In one of her interviews, actress Amanda Seyfried opened up about her struggle with OCD. Amanda admitted that she had been taking Lexapro for years. Indeed, she even kept taking the antidepressant throughout her first pregnancy.
It seems pretty harmless after such news, isn’t it? AddictionResource authors say that it may be true for some patients. One 2014 study claimed that this medication was one of the most tolerable SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors). However, a survey revealed that about 60% of patients had at least one side effect when taking Lexapro.
In fact, there are some noticeable side effects associated with this antidepressant. The most common ones are listed in the given infographic. Sometimes, Lexapro users experience more severe adverse effects. For example, serotonin syndrome, manic episodes, worsening depression, suicidal thoughts and behaviors, slurred speech, fever, muscle stiffness, seizures, and more. Report any new or worsening symptoms to your doctor.
Don’t skip the doses and don’t stop taking Lexapro without the consultation. It will reduce the therapeutic benefits of the antidepressant, but not the adverse effects. In general, Lexapro’s side effects are temporary. Dry mouth, nausea, and headache disappear within a couple of days or weeks. Other symptoms may stay longer.
Infographic by: addictionresource.com
