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Author: Admin | 2025-04-28
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that affects well-being and happiness, thinking, memory, sleep, digestion, and circulation.Normally, serotonin is released by neurons. Some of this serotonin attaches to other neurons, where it passes on its message. The serotonin that remains after the message is sent is reabsorbed by the neuron that initially released it. This process is called reuptake. Anxiety may be triggered there is an imbalance between the production and reuptake of serotonin. Lexapro works by preventing the reuptake of serotonin, which results in more serotonin being available to attach to other neurons. How long does Lexapro take to work?SSRIs are considered first-line therapy⁵ for anxiety. Before starting treatment for anxiety, it is important to know that SSRIs can take anywhere from two to four (sometimes even up to six) weeks to start to take effect. Lexapro is no exception, so you should not expect to immediately feel better after starting treatment. In fact, you may even feel worse initially. When you start taking Lexapro, you may find that your anxiety symptoms get worse before getting better. You may experience increased jitteriness and an increase in your anxiety for the first two weeks on Lexapro treatment. Your doctor may prescribe another medication, such as a benzodiazepine, to take in conjunction with Lexapro for the first couple of weeks to help to counter this effect. Alternatively, your doctor may start you at a lower dose and gradually increase it to an effective dose over a few weeks. Side effects of LexaproAs with any medication, Lexapro has some potential side effects which include:Agitation or restlessnessBlurred visionGastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea or diarrheaDrowsinessDry mouthHeadacheFrequent urinationIncreased or decreased appetiteWeight gain or lossSexual dysfunctionMany of the side effects of Lexapro are dose-dependent, so if you do experience side effects when taking Lexapro, talk to your doctor before giving up on the medication. Simply lowering your dose may allow your side effects to resolve. Most of the side effects of Lexapro also diminish with time⁶ as your body adjusts to the medication, so you may find that side effects that bothered you initially will resolve after four to eight weeks of treatment. Lowering your dose of Lexapro can help to alleviate side effects. Some less common, but more serious, side effects of Lexapro include:Serotonin syndromeSuicidal thoughts and/or behaviorAbnormal bleedingSeizuresConfusionLow blood sodium levels (more common in older adults)If you experience any of these symptoms, you should see your
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