02/10/10

Lexapro produced by Forest Laboratories and Zoloft (Pfizer) are considered the most effective and safe new antidepressants, according to the results of a pharmaceutical study.

Lexapro produced by Forest Laboratories and Zoloft (Pfizer) are considered the most effective and safe new antidepressants, according to the results of a pharmaceutical study. Both Lexapro and Zoloft reduce the symptoms of depression within 8 weeks. Also, very few patients discontinued taking Lexapro or Zoloft due to intolerance to the drugs. The study was conducted during 16 years and involved 25 thousand patients with major depression.

As to the safety of Lexapro, men taking Nortriptyline are 10 times more predisposed to committing suicide than those taking Lexapro, say medical researches from Great Britain. While generally medicated treatment of depression reduces suicidal behavior, men who took nortriptyline are 9,8 times more likely to have suicidal thoughts. Also, the existing thoughts of suicide became 2,4 times more intense. Patients taking Lexapro did not have such symptoms.

The results of the study also showed that the new generation of antidepressants such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are worse than the older antidepressants in terms of influence on suicidal thoughts. Nortriptyline, causing suicidal behavior, is a tricyclic antidepressant, an inhibitor of the reuptake of both norepinephrine and, to a lesser extent, serotonin, while less dangerous in this respect medicine is Lexapro, a pure selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor.

Even if Lexapro is a relatively safe drug, patients must be aware that it can significantly reduce libido and lead to weight gain. It is being discussed that Lexapro is practically the same drug as Celexa marketed earlier. Actually, Lexapro is an improved Celexa. Both medications are produced by the same pharmaceutical company and are alike in chemical structure. Thus, if a patient is allergic to Celexa, they must not take Lexapro to avoid possible allergic reactions.

In 2009, FDA approved Lexapro for use in adolescent patients, aged 12-17. For adults, it was approved in 2002. Lexapro is known to be costly, therefore if you cannot afford it, ask your doctor to choose another antidepressant that fits your case and budget. The drug's price is relatively lower in online drug stores than in the local (off-line) pharmacies. Similar by action antidepressants to Lexapro are Prozac and Paxil.

In the last years Lexapro lost its position as a number 1 antidepressant due to a new rule: before being prescribed Lexapro, patients with major depression should take another antidepressant called citalopram. Lexapro is loosing its position bringing its manufacturer less income, however it is still very popular in the US.