What Are the Health Risks Associated with Lexapro?

Lexapro, known scientifically as escitalopram, is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) commonly prescribed for treating depression and anxiety. Like many antidepressants, it comes with a host of potential side effects and health risks, making it essential to understand the possible consequences before starting or continuing its use.

The Concept of Health Risks

The dangers of antidepressants, including Lexapro, are extensive and involve both side effects and the broader healthcare situation one finds themselves in when using psychiatric drugs. Thousands of potential side effects exist, and the risks associated with how doctors prescribe and manage these medications can compound the inherent dangers. Everyone responds differently to psychotropic drugs, so we can only discuss the risks that might occur, not predict specific outcomes.

Most patients experience at least one to two serious side effects while on Lexapro, but statistics cannot guarantee an individual's personal experience. The same goes for efficacy: while most people do not find antidepressants particularly useful, a small minority finds them effective. They always cause some level of dysfunction and side effects, often leading to a withdrawal syndrome.

Drug Effects and Drugging Risks

Lexapro can have numerous health risks, including:

Many potentially fatal side effects, such as serotonin syndrome, heart problems, stroke, and suicidal behavior Many potentially permanent side effects, like persistent sexual dysfunction, stunted growth, birth defects, organ damage, and memory loss Many debilitating or disabling side effects with no reliable treatment, such as dyskinesias, genital anesthesia, amotivation, Parkinsonism, and others

Lexapro can create new problems, worsen existing ones, or cause psychological side effects in patients who were taking it for non-psychiatric diagnoses, such as neuropathic pain or chronic migraines. Neuropsychiatric side effects are common, including anxiety, panic attacks, mania, depression, psychosis, dissociative states, agitation or irritability, anger or rage, suicidality or homicidality, and compulsive behaviors.

Lexapro and Pregnancy

Lexapro can harm or kill an unborn baby if taken by a mother. It also causes physical dependence and most patients experience withdrawal syndrome if they try to reduce their dose. The drug can also cause withdrawal syndrome and other side effects in newborns or breastfeeding babies.

No Difference between Doses

There is no difference between a toxic and non-toxic dose of Lexapro: all doses can cause toxic reactions, damages, or syndromes. Direct exposure to the chemical and clinical efficacy is that of placebo treatments and non-drug treatments, but the risks and side effects far outweigh any benefits.

Additional Health Risks

Lack of informed consent in clinical settings where Lexapro is prescribed is an ethical violation that contributes to preventable harms. Many side effects have an exceptionally high risk of being misdiagnosed, ignored, dismissed, or mistreated. Doctor incompetence and unfamiliarity, even among specialists like psychiatrists, exacerbates these issues.

Most physicians, including psychiatrists, are uneducated about safer tapering protocols, making patients more vulnerable to unexpected severe disabling or deadly withdrawal symptoms. The research into the side effects and withdrawal effects of Lexapro is lacking, and there are no authoritative and evidence-based recommendations for handling these issues.

Exploitative Marketing and Industry Influence

Exploitative and counter-scientific marketing leads many patients to take Lexapro under false pretenses, undermining patients' ability to make better or safer healthcare decisions. Side effect prevention, identification, and reporting are all in dysfunctional states. Doctors are not held sufficiently accountable for their prescribing habits, and