorfitsrestlessnessand/oraneedtomoveofteneyeproblems,suchascertainkindsofglaucoma(increasedpressureintheeye).
5.
youarereceivingelectroconvulsivetherapy.
Ifyouhaveanyoftheabovemedicalconditions,yourdoctormayperformadditionaltests,suchasanECGtocheckyourheartandbloodteststochecksodium,potassiumand/ormagnesiumlevels.
DonotgiveLexaprotoachildoradolescent.
Thereisnoexperiencewithitsuseinchildrenoradolescentsunder18yearsold.
Lexaprocanbegiventoelderlypatientsover65yearsofagewithareduceddose.
TheeffectsofLexaproinelderlypatientsaresimilartothatinotherpatients.
Ifyouhavenottoldyourdoctoraboutanyoftheabove,tellthembeforeyouuseLexapro.
TakingothermedicinesTellyourdoctorifyouaretakinganyothermedicines,includinganythatyoubuywithoutaprescriptionfromyourpharmacy,supermarketorhealthfoodshop.
SomemedicinesandLexapromayinterferewitheachother.
Theseinclude:bupropion,amedicinehelpingtotreatnicotinedependencemedicinesusedtotreatrefluxandulcers,suchascimetidine,omeprazole,esomeprazoleandlansoprazolemedicinesknowntoprolongbleeding,e.
g.
aspirinorothernon-steroidalanti-inflammatorydrugs(NSAIDs)ticlopidineandwarfarin,medicinesusedtopreventbloodclotsmefloquine,ananti-malariamedicinesumatriptan,usedtotreatmigrainestramadol,usedtorelievepainmedicinesaffectingthechemicalsinthebrainmedicinesthatreducethelevelofsodium,potassiumormagnesiumintheblood,e.
g.
diuretics('fluidtablets')someheartmedications,e.
g.
flecainide,propafenone,metoprololAntiarrhythmicmedicines,usedtotreatirregularheartbeats,e.
g.
amiodarone,disopyramide,sotalolAntifungalmedicinese.
g.
fluconazole,voriconazoleSomeantibiotics,e.
g.
azithromycin,clarithromycin,LEXAPRO3erythromycin,roxithromycin,amphotericin,gentamicinAntihistaminemedicines,usedtorelievethesymptomsofallergy(suchashayfever)orcoldsand'flu,e.
g.
terfenadine,loratadine,diphenhydraminetryptophan,anamino-acidlithiumusedtotreatmoodswingsandsometypesofdepressionantipsychotics,aclassofmedicinesusedtotreatcertainmentalandemotionalconditions,e.
g.
risperidone,thioridazineandhaloperidoltricyclicantidepressants,e.
g.
imipramine,desipramineStJohn'sWort(Hypericumperforatum),aherbalremedyanyothermedicinesusedtotreatseizures,depression,anxiety,obsessive-compulsivedisorderorpre-menstrualdysphoricdisorderThesemedicinesmaybeaffectedbyLexaproormayaffecthowwellitworks.
Youmayneedtousedifferentamountsofyourmedicinesortakedifferentmedicines.
Yourdoctorwilladviseyou.
Somecombinationsofmedicinesmayincreasetheriskofserioussideeffectsandarepotentiallylifethreatening.
YourdoctororpharmacisthasmoreinformationonmedicinestobecarefulwithoravoidwhiletakingLexapro.
HowtotakeitHowmuchtotakeYourdoctorwilldecidewhatdoseyouwillreceive.
Thestandarddoseforthismedicineis10mgperday.
Thismaybeincreasedbyyourdoctorto20mgperday.
Therecommendedmaximumdoseinelderlypatientsis10mgperday.
Itisrecommendedthatpatientswithliverdiseasereceiveaninitialdoseof5mgdailyforthefirsttwoweeks.
Yourdoctormayincreasethedoseto10mgdaily.
Yourdoctormayhaveprescribedadifferentdose.
Askyourdoctororpharmacistifyouareunsureofthecorrectdoseforyou.
Theywilltellyouexactlyhowmuchtotake.
Followtheinstructionstheygiveyou.
Ifyoutakethewrongdose,Lexapromaynotworkaswell,andyourconditionmaynotimprove.
