Lexapro

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Depression

Treatment

20 Active Studies for Lexapro

What is Lexapro

Escitalopram

The Generic name of this drug

Treatment Summary

Escitalopram is a type of antidepressant medication called a selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor (SSRI). It works by restoring the balance of serotonin in the brain, which can help to reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety. Escitalopram is much stronger than other similar medications and is thought to have fewer side effects. It also works faster and is more effective than other SSRIs due to its specific action on serotonin transporters.

Lexapro

is the brand name

image of different drug pills on a surface

Lexapro Overview & Background

Brand Name

Generic Name

First FDA Approval

How many FDA approvals?

Lexapro

Escitalopram

2002

362

Effectiveness

How Lexapro Affects Patients

Escitalopram is a type of medication called an SSRI (selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor) that helps boost serotonin levels in the brain. It is considered to be a fast-acting SSRI, and can cause abnormal bleeding or a condition called serotonin syndrome if taken with other drugs. If you need to stop taking escitalopram, it should be gradually reduced over time to avoid unpleasant side effects.

How Lexapro works in the body

Escitalopram works to increase the amount of serotonin in the brain. It does this by blocking serotonin from being taken back up into the brain cells. It also binds to a secondary site on the serotonin transporter molecule, which further increases the amount of serotonin in the brain. After a while of this increased serotonin, the brain cells become less sensitive to it, which helps to create the full effect of the drug. Escitalopram does not bind to other types of receptors, which can help explain some side effects.

When to interrupt dosage

The measure of Lexapro is contingent upon the diagnosed affliction, including Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Depression. The amount fluctuates in line with the technique of delivery featured in the table beneath.

Condition

Dosage

Administration

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

20.0 mg, , 10.0 mg, 5.0 mg, 5.0 mg/mL, 15.0 mg, 1.0 mg, 2.0 mg, 1.0 mg/mL

, Oral, Tablet, film coated, Tablet, film coated - Oral, Solution, Solution - Oral, Tablet, Tablet - Oral, Tablet, coated, Tablet, coated - Oral, Tablet, orally disintegrating, Tablet, orally disintegrating - Oral, Kit

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

20.0 mg, , 10.0 mg, 5.0 mg, 5.0 mg/mL, 15.0 mg, 1.0 mg, 2.0 mg, 1.0 mg/mL

, Oral, Tablet, film coated, Tablet, film coated - Oral, Solution, Solution - Oral, Tablet, Tablet - Oral, Tablet, coated, Tablet, coated - Oral, Tablet, orally disintegrating, Tablet, orally disintegrating - Oral, Kit

Depression

20.0 mg, , 10.0 mg, 5.0 mg, 5.0 mg/mL, 15.0 mg, 1.0 mg, 2.0 mg, 1.0 mg/mL

, Oral, Tablet, film coated, Tablet, film coated - Oral, Solution, Solution - Oral, Tablet, Tablet - Oral, Tablet, coated, Tablet, coated - Oral, Tablet, orally disintegrating, Tablet, orally disintegrating - Oral, Kit

Warnings

Lexapro Contraindications

Condition

Risk Level

Notes

Severe Hypersensitivity Reactions

Do Not Combine

Escitalopram may interact with Pulse Frequency

Long QT Syndrome

Do Not Combine

Pulse Frequency

Do Not Combine

Pulse Frequency

Do Not Combine

Long QT Syndrome

Do Not Combine

There are 20 known major drug interactions with Lexapro.

Common Lexapro Drug Interactions

Drug Name

Risk Level

Description

Aclidinium

Major

The risk or severity of adverse effects can be increased when Escitalopram is combined with Aclidinium.

Artemether

Major

The risk or severity of QTc prolongation can be increased when Escitalopram is combined with Artemether.

Azelastine

Major

Escitalopram may increase the central nervous system depressant (CNS depressant) activities of Azelastine.

Cimetropium

Major

The risk or severity of adverse effects can be increased when Escitalopram is combined with Cimetropium.

