Escitalopram is a second generation antidepressant; a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) that is used in the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) and anxiety related disorders. It is generic for Lexapro and was approved by the FDA in 2012 for adults and children 12 years and older who suffer from major depressive disorder and adults who have generalized anxiety disorder. (FDA, 2012). Since its approval, Escitalopram has also been used in the treatment of Obsessive compulsive disorder, body dysmorphic disorder, and even premenstrual dysphoric disorder. This review will discuss the overall effectiveness of Escitalopram, the pharmacokinetic factors of the medication, the mechanism of action, common adverse reactions, pharmacological effects of the medication, and its efficacy across different populations. The Pharmacokinetics of Escitalopram While many selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI’s) are accepted as first line treatments for depression and anxiety, they differ greatly in their chemical structure and pharmacokinetic profile. These differences are especially important when selecting the appropriate antidepressant drug for the client. It is also important to understand the different drug interactions and pharmacological profiles when considering an SSRI for a patient as well. An initial starting dose of escitalopram is usually 10 mg/day. It may be necessary to increase dosage after at least one week of treatment to a maximum dosage of up to 20
All antidepressants work in a similar way, though there are various types of antidepressants—often called “families”—that each work a bit differently. They all, however, increase the brain’s concentration of various neurotransmitters. Antidepressants are psychiatric medications given to patients with depressive disorders to alleviate symptoms. They correct chemical imbalances of neurotransmitters in the brain which probably cause changes in mood and behavior. Antidepressants may be used for a wide range of psychiatric conditions, including social anxiety disorder, anxiety disorders. Antidepressants were initially developed in the 1950s. Their use has become progressively more common over the last twenty years. Generally speaking, antipsychotic
Chronic intake, the delayed onset of action, drug resistance and numerous side effects force the researchers to look for the new, safe antidepressant strategies (1, 2) with rapid onset and longer time of action.
Cymbalta (Duloxetine) is a Serotonin Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor (SNRI) use to treat depression (Breggin, 2013). There are several therapeutic and biological alternatives being implemented to control hopelessness. Many researcher are recommending other types of treatments before psychotropic therapy is implemented (O 'Mathuna & Larimore, 2010). Some of the therapeutic alternatives are Reflexology, Craniosacral Therapy (CST), Acupuncture, Exercise, Meditation and Direct Amino Acid Therapy Maintenance (Keegan, 2001). St John’s Wort, Passionflower, Valerian and Omega 3 fatty acids are a few of the biological options available to combat depression (Keegan, 2001). The dietary supplements tryptophan and
Major depressive disorder is one of the most common mental disorders, with a 12-month prevalence of 6.7% of adults in the United States (NIMH). There is no definite etiology of depression, but several risk factors have been identified. Functional and structural changes in the brain have also been explored. The most common treatment for depression is the use of drugs that act on monoamine transmitters, including norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin. Decreases in these transmitters, especially serotonin, were hypothesized to play an important role in the cause of depression (Breedlove & Watson, 2013). The serotonin hypothesis led to the development of selective-serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which increase the amount of serotonin in the brain. Further research suggests that the serotonin hypothesis is not entirely accurate and the neurobiology of depression is much more complex. The “chemical imbalance” explanation of depression may not reflect the full range of causes and may be given greater credibility by patients and doctors than is supported by evidence based research.
It all determines if the NPD patient has an Axis I diagnosis of major depression or any depressive symptoms relative to egotistic pathology that will influence the lengthen the course of treatment. Different types of SSRI’s are Celexa, Lexapro, Prozac, Luvox CR, and many others. Celexa, or Citalopram, can enhance the serotonin activity in the neuronal membrane. Lexapro, or Escitalopram, is used to treat depression in NPD patients and relief of depression can occur faster with this antidepressant better than any other antidepressant. Prozac, or Fluoxetine, inhibits presynaptic serotonin with little to no effect on the reuptake of norepinephrine or dopamine. Luvox CR, or Fluvoxamine, has fewer adverse effects than tricyclic antidepressants (Ambardar,
Risperdal (Risperidone) has been used for a number of different mental health disorders. It has been used for Schizophrenia, Bipolar I disorder, and to help with irritability in children with Autism. There are a number of different things that will be covered in this paper such as the chemical makeup of the medication, the appearance, side effects, off label use, side effects, administration, and how it works, with other additional information.
