Hello happytobeme-ga,
I am not a medical professional and I cannot give medical advice.
Please note the disclaimer at the bottom of the page:
?Answers and comments provided on Google Answers are general
information, and are not intended to substitute for informed
professional medical, psychiatric, psychological, tax, legal,
investment, accounting, or other professional advice. Google does not
endorse, and expressly disclaims liability for any product,
manufacturer, distributor, service or service provider mentioned or
any opinion expressed in answers or comments. Please read carefully
the Google Answers Terms of Service.?
In order to answer you question, I have searched for information
posted at publicly available websites, which provide information about
or discuss drugs and their possible side effects. I have posted brief
passages from these websites that address side effects or warnings for
Lexapro related to driving ability or which I believe may interfere
with a person?s ability to provide childcare.
I have also included any information found related to the effects of
going on or off the drug.
============================================================================
MedLinePlus
National Institutes of Health
U.S. National Library of Medicine
Escitalopram
Brand name(s): Lexapro
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/medmaster/a603005.html
?Why is this medication prescribed?
Escitalopram is used to treat depression. Escitalopram is in a class
of antidepressants (mood elevators) called selective serotonin
reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). It works by increasing the amount of
serotonin, a natural substance in the brain that helps maintain mental
balance.?
---
?- you should know that escitalopram may make you drowsy. Do not drive
a car or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects
you.
- remember that alcohol can add to the drowsiness caused by this medication.?
---
?What side effects can this medication cause?
Escitalopram may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these
symptoms are severe or do not go away:
upset stomach
diarrhea
constipation
changes in sex drive or ability
difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
drowsiness
increased sweating
dizziness
heartburn
stomach pain
excessive tiredness
dry mouth
increased appetite
flu-like symptoms
runny nose
sneezing
Some side effects can be serious. The following symptoms are uncommon,
but if you experience either of them, call your doctor immediately:
unusual excitement
seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist (hallucinating)
Escitalopram may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you
have any unusual problems while taking this medication.?
============================================================================
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
MedWatch
LEXAPRO?
http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/SAFETY/2004/may_PI/Lexapro_PI.pdf
?Clinical Worsening and Suicide Risk
Patients with major depressive disorder, both adult and pediatric, may
experience worsening of their depression and/or the emergence of
suicidal ideation and behavior (suicidality), whether or not they are
taking antidepressant medications, and this risk may persist until
significant remission occurs. Although there has been a long-standing
concern that antidepressants may have a role in inducing worsening of
depression and the emergence of suicidality in certain patients, a
causal role for antidepressants in inducing such behaviors has not
been established. Nevertheless, patients being treated with
antidepressants should be observed closely for clinical worsening and
suicidality, especially at the beginning of a course of drug therapy,
or at the time of dose changes, either increases or decreases.
Consideration should be given to changing the therapeutic regimen,
including possibly discontinuing the medication, in patients whose
depression is persistently worse or whose emergent suicidality is
severe, abrupt in onset, or was not part of the patient?s presenting
symptoms.
---
The following symptoms, anxiety, agitation, panic attacks, insomnia,
irritability, hostility (aggressiveness), impulsivity, akathisia
(psychomotor restlessness), hypomania, and mania, have been reported
in adult and pediatric patients being treated with antidepressants for
major depressive disorder as well as for other indications, both
psychiatric and nonpsychiatric. Although a causal link between the
emergence of such symptoms and either the worsening of depression
and/or the emergence of suicidal impulses has not been established,
consideration should be given to changing the therapeutic regimen,
including possibly discontinuing the medication, in patients for whom
such symptoms are severe, abrupt in onset, or were not part of the
patient?s presenting symptoms.
Families and caregivers of patients being treated with antidepressants
for major depressive disorder or other indications, both psychiatric
and nonpsychiatric, should be alerted about the need to monitor
patients for the emergence of agitation, irritability, and the other
symptoms described above, as well as the emergence of suicidality, and
to report such symptoms immediately to health care providers.?
---
?Discontinuation of Treatment with LEXAPRO
During marketing of Lexapro and other SSRIs and SNRIs (serotonin and
norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors), there have been spontaneous
reports of adverse events occurring upon discontinuation of these
drugs, particularly when abrupt, including the following: dysphoric
mood, irritability, agitation, dizziness, sensory disturbances (e.g.,
paresthesias such as electric shock sensations), anxiety, confusion,
headache, lethargy, emotional lability, insomnia, and hypomania. While
these events are generally self-limiting, there have been reports of
serious discontinuation symptoms.
Patients should be monitored for these symptoms when discontinuing
treatment with LEXAPRO. A gradual reduction in the dose rather than
abrupt cessation is recommended whenever possible. If intolerable
symptoms occur following a decrease in the dose or upon
discontinuation of treatment, then resuming the previously prescribed
dose may be considered. Subsequently, the physician may continue
decreasing the dose but at a more gradual rate (see DOSAGE AND
ADMINISTRATION).?