Dronedarone

Major

Escitalopram may increase the QTc-prolonging activities of Dronedarone.

Lexapro Toxicity & Overdose Risk

Overdosing on escitalopram may cause dizziness, seizures, unconsciousness, nausea, vomiting, low blood pressure, increased heart rate, and changes in the heart's electrical activity. There is no specific antidote for this drug, so monitoring vital signs and providing supportive care is the best way to treat overdose. Since this drug is quickly absorbed into the tissue after ingestion, methods such as dialysis are not likely to be very helpful.

image of a doctor in a lab doing drug, clinical research

Lexapro Novel Uses: Which Conditions Have a Clinical Trial Featuring Lexapro?

231 active studies are currently assessing the utility of Lexapro in the management of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Depression.

Condition

Clinical Trials

Trial Phases

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

11 Actively Recruiting

Not Applicable, Phase 2, Phase 3, Phase 1

Depression

227 Actively Recruiting

Phase 3, Phase 2, Not Applicable, Phase 4, Phase 1, Early Phase 1

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

20 Actively Recruiting

Not Applicable, Phase 1, Early Phase 1, Phase 2

Lexapro Reviews: What are patients saying about Lexapro?

4

Patient Review

10/31/2022

Lexapro for Anxiousness associated with Depression

It's tough switches medications, and it took about three months for me to transition from Effexor to Lexapro. I'm now on 20mg and have experienced a decrease in appetite. If you're struggling with making a similar switch, consider taking lorazepam to help ease the process; it definitely aided me.

3.3

Patient Review

10/5/2022

Lexapro for Depression

I tried Lexapro a few months ago but stopped because the first week was really tough. I decided to give it another go recently and have been taking it in the morning. It's helped me feel stable during the day, but I crash around 7pm and become tired and irritable.

3

Patient Review

9/22/2022

Lexapro for Depression

I started on 10 mg to help with postpartum depression, it definitely helped but now they doubled my dosage and I take it at night. The increased dosage has caused me to have obsessive thoughts which then lead to anxiety attacks if I can't remember something. Not sure I'm going to continue with it.

2.7

Patient Review

10/28/2022

Lexapro for Panic Disorder

I was on this medicine for around two months. I started with a low dose of 10mg, but after a couple weeks with no change, my doctor upped it to 15mg. Even at this lower dosage, though, I had really terrible side effects that made me unable to function normally. It felt like there was always a fire inside me and I would have these awful nightmares.

2.3

Patient Review

9/15/2022

Lexapro for Depression

I was on Lexapro for over six months. I started at 20mg and it helped a little bit at first. I had energy, but everything else felt the same. Slowly, though, I started feeling numb. My emotions flatlined and I could only tell annoyance and irritation apart from other emotions easily. I had energy but no desire to do anything with it or motivation to get better. Additionally, my sex drive disappeared entirely.

1.7

Patient Review

10/15/2022

Lexapro for Major Depressive Disorder

I found that this drug actually made my initial symptoms worse. I lost all sense of morality and consciousness while on it.
image of drug pills surrounding a glass of water symbolizing drug consumption

Patient Q&A Section about lexapro

These questions and answers are submitted by anonymous patients, and have not been verified by our internal team.

Is Lexapro a strong antidepressant?

"Lexapro clinical studies have shown to be more effective in treating Major Depressive Disorder and Generalized Anxiety Disorder than those who take a placebo."

Answered by AI

How does Lexapro make you feel?

"You may experience side effects such as fatigue, diarrhea, or headaches when you first start taking Lexapro, which is an antidepressant prescription drug used to treat depression and anxiety."

Answered by AI

What does Lexapro do for you?

"Escitalopram is used to treat depression and anxiety. It is an antidepressant that affects chemicals in the brain that may be unbalanced in people with depression or anxiety."

Answered by AI

Is Lexapro and Xanax the same thing?

"Different prescription drugs that can treat general anxiety as well as anxiety with depression are Lexapro and Xanax. Lexapro is an SSRI drug while Xanax is a benzodiazepine."

