What Is Lexapro Used For?

Depression is more than just "feeling sad." Some common symptoms of depression include:

 

In large clinical trials, Lexapro has been shown to be effective at helping adults with depression. It is also approved to treat depression in adolescents age 12 to 17 years old. Keep in mind that many antidepressants, including Lexapro, take several weeks to begin working.

 

Sometimes, other people will notice an improvement in your depression symptoms before you do. Often, the physical symptoms of depression (such as pain or changes in sleep) will improve first, sometimes within the first few weeks of treatment. It usually takes at least four to six weeks before significant changes in mood occur. It is important to give Lexapro a chance to work before becoming discouraged.

 

 

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is much more than the normal anxiety people experience from day to day. It is chronic and fills one's day with exaggerated worry and tension, even though there is little or nothing to provoke it. Having this disorder means always anticipating disaster, often worrying excessively about health, money, family, or work. Sometimes, however, the source of the worry is hard to pinpoint. Simply the thought of getting through the day provokes anxiety.

There are several different treatments available for generalized anxiety disorder, including cognitive behavioral therapy and various different types of medications. Lexapro is one of those medications approved to treat generalized anxiety disorder.