Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. In the U.S., around 40 million people have anxiety, but many don’t get treatment. To help avoid any possible drug interactions, let your doctor know about any other prescription and over-the-counter medications you are currently taking. Lexapro is an SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) used to treat psychological disorders such as depression and generalized anxiety.

420 mg) may report the medication working quicker than if he/she had low self-awareness and/or initiated treatment with a low dose (e.g. You may take Lexapro as tablets or an oral solution once daily, in the morning or evening, with or without food. In other cases, a combination of the placebo response plus serotonin reuptake inhibition (facilitated by Lexapro) may account for rapid responses. If you have additional questions, they are best answered by a medical professional.

Often clinicians start off with a smaller dose to minimize initial side effects, so the increase in dose may occur in steps. Calls to our general hotline may be answered by private treatment providers. Due to these neurophysiologic adaptations already being present, Lexapro may begin working at a faster rate.Moreover, if you have any history of using a substance that interacts with the neurotransmission of serotonin – or downstream neurochemical targets of Lexapro, this history may impact how long it’s going to take for Lexapro to provide a therapeutic effect. However, we know that this medication has an effect on serotonin, which is a brain neurotransmitter involved in mood, sleep, and other bodily functions. If you have anxiety, there are several ways to get help.One option is Celexa, an antidepressant medication. Assuming you have abnormal CYP2C19, CYP2D6, and/or CYP2C19 expression as a result of your genes, you might metabolize Lexapro differently (faster or slower) than average.For example, someone expressing genes that yield poor CYP2C19 metabolism will end up with higher-than-average systemic concentrations of Lexapro. The usual recommended daily dosage of Lexapro is 10 mg, but you may begin at a lower dose. 5 mg per day) may undergo significantly less neurophysiologic modulation early in treatment – compared to a person who initiates treatment with a relatively high Lexapro dose (e.g. Within 8 weeks: It is estimated that over 80% of Lexapro users will report the medication working within 4 to 8 weeks of administration. It is thought that certain neurochemical underpinnings of bipolar disorder may increase likelihood of rapid SSRI action.Individuals with medical conditions like hepatic dysfunction or renal impairment might exhibit abnormal metabolism and clearance of Lexapro compared to healthy users. )How many days or weeks after starting Lexapro did it take for you to derive therapeutic benefit?

Arlin Cuncic, MA, is the author of "Therapy in Focus: What to Expect from CBT for Social Anxiety Disorder" and "7 Weeks to Reduce Anxiety." If you notice that they are getting worse or are interfering with your quality of life, talk to your doctor about your concerns. However, research began to show that it was also effective for other mood disorders as well as anxiety disorders. Chamomile May Provide Some BenefitYes, There Is a Medication You Can Take as Needed for Anxiety (This is why it’s recommended to start at 50% of a normal Lexapro dose if your genetics indicate poor CYP2C19 metabolism).On the other hand, someone expressing genes that yield rapid or ultrarapid CYP2C19 metabolism may be less likely to notice the medication working early in treatment. Seek immediate help if you experience any of the following unusual side effects of Lexapro: Lexapro was initially used only to treat depression.

Lexapro is not safe for everyone. If you were instructed to slowly titrate the dosage in the first few weeks of treatment, it’s possible that you might’ve noticed a quicker effect with a higher starting dose. To help avoid any possible drug interactions, let your doctor know about any other prescription and over-the-counter medications you are currently taking. Moreover, some individuals may require more than 8 weeks to notice that Lexapro has taken effect.Keep in mind that Lexapro always is “working” (inhibiting the reuptake of serotonin) on the very first day of treatment. upregulation of BDNF).Other medications might counteract the pharmacodynamics of Lexapro and reduce its neurochemical effect, ultimately delaying its onset of action – or preventing it from working. Moreover, individuals with forms of brain damage or neurodegeneration (such as in Alzheimer’s disease) might need more time than usual to respond to Lexapro due to impaired self-awareness and/or abnormal neurochemistry.There are a couple user-specific factors that might influence how long it takes for Lexapro to exert a therapeutic effect. You may also find psychotherapy helpful if that has not already been implemented. That said, consistency of administration (e.g.

liver impairment); and/or the specific medical condition(s) for which you were prescribed Lexapro. It is crucial to keep yourself and your loved ones safe during the Lexapro (generic escitalopram) is an oral medication used for the treatment of the major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder in adults and adolescents. This amplifies the effect of serotonin and thereby reduces the signs and symptoms of anxiety and depression.Depression and anxiety can be crippling, affecting an individual’s ability to function normally in society. This overview of the use of Lexapro for mental health conditions does not cover every possible outcome of taking this medication.

If you used substances that have opposing mechanisms of action to SSRIs, perhaps preexisting adaptations to those substances might delay the onset of Lexapro’s action.That said, if you have no history of using neuropsychiatric substances before taking Lexapro, you should respond at a normal rate – due to lack of substance-mediated preexisting neurophysiologic adaptations.

); preexisting medical conditions that might have affected its onset of action (e.g. Until 5-HT1A receptor downregulation occurs, a subset of users may not notice Lexapro working. Because if an SSRI was already used for a reasonable duration (e.g.