HowtotakeitSwallowthetabletswholewithafullglassofwater.
Donotchewthem.
WhentotakeitTakeLexaproasasingledoseeitherinthemorningorintheevening.
TakeLexaprowithorwithoutfood.
HowlongtotakeitContinuetotakeLexaproevenifittakessometimebeforeyoufeelanyimprovementinyourcondition.
Aswithothermedicinesforthetreatmentoftheseconditionsitmaytakeafewweeksbeforeyoufeelanyimprovement.
IndividualswillvarygreatlyintheirresponsetoLexapro.
Yourdoctorwillcheckyourprogressatregularintervals.
Thedurationoftreatmentmayvaryforeachindividualbutisusuallyatleast6months.
Insomecases,thedoctormaydecidethatlongertreatmentisnecessary.
Continuetakingyourmedicineforaslongasyourdoctortellsyou,evenifyoubegintofeelbetter.
Theunderlyingillnessmaypersistforalongtimeandifyoustopyourtreatmenttoosoon,yoursymptomsmayreturn.
Donotstoptakingthismedicinesuddenly.
IfLexaproisstoppedsuddenlyyoumayexperiencemild,butusuallytemporary,symptomssuchasdizziness,pinsandneedles,electricshocksensations,sleepdisturbances(vividdreams,inabilitytosleep),feelinganxiousoragitated,headaches,feelingsick(nausea),vomiting,sweating,tremor(shaking),feelingconfused,feelingemotionalorirritable,diarrhoea,visualdisturbances,orfastorirregularheartbeats.
Whenyouhavecompletedyourcourseoftreatment,thedoseofLexaproisgraduallyreducedoveracoupleofweeksratherthanstoppedabruptly.
Yourdoctorwilltellyouhowtoreducethedosagesothatyoudonotgettheseunwantedeffects.
IfyouforgettotakeitIfyoumissadoseandrememberinlessthan12hours,takeitstraightaway,andthengobacktotakingitasyouwouldnormally.
Otherwise,ifitisalmosttimeforyournextdose,skipthedoseyoumissedandtakethenextdosewhenyouaremeantto.
Donottakeadoubledosetomakeupforthedoseyouhavemissed.
Ifyouarenotsurewhattodo,askyourdoctororpharmacist.
Ifyouhavetroublerememberingwhentotakeyourmedicine,askyourpharmacistforhints.
Ifyoutaketoomuch(overdose)Immediatelytelephoneyourdoctor,orthePoisonsInformationCentre(Tel:0800764766)orgotoAccidentandEmergencyatyournearesthospital,ifyouthinkyouLEXAPRO4oranyoneelsemayhavetakentoomuchLexapro.
Dothiseveniftherearenosignsofdiscomfortorpoisoning.
Youmayneedurgentmedicalattention.
Symptomsofanoverdosemayincludedizziness,lowbloodpressure,nausea(feelingsick),vomiting,agitation,tremor(shaking)andrarelyconvulsionsandcoma.
WhileyouaretakingitThingsyoumustdoIfyouareabouttobestartedonanynewmedicine,remindyourdoctorandpharmacistthatyouaretakingLexapro.
Tellanyotherdoctors,dentistsandpharmacistswhotreatyouthatyouaretakingthismedicine.
IfyoubecomepregnantwhiletakingLexapro,tellyourdoctorimmediately.
PersonstakingLexapromaybemorelikelytothinkaboutkillingthemselvesoractuallytryingtodoso,especiallywhenLexaproisfirststarted,orthedoseischanged.
TellyourdoctorimmediatelyifyouhavethoughtsaboutkillingyourselforifyouareclosetoorcareforsomeoneusingLexaprowhotalksaboutorshowssignsofkillinghimorherself.
Allmentionsofsuicideorviolencemustbetakenseriously.
Occasionally,thesymptomsofdepressionmayincludethoughtsofsuicideorself-harm.
Itispossiblethatthesesymptomscontinueorgetworseuntilthefullantidepressanteffectofthemedicinebecomesapparent.
Thisismorelikelytooccurifyouareayoungadult,i.
e.
18to24yearsofage,andyouhavenotusedantidepressantmedicinesbefore.
Patientsandcaregiversshouldpayattentionforanyofthefollowingwarningsignsofsuicide-relatedbehaviourwhiletakingLexapro.