---
?Interference with Cognitive and Motor Performance
In a study in normal volunteers, LEXAPRO 10 mg/day did not produce
impairment of intellectual function or psychomotor performance.
Because any psychoactive drug may impair judgment, thinking, or motor
skills, however, patients should be cautioned about operating
hazardous machinery, including automobiles, until they are reasonably
certain that LEXAPRO therapy does not affect their ability to engage
in such activities.?
============================================================================
PDRhealth.com
Lexapro
http://www.pdrhealth.com/drug_info/rxdrugprofiles/drugs/lex1642.shtml
?More common side effects may include:
Constipation, decreased appetite, decreased sex drive, diarrhea,
dizziness, dry mouth, ejaculation disorder, fatigue, flu-like
symptoms, impotence, indigestion, insomnia, nausea, runny nose,
sinusitis, sleepiness, sweating
Less common side effects may include:
Abdominal pain, abnormal dreaming, allergic reactions, blurred vision,
bronchitis, chest pain, coughing, earache, fever, gas, heartburn, high
blood pressure, hot flushes, increased appetite, irritability, joint
pain, lack of concentration, lack of energy, lack of orgasm,
light-headedness, menstrual cramps, migraine, muscle pain, nasal
congestion, neck and shoulder pain, pain in arms or legs,
palpitations, rash, ringing in the ears, sinus congestion, sinus
headache, stomachache, tingling, toothache, tremors, urinary problems,
vertigo, vomiting, weight changes, yawning?
---
?Special warnings about this medication
Lexapro makes some people sleepy. Until you know how the drug affects
you, use caution when driving a car or operating other hazardous
machinery.
In rare cases, Lexapro can trigger mania (unreasonably high spirits
and excess energy). If you've ever had this problem, be sure to let
the doctor know.?
============================================================================
Lexapro.com
Forest Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
http://www.lexapro.com
?Patients with major depressive disorder, both adult and pediatric,
may experience worsening of their depression and/or the emergence of
suicidal ideation and behavior (suicidality), whether or not they are
taking antidepressant medications, and this risk may persist until
significant remission occurs. Although no causal role for
antidepressants in inducing such behaviors has been established,
patients being treated with antidepressants should be observed closely
for clinical worsening and suicidality, especially at the beginning of
a course of drug therapy, or at the time of dose changes, either
increases or decreases.?
============================================================================
WebMD
Lexapro
http://my.webmd.com/hw/drug_data/d04812a1.asp?bn=Lexapro
(Note: you must first read and agree to terms and conditions.)
?While you are taking escitalopram you may need to be monitored for
worsening symptoms of depression and/or suicidal thoughts especially
at the start of therapy or when doses are changed. Your doctor may
want you to monitor for the following symptoms: anxiety, panic
attacks, difficulty sleeping, irritability, hostility, impulsivity,
severe restlessness, and mania (mental and/or physical hyperactivity).
These symptoms may be associated with development of worsening
symptoms of depression and/or suicidal thoughts or actions. Contact
your healthcare provider if you develop any new or worsening mental
health symptoms during treatment with escitalopram. Do not stop taking
escitalopram without first talking to your healthcare provider.?
============================================================================
RXList.com
Escitalopram Oxalate
SIDE EFFECTS
http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/lexapro_ad.htm
?Psychiatric Disorders - Frequent: appetite increased, lethargy,
irritability, concentration impaired. Infrequent: jitteriness, panic
reaction, agitation, apathy, forgetfulness, depression aggravated,
nervousness, restlessness aggravated, suicide attempt, amnesia,
anxiety attack, bruxism, carbohydrate craving, confusion,
depersonalization, disorientation, emotional lability, feeling unreal,
tremulousness nervous, crying abnormal, depression, excitability,
auditory hallucination, suicidal tendency.?
============================================================================
I hope you have found this information helpful. If you have any
questions, please request clarification prior to rating the answer.
Googlenut
Search Strategy:
I had previous knowledge of the National Institutes of Health
MedLinePlus, U.S. Food and Drug Administration and PDRhealth websites.
I searched these websites for Lexapro.
Google Search Terms:
lexapro
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=lexapro
lexapro warnings OR "side effects"
://www.google.com/search?q=lexapro+warnings+OR+%22side+effects%22&hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&tab=nw&sa=N
"Escitalopram Oxalate"
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&safe=off&q=%22Escitalopram+Oxalate%22&btnG=Search
lexapro starting OR stopping
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&safe=off&q=lexapro+starting+OR+stopping&btnG=Search
"stopping lexapro"
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&safe=off&q=%22stopping+lexapro%22&btnG=Search
lexapro "stop taking"
://www.google.com/search?q=lexapro+%22stop+taking%22&btnG=Search&hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&safe=off |
,
0 Comments
)