Answered by AI

Clinical Trials for Lexapro

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Decision-Making Task for Depression

18+
All Sexes
San Francisco, CA

The purpose of this study is to understand how the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), a region at the front of the brain, guides decisions about whether to pursue a possible reward when doing so also carries a risk of loss, and how this process is altered in depression. People with depression are often less motivated by rewards and more sensitive to potential losses, leading them to avoid situations that others would approach. The OFC is thought to play a central role in these "approach or avoid" decisions, but how it normally does so, and what goes wrong in depression, is not well understood. This study asks two questions: (1) How does activity in different parts of the OFC signal the decision to approach or avoid? (2) Does this activity differ in people with depression in a way that explains a bias toward avoidance? We hypothesize that the medial OFC (toward the middle of the brain) signals approach, the lateral OFC (toward the side of the brain) signals avoidance, and that in depression the medial OFC signal is weakened, tipping decisions toward avoidance. Participants are adults who are hospitalized with stereo-EEG (sEEG) electrodes already placed in the brain by their medical team, either to locate the source of seizures in epilepsy or as part of a separate clinical trial for treatment-resistant depression. The electrodes are placed for clinical reasons only, not for this study. During their hospital stay, participants complete a short, game-like computer task (about 20 minutes per session) in which they repeatedly choose whether to approach or avoid options that offer different chances of reward and loss. Their choices and reaction times are recorded along with brain activity from the existing electrodes, and participants rate their mood before each session. The researchers will compare OFC activity during approach versus avoid decisions, use mathematical models of decision-making to measure how strongly each participant weighs rewards and losses, and compare participants with and without depression. No drugs, devices, or brain stimulation are given as part of this study. The findings are intended to guide the development of more targeted brain-stimulation treatments for treatment-resistant depression.

Recruiting
Has No Placebo

UCSF

Clara Starkweather, MD, PhD

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Psilocybin for Depression

18 - 70
All Sexes
San Diego, CA

More efficacious treatments for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in Veterans are urgently needed. Psilocybin is a promising novel treatment that is likely to be the first FDA-approved psychedelic, but its safety and efficacy remain unclear. To address this gap, the investigators propose a randomized controlled trial of a single dose of psilocybin paired with a brief course of a VA-endorsed evidence-based psychotherapy (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) in Veterans with MDD. Our trial addresses key limitations of previous studies including the challenge of management of expectancy effects, a focus on Veterans with input from Veterans, and a study population that reflects the demographics and medical and psychiatric complexity of the VHA patient population. Our study also explores psilocybin's antidepressant mechanisms focusing on changes in psychological flexibility and synaptic plasticity. In sum, this study will provide critical and timely data to determine if psilocybin treatment is a safe and efficacious treatment for MDD in Veterans.

Phase 2
Waitlist Available

VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA (+3 Sites)

Josh Woolley, BS PhD MD

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Non-Deceptive Placebo for Depression

18 - 30
All Sexes
Oxford, OH

Subclinical depression - depressive symptoms that fall below the threshold for major depressive disorder - is common in young adults and predicts later depressive episodes, yet it often goes untreated. This study tests whether a brief, remotely delivered non-deceptive (open-label) placebo intervention reduces subclinical depressive symptoms over approximately two weeks. Participants aged 18-30 living in Ohio, with PHQ-8 scores in the 5-9 range, are randomly assigned to one of three groups: a non-deceptive placebo group, a blinded control group, or an unblinded control group. All participants complete three remote sessions over 16-18 days and complete the same assessments on the same schedule. Participants in the non-deceptive placebo group additionally receive psychoeducation about placebo effects and placebo pills that are explicitly described as containing no active ingredients, which they take twice daily for two weeks. Participants in the unblinded control group are told they have been assigned to a control condition. Participants in the blinded control group are not told their group assignment until debriefing at the end of the study. The study has two aims. The first is to estimate the effect of the non-deceptive placebo intervention on depressive symptoms and related outcomes. The second is methodological: to determine whether telling control participants that they are in a control group changes their outcomes, and therefore whether the choice of control condition systematically biases estimates of non-deceptive placebo effects.