Tellyourdoctorimmediately,orevengotothenearesthospitalfortreatment:thoughtsortalkofdeathorsuicidethoughtsortalkofself-harmorharmtoothersanyrecentattemptsofself-harmincreaseinaggressivebehaviour,irritabilityoragitationDonotstoptakingthismedicineorchangethedosewithoutconsultingyourdoctor,evenifyouexperienceincreasedanxietyatthebeginningoftreatment.
Atthebeginningoftreatment,somepatientsmayexperienceincreasedanxietywhichwilldisappearduringcontinuedtreatment.
Tellyourdoctorimmediatelyifyouexperiencesymptomssuchasrestlessnessordifficultyinsittingorstandingstill.
Thesesymptomscanoccurduringthefirstweeksoftreatment.
Contactyourdoctorassoonaspossibleifyousuddenlyexperienceanepisodeofmania.
Somepatientswithbipolardisorder(manicdepression)mayenterintoamanicphase.
Thisischaracterisedbyprofuseandrapidlychangingideas,exaggeratedgaietyandexcessivephysicalactivity.
Sometimesyoumaybeunawareoftheabove-mentionedsymptomsandthereforeyoumayfindithelpfultoaskafriendorrelativetohelpyoutoobservethepossiblesignsofchangeinyourbehaviour.
MedicineslikeLexapromaycausesymptomsofsexualdysfunction(seesection"Sideeffects").
Insomecases,thesesymptomshavecontinuedafterstoppingtreatment.
ThingsyoumustnotdoDonotgivethetabletstoanyoneelse,eveniftheyhavethesameconditionasyou.
DonottakeLexaprototreatanyothercomplaintsunlessyourdoctortellsyouto.
DonotstoptakingLexapro,orlowerthedosage,withoutcheckingwithyourdoctor.
Donotletyourselfrunoutofmedicineovertheweekendoronholidays.
SuddenlystoppingLexapromaycauseunwanteddiscontinuationsymptomssuchasdizziness,headacheandnausea.
YourdoctorwilltellyouwhenandhowLexaproshouldbediscontinued.
Yourdoctorwillgraduallyreducetheamountyouareusing,usuallyoveraperiodofonetotwoweeks,beforestoppingcompletely.
ThingstobecarefulofBecarefuldrivingoroperatingmachineryuntilyouknowhowLexaproaffectsyou.
Itmaycausenausea,fatigueanddizzinessinsomepeople,especiallyearlyinthetreatment.
Ifyouhaveanyofthesesymptoms,donotdrive,operatemachinery,ordoanythingelsethatcouldbedangerous.
Avoidalcoholwhileyouaretakingthismedicine.
Itisnotadvisabletodrinkalcoholwhileyouarebeingtreatedfordepression.
SideeffectsAllmedicinesmayhavesomeunwantedsideeffects.
Sometimestheyareserious,butmostofthetimetheyarenot.
Yourdoctorhasweighedtherisksofusingthismedicineagainstthebenefitshe/sheexpectsitwillhaveforyou.
TellyourdoctororpharmacistassoonaspossibleifyoudonotfeelwellwhileyouaretakingLexapro.
Ithelpsmostpeoplewithdepression,socialanxietydisorder(socialphobia),generalisedanxietydisorderLEXAPRO5andobsessive-compulsivedisorder,butitmayhaveunwantedsideeffectsinafewpeople.
ThesideeffectsofLexaproare,ingeneral,mildanddisappearafterashortperiodoftime.
Tellyourdoctorifyounoticeanyofthefollowingandtheyworryyou:decreasedappetiteorlossofappetitedrymouthdiarrhoeanausea(feelingsick)sleeplessnessfatigue,sleepinessordrowsiness,yawningincreasedsweatingsexualdisturbances(decreasedsexualdrive;problemswithejaculationorerection;womenmayexperiencedifficultiesachievingorgasm)Tellyourdoctorassoonaspossibleifyounoticeanyofthefollowing:agitation,confusion,panicattacks*,anxiety,restlessness*dizzinessdizzinesswhenyoustandupduetolowbloodpressure*afastheartrateordecreaseinheartrateorirregularheartbeatlowsodiumlevelsintheblood(thesymptomsarefeelingsickandunwellwithweakmusclesorfeelingconfused)*abnormalliverfunctiontests(increasedamountsofliverenzymesintheblood)*difficultiesurinating*unusualsecretionofbreastmilk*Bleedingdisordersincludingskinandmucousbleeding(e.
g.
bruising*)andalowlevelofbloodplatelets*rash,itching,patchesofcircumscribedswellingsAnincreasedriskofbonefractureshasbeenobservedinpatientstakingthistypeofmedicine*ThesemaybeserioussideeffectsofLexapro.
