This medicine may cause hyponatremia (low sodium in the blood). This is more common in elderly patients, those who are taking diuretic medicines for high blood pressure, or those who have decreased amounts of fluid in the body due to severe diarrhea or vomiting.

Lexapro side effects elderly women

• Lexapro may cause low salt levels in your body. This may be more likely to occur in seniors, people who take water pills, or people who are dehydrated. This side effect may cause: headache. confusion. trouble concentrating. thinking or memory problems. weakness.

Because adverse effects represent a potentially more serious concern among older adults, vital signs were taken at regular intervals. At the end of the 12-week study, the Lexapro group showed significant improvement in GAD symptoms. Side effects were mostly minor and included fatigue and sleep disturbances.

Is Lexapro safe for elderly?

SSRIs considered to have the best safety profile in the elderly are citalopram, escitalopram , and sertraline. [16] These have the lowest potential for drug-drug interactions based on their cytochrome P-450 interactions.

Which antidepressant should be avoided in the elderly?

Tricyclic antidepressants , especially amitriptyline and dothiepin ,¹⁶ are known to pose a high risk of death in overdosage. These drugs should therefore be avoided in older people whose medication is not supervised and who are at risk of taking an overdose.

What are the most common side effects of Lexapro?

Common side effects of Lexapro include: diarrhea, drowsiness , ejaculatory disorder, headache, insomnia, nausea , and delayed ejaculation. Other side effects include: anorgasmia, constipation, dizziness , dyspepsia, fatigue, decreased libido, diaphoresis, and xerostomia.

Does Lexapro lead to dementia?

Patients with major depressive disorder treated with the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor ( SSRI ) escitalopram experienced significant drops in the levels of 2 neurotoxic compounds that can cause memory loss and dementia .

What is the best anti anxiety medication for the elderly?

Buspirone is an anti-anxiety drug that has been shown to be effective for older adults. Benzodiazepines , another anti-anxiety drug, are effective but should be prescribed carefully to older adults because of risk of memory impairment, unsteadiness, and falls.

What are the bad side effects of Lexapro?

Common side effects of Lexapro include: drowsiness , dizziness , sleep problems (insomnia), nausea , upset stomach, gas, heartburn, constipation,

What is the safest antidepressant with the least side effects?

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors ( SSRIs ). These medications generally cause fewer bothersome side effects and are less likely to cause problems at higher therapeutic doses than other types of antidepressants are.

What medications make dementia worse?

New research links certain medications to dementia risk amitriptyline , paroxetine, and bupropion (most commonly taken for depression) oxybutynin and tolterodine (taken for an overactive bladder) diphenhydramine (a common antihistamine, as found in Benadryl ).

What is the most common inappropriately prescribed drug to the elderly?

Diphenhydramine and amitriptiline are the most common inappropriately prescribed medications with high risk adverse events while propoxyphene and doxazoxin are the most commonly prescribed medications with low risk adverse events.

Is it better to take Lexapro in the morning or at night?

You can take escitalopram at any time of day, as long as you stick to the same time every day. If you have trouble sleeping, it’s best to take it in the morning .

What can you not mix with Lexapro?

Drug interactions of Lexapro include monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), tryptophan, St. John’s wort, meperidine, lithium, triptans, tramadol, warfarin, aspirin , nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs ( NSAIDs ), and other drugs that cause bleeding.

How do you deal with Lexapro side effects?

Fatigue, drowsiness Take a brief nap during the day. Get some physical activity, such as walking. Avoid driving or operating dangerous machinery until the fatigue passes. Take your antidepressant at bedtime if your doctor approves. Talk to your doctor to see if adjusting your dose will help.

Can you stay on Lexapro for life?

Dosage. If you are experiencing the first episode of depression or anxiety, you may take Lexapro for a defined period such as between six months and one year. However, for individuals experiencing a chronic mental health condition, it may be necessary to take Lexapro for an extended period over many years.

Can Lexapro affect memory?

It has also been noted that escitalopram might reduce the level of sodium in the blood of people who are age 65 and older. Low sodium levels can cause memory problems or confusion. If someone takes too much of the drug, it may also cause forgetfulness.

Does Lexapro help with motivation?

The study of 58 healthy volunteers found those who were given the antidepressant drug escitalopram , which increases serotonin levels, put in more effort to get a reward.