Yes, Lexapro (escitalopram), can treat panic disorder. Although Lexapro is only FDA-approved for the treatment of major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, Lexapro can also treat panic disorder. All of the major anxiety disorder except for specific phobia can be treated with Lexapro.
Lexapro is a Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI), which blocks the reuptake of serotonin and increases serotonin in neuronal synapses. This increase in serotonin is how SSRIs such as Lexapro relieve anxiety symptoms in someone with panic disorder. Lexapro cools down the hyperactive anxiety circuits, of which the amygdala is a major component.
The advantage of Lexapro over other SSRIs for panic disorder is that it has fewer side effects. Additionally, Lexapro has fewer drug-drug interactions when combining with other medications. Lexapro is the active S-enantiomer of the racemic mixture Celexa (citalopram). In other words, Celexa contains both enantiomers of the molecule, which are mirror-images of each other, and Lexapro only has one enantiomer, the active S-enantiomer. Consequently, Lexapro is more potent than Celexa, requiring lower doses for effectiveness in anxiety and depression, and this may be associated with less side effects, given the lower dosage.
Lexapro went off patent in 2012, so it is available in generic form. As such, it is priced lower than brand name Lexapro. In addition, generic Lexapro is now priced similarly to generic Celexa. What this means is that there is no longer a big price differential between Lexapro and Celexa, as Lexapro recently went off patent, making cheaper generics available.
In summary, Lexapro can treat panic disorder. Lexapro is also now available as a generic, so it is comparable in price to generic Celexa. In general, Lexapro is associated with fewer side effects and less drug-drug interactions when compared to the other SSRIs.
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What effect would Lexapro 10mg have on a 79yo male with anxiety?
What effect would Lexapro 10mg have on a 79yo male diagnosed with moderate dementia and anxiety?
What effect would Lexapro 10mg have on a 79yo male without any symptoms of the above?
If a patient were on Lexapro 10mg daily for 2 & a half years how would you wean this patient off the Lexapro medication?
This website is for general information only. Please ask these case-specific questions from the treating doctor.
I was on ativan for years for GAD. I’ve been off for 13 months. Since being off I’ve been awful feeling. My biggest complaint is what I consider sensory overload, brain filtering issue. I’ve seen numerous specialists and they all say anxiety. However I’m not anxious until the sensory overload hits. I can’t be around many people, I don’t drive, I can’t even be outside very long. I will give you an ex. My daughters bday party at our house I can’t have many kids around, people taking, lights on. It makes me feel ljke I can’t take it all in, I feel extremely uncomfortable. I have to retreat to my quiet room to recover. This can not be typical anxiety can it. I’m non functional. I have many many other symptoms but this is the biggest one. I would give any amount of $ to talk with a physician who knows about Ativan withdrawl and if this what I’m experiencing is normal and what I can take to help it. I have 3 kids I can’t live this way!! Thank you so much. My pre benzo anxiety was NOTHING like this. It wa more health anxiety related.
If you’re experiencing benzodiazepine withdrawal, then you need to see your doctor again and have them consider placing you back on benzodiazepines, and this time, taper it VERY SLOWLY over several weeks or months, and then discontinue. Also, a referral to a psychiatrist may be in order as well, to consider other treatments for you.