Waitlist Available
Paid Trial

Miami University, Department of Psychology

Image of Weill Cornell Medicine, Starr Facility in New York, United States.

Transcendental Meditation for Burnout

18+
All Sexes
New York, NY

The goal of this study is to learn if a meditation intervention called Transcendental Meditation or TM can be used in a small department at Weill Cornell Medicine to help reduce employees' levels of burnout, anxiety, insomnia, and depression as well as to determine the feasibility and acceptability of the meditation practice by Weill Cornell employees. The main question the study aims to answer is whether: • Levels of burnout, anxiety, insomnia, and depression will be decreased, and overall mental well-being will improve over a 3.5-month period before and after TM intervention. Participants will attend 9 sessions total (8 group sessions and 1 individual session) with a certified TM instructor from The David Lynch Foundation Institute for Mental Health and Resilience where they will gain experience in proper TM techniques. Also, participants will conduct 2 of their own TM sessions at home daily during the course of this study.

Waitlist Available
Has No Placebo

Weill Cornell Medicine, Starr Facility

Joseph Osborne, MD, PhD

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EXOMIND Device for Anxiety

18+
All Sexes
Denver, CO

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if treatment with the BTL-699-2 device (non-invasive repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation) can decrease anxiety symptoms in adults (aged 22 years and older) diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). The main questions it aims to answer are: Does the accelerated treatment protocol using the BTL-699-2 device reduce self-reported anxiety symptoms (as measured by the GAD-7 scale) 3 months after the final treatment? What are the safety and side effects associated with the use of the BTL-699-2 device during this accelerated protocol? Researchers will compare the active treatment group (Group A, receiving stimulation intensity of up to 70% of the individual's motor threshold) to a sham control group (Group B, receiving an inactive stimulation intensity of 5% of their motor threshold) to see if the active brain stimulation works to treat Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Participants will: * Attend a screening/baseline visit to confirm GAD diagnosis (using the MINI diagnostic interview), review medical history, and establish their individual motor threshold. * Complete 8 study treatment visits scheduled twice weekly (2 to 4 days apart) over approximately 4 weeks. Each visit will consist of two consecutive 19-minute treatment sessions delivered at least 15 minutes apart (for a total of 16 treatments). * Complete self-reported and clinician-reported questionnaires assessing anxiety (GAD-7, HAM-A), depressive symptoms (PHQ-9), well-being (WEMWBS), suicidal risk (CSSRS), clinical improvement (CGI-I, PGI-I), and treatment comfort/satisfaction (TCQ, SSQ) at designated baseline, treatment, and follow-up visits. * Undergo a urine pregnancy test at baseline and once weekly (every other treatment visit) if they are women of childbearing potential. * Attend 2 follow-up visits scheduled at 1 month and 3 months after the final treatment to evaluate long-term outcomes and safety

Recruiting
Device

Aria Integrative Health (+2 Sites)

BTL Industries Ltd.

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Aripiprazole + Bupropion for Depression

18+
All Sexes
St Louis, MO

The goal of this clinical trial is to test whether a personalized approach to treatment selection improves symptoms in older adults with treatment-resistant depression. The main questions it aims to answer is: Will using the BAARD predictive models to select medications lead to better depression outcomes, compared to randomly selecting medications? Researchers will use the BAARD predictive models or random assignment to choose one of two medications to add to patients' current treatment. Patients will be asked to take either aripiprazole or bupropion along with their current medication. Participants will: Take Aripiprazole or Bupropion in addition to their current medication for 10 weeks. Complete follow-up assessments every 1-2 weeks for checkups.

Phase 2
Waitlist Available

Washington University School of Medicine (+2 Sites)

Ginger E Nicol

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We made a collection of clinical trials featuring Lexapro, we think they might fit your search criteria.
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