LEXAPRO -TREATMENT OF DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY: LEXAPRO

Before taking Lexapro

It is dangerous to try and purchase Lexapro on the Internet or from vendors outside of the United States. Medications distributed from Internet sales may contain dangerous ingredients, or may not be distributed by a licensed pharmacy. Samples of Lexapro purchased on the Internet have been found to contain haloperidol (Haldol), a potent antipsychotic drug with dangerous side effects. For more information, contact the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or visit www.fda.gov/buyonlineguide.

Do not use Lexapro if you are using an MAO inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), tranylcypromine (Parnate), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), or selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam). Serious and sometimes fatal reactions can occur when these medicines are taken with Lexapro. You must wait at least 14 days after stopping an MAO inhibitor before you can take escitalopram. After you stop taking Lexapro, you must wait at least 14 days before you start taking an MAOI.

Before taking this medicine, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

liver or kidney disease;
seizures or epilepsy;
bipolar disorder (manic depression); or
a history of drug abuse or suicidal thoughts.

If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take Lexapro.

You may have thoughts about suicide when you first start taking an antidepressant, especially if you are younger than 24 years old. Tell your doctor if you have worsening symptoms of depression or suicidal thoughts during the first several weeks of treatment, or whenever your dose is changed.

Your family or other caregivers should also be alert to changes in your mood or symptoms. Your doctor will need to check you at regular visits for at least the first 12 weeks of treatment with Lexapro.

LEXAPRO for Patients are breast feeding an infant

Patients should be advised to notify their physician if they are breast feeding an infant. Lexapro, like many other medicines, is excreted in breast milk. Therefore, the doctor and patient must decide whether to continue or discontinue either nursing or Lexapro therapy. The decision to continue Lexapro therapy should take into account the risks for the infant and the benefits of Lexapro treatment for the mother.

LEXAPTO cause weight gain?

In controlled studiesA study in which a test treatment is compared with a treatment that has known effects. The control group may receive no treatment, standard treatment (which may be another medicine or another approach to care), or placebo (sugar pill.), clinically important changes in body weight were similar for patients treated with Lexapro and those treated with placebo. If you have concerns about any side effects, you should talk with your healthcare professional.

Take LEXAPRO with other medicines

Do not take LEXAPRO if

you are taking or have recently taken a type of antidepressant called a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI), such as Nardil^® (phenelzine sulfate) or Parnate^® (tranylcypromine sulfate)
you are taking a type of antipsychotic medicine called Orap^® (pimozide)

Also, to avoid a potentially serious or life-threatening condition, tell your healthcare provider if you are taking, or planning to take, any prescription or over-the-counter medications, including

diuretics
other SSRIs, serotonin/noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), certain migraine or headache medications (triptans), or tryptophan
Any other medication prescribed for a psychiatric condition
NSAIDs, aspirin, warfarin, or blood thinners

LEXAPRO - PLEASE MAKE SURE.....