Youmayneedurgentmedicalattention.
Tellyourdoctorimmediately,orgotoAccidentandEmergencyatyournearesthospital,ifyounoticeanyofthefollowing:Thoughtsofharmingyourselforthoughtsofsuicide,seealsosection"Thingsyoumustdo"*seriousallergicreaction(symptomsofanallergicreactionmayincludeswellingoftheface,lips,mouthorthroatwhichmaycausedifficultyinswallowingorbreathing,orhives)highfever,agitation,confusion,tremblingandabruptcontractionsofmuscles(thesesymptomsmaybesignsofarareconditioncalledserotoninsyndrome)*mania(i.
e.
:elevatedmoodandassociatedsymptoms)*hallucinationsseizures,tremors,movementdisorders(involuntarymovementsofthemuscles)*fast,irregularheartbeatwithfeelingsofdizziness,faintness,lossofconsciousnessordifficultybreathingTheseareveryserioussideeffects.
Youmayneedurgentmedicalattentionorhospitalisation.
*Thesideeffectsmarkedwithanasterisk(*)areanumberofraresideeffectsthatareknowntooccurwithmedicinesthatworkinasimilarwaytoLexapro.
Tellyourdoctorifyounoticeanythingelsethatismakingyoufeelunwell.
Othersideeffectsnotlistedabovemayoccurinsomepeople.
Donotbealarmedbythislistofpossiblesideeffects.
Youmaynotexperienceanyofthem.
AftertakingitStorageKeepLexaprotabletsintheblisterpackuntilitistimetotakethem.
Ifyoutakethetabletsoutoftheboxortheblisterpack,theymaynotkeepwell.
KeepLexaprotabletsinacooldryplacewherethetemperaturestaysbelow30°C.
Donotstoreitoranyothermedicineinthebathroom,nearasink,oronawindow-sill.
Donotleaveitinthecar.
Heatanddampcandestroysomemedicines.
Keepitwherechildrencannotreachit.
Alockedcupboardatleastone-and-a-halfmetresabovethegroundisagoodplacetostoremedicines.
DisposalIfyourdoctortellsyoutostoptakingLexapro,orthemedicinehaspasseditsexpirydate,askyourpharmacistwhattodowithanythatisleftover.
Returnanyunusedmedicinetoyourpharmacist.
ProductdescriptionWhatitlookslikeLexaprocomesintwotypesoftablets:Lexapro10mgfilm-coatedtablets-oval,white,scoredandmarkedwith"E"and"L"oneachsideofthescoreononesideofthetabletLexapro20mgfilm-coatedtablets-oval,white,scoredandmarkedwith"E"and"N"oneachsideofthescoreononesideofthetabletAboxcontains28tablets.
LEXAPRO6IngredientsActiveingredient(s):Lexapro10mgtablets-10mgescitalopram(asoxalate)pertabletLexapro20mgtablets-20mgescitalopram(asoxalate)pertabletInactiveingredients(tablets):microcrystallinecellulosecroscarmellosesodiumopadryOY-S28849(contains:hypromellose,macrogol400,titaniumdioxide).
magnesiumstearatecolloidalanhydroussilicapurifiedtalcLexaprodoesnotcontainlactose,gluten,sucrose,tartrazineoranyotherazodyes.
Manufacturer/SponsorLexaproismadebyH.
LundbeckA/S,Denmark.
DistributedinNewZealandby:PharmacyRetailingt/aHealthcareLogistics,58RichardPearseDrive,Mangere,Auckland2022Phone:0800540555Thisleafletwaspreparedon02July2020"Lexapro"istheregisteredtrademarkofH.
LundbeckA/S.