The belief is that antidepressants work by increasing levels of a group of chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters. Certain neurotransmitters, such as serotonin and noradrenaline, can improve mood and emotion, although we do not yet fully understand this process
Some of the most common antidepressants include Prozac, Celexa, Zoloft, Paxil, Remeron and Effexor, these come capsules or tablets, studies show that the effects of these drugs can include: Nervousness and anxiety, Insomnia, Irritability, Violent thoughts and actions, Agitation, Hostility, Suicidal thoughts or suicide, Tremors, Irregular heartbeat, Aggression, Confusion and incoherent thoughts, Paranoia, Hallucinations, Psychosis,
Escitalopram, Lexapro, advantages would be minimal interactions with other medications have been documented, marginal sedation, and less weight gain (Preston & et al, 2013). A big disadvantage is at the start of taking this medication, anxiety can be caused (Preston & et al, 2013). When Marcus first starts taking the medication, he needs to be aware that if he experiences any worsening depression, extreme worry, panic attack, problems staying asleep, or aggressive behavior to alert his provider (Perry, Alexander, Liskow, & DeVane, 2007). Lexapro normally can take from one to four weeks before the effects are felt and the normal dose is 10 to 20 milligrams (AFHS, 2012).
Daily dosage of Escitalopram (Lexapro) (Kovich & Delong, 2015) 10 mg tablets PO daily (Lexapro, 2016)
Tamazepam acts at many levels in the CNS, producing generalized depression. Effects may be mediated by GABA, an inhibitory neurotransmitter.
Doctors also prescribe Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors(SSRI) to individuals suffering from depression, but the same ailment can be treated with amino acid supplements. Some examples of SSRIs are Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft and Celexa. SSRIs increase the amount of serotonin in the synapse by blocking its reabsorption, helping the symptoms of depression improve. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, benzodiazepines lose their therapeutic anti-anxiety effect after 4 to 6 months of regular use. Dr. White, clinical psychologist and a certified neurotherapist, compares antidepressants to a foreign chemical. She is completely against the use of SSRIs because it blocks the reuptake of the serotonin into the neuron. In simple words,
Citalopram, which was one of the first selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors approved by the Food and Drug Administration, is one of the antidepressant drugs that clinicians prescribe for routine generalized depression.3 “Thirty-seven trials compared citalopram with other antidepressants (such as tricyclics, heterocyclics, SSRIs and other antidepressants, either conventional ones, such as mirtazapine, venlafaxine and reboxetine, or non-conventional, like hypericum). Citalopram was shown to be significantly less effective than escitalopram in achieving acute response (odds ratio (OR) 1.47, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.08 to 2.02), but more effective than paroxetine (OR 0.65, 95% CI 0.44 to 0.96) and reboxetine (OR 0.63, 95% CI 0.43 to 0.91). Significantly fewer patients allocated to citalopram withdrew from trials due to adverse events compared with patients allocated to tricyclics (OR 0.54, 95% CI 0.38 to 0.78) and fewer patients allocated to citalopram reported at least one side effect than reboxetine or venlafaxine (OR 0.64, 95% CI 0.42 to 0.97 and OR 0.46, 95% CI 0.24 to 0.88, respectively).”4 Citalopram is a great drug choice for depression due to its low cost, good efficacy, and reduction of the amount of side effects. 4, 8
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) are currently one of the most controversial groups of medicines, with fluoxetine, more commonly known by its brand name Prozac, at the head of the controversy. Opponents of the use of SSRI medications as a successful and safe method for treating depression and related disorders assert that the actions of the drug are an unnatural and a dangerous form of tampering with our neurochemistry. Not only are these medications incredibly safe in almost all cases, they are actually an unnatural method of modifying an already disordered, natural sequence of chemicals in the brain, and therefore are not a form of tampering, but are a method for fixing
The newest medications used to suppress depression are collectively known as selective serotonin inhibitors (SSRIs). These drugs work by altering the