Lexapro (escitalopram)

Dr. Pagnani of Rittenhouse Psychiatric Associates discusses Lexapro (escitalopram) an SSRI or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor that is an isomer (mirror image) of Celexa (citalopram). This medication can be utilized for the treatment of depression and various anxiety disorders.

Dr. Pagnani is the founder and medical director of Rittenhouse Psychiatric Associates, an Instructor at The Johns Hopkins Hospital for the Department of Psychiatry, he supervises psychiatric residents at Jefferson Hospital, he serves on the Young Professional Board of Uplift, the Center for Grieving Children and he maintains a private practice of Psychiatry in Philadelphia where he sees patients for one-time psychiatric evaluations and second opinions. He is a licensed physician and surgeon in NJ, PA, NY, MD, DE, FL and CA and can provide consultations to individuals via HIPAA compliant Telehealth visits living in these locations.

Rittenhouse Psychiatric Associates is a private practice of psychiatry consisting of about 25 psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners and psychotherapists with physical locations in Philadelphia and Paoli, PA and serving all of PA, NJ, NY and FL virtually via HIPAA compliant tele-psychiatry. Individuals seeking not only evaluations but long-term psychiatric care, can contact Rittenhouse Psychiatric Associates directly.

These videos aim to increase awareness and discussion of mental health topics and to encourage struggling individuals to schedule an appointment directly with a mental health provider. Mental health needs to be normalized, and simply speaking about mental health topics openly, is an important first step.

Dr. Pagnani and Rittenhouse Psychiatric Associates are NOT advocating for or against the use of any mentioned psychiatric medications for any specific individual. Additionally, any side effects mentioned are not a complete list of potential side effects or contraindications to taking any mentioned medications, and all risks and benefits of a medication should be discussed with an individual’s provider at an appointment, before starting, stopping or making changes to a medication regimen.

This video is INFORMATIVE ONLY - NOT MEDICAL ADVICE.

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www.RittenhousePA.com
www.ChrisPagnaniMD.com

[Rebecca-zrlu]

God, thank you for medications for depression and anxiety. I pray for healing for the times that people had side effects, reactions, overdoses and death from them. I pray that people are healthy and healed how you decide to heal them and if they are not to take something, God, please deliver them. In Jesus name. Amen 🙏Thank you for resurrection power that is only yours God. 😊

[bsharp]

I take this 20 mg a day. I have ahdh and bipolar 2 disorder. Didn’t really do anything until I started taking 5 other medications

[GAB-ff]

Hello Dr,

I took escitalopram 5 mg because of anxiety. The treatment quickly worked and I felt revived. Then, after 6 months of treatment, I began a period of withdrawal. I went down to 5 mg once every two days, but after 2 months anxiety was back again. We then increased the dosage, first to 5 mg a day (3 weeks) then to 10 mg a day (for the last 3 weeks). I've been back on the drug for 6 weeks now, but I'm not feeling the effects.

Have you already experienced something like that? Does the relapse cause me to take longer to recover than when I first took the medication? The first time i felt fine in 3 weeks...

[ats-]

Lexapro fucking near killed me, i went on Lexapro due to generalised anxiety disorder which was uncomfortable but manageable, 3 days into 10mg of Lexapro i went into a non stop 24/7 hell level anxiety and permanent panic attacks, even xanax and ativan wouldn't touch the anxiety and panic, i was so close to suicide it was the most terrible thing ive ever experienced. I stopped taking the lexapro after 8 days and within 36 hours the panic attack stopped and my anxiety subsided again, no way am i ever taking ssri's again.

[mikeyoung]

I have been taking Lexapro 10mg for 8 years now due to severe panic attacks. As a male at 55 years old when first taking this drug. It has been very effective in my case. Recently when visiting a doctor they noticed my blood pressure was higher than normal around 150 or so at the doctors office or dentist. I had a heart sonogram which turned out to be normal. Doctor A put me on 15mg of blood pressure medication. I went for a second opinion and Doctor B took my blood pressure 150 at the beginning and 130 a few minutes later. Doctor B took me off the blood pressure meds and increased my Lexapro to 20 milligrams saying that it was my anxiety causing this in blood pressure. I took her advice however, just wanted others to chime in that have experience with this type of condition to see maybe a third opinion.

[VesselFitterguy]

This drug made me super anxious. Super high anxiety all day. Like super tense all day

[judyaitken]

7 months of taking Lexapro resulted in distressing chronic night time RSL, and it's diuretic action = no sleep, from day 1.
How does that improve depression, and anxiety?
Interestingly, when Lexapro was stopped, RSL and diuretic activity ceased to be a problem = best sleep ever!.🤔

[jacktwistcsgo]

Prolonged use of SSRI also weakens the bones and increases risk of bone fractures.

[jazz]

Lexapro made me feel nothing. By that I mean my emotions were non-existent. No what matter I did I felt no pleasure, no anxiety, no depression but just like a zombie. I hated it. I started having horrible violent thoughts just to feel something. It was just weird and I would not recommend it. It destroyed my sex life and my sex life has never been the same. The withdrawals were the worst thing I have ever gone through. It is not just 2 days of withdrawals but months. My skin was burning and it has never felt the same. It is just a horrible uncomfortable sensation. While on the medicine I blinked my eyes excessively. It has never gone away. My doctor never called me once to follow up. I went to other doctors and all they would say is there are no withdrawals and it must be something else. Now this was a long time ago but the amount of ignorance, denial and poor care in the medical community was astonishing. How is this "SAFE and EFFECTIVE?"

[TheDkpatj]

I am taking 20 mg lexapro from last 3 weeks but seems like not working better than 10 mg. Should I wait for more weeks to start working? Please advise. Thanks

[GodsPower]

Why is this lexapro very popular still?? Must work well.

[radiohead]

Been on 10mg. Going up to 20... can i split 10 in morning 10 at night

[pm]

I increased my Lexapro dose from 10 to 20mg it hasn’t taken affect. Is this normal or how many weeks does it take when you increase your dose of antidepressant?

[enlightened-zezs]

Well that didn't sell it to me for shit. Thank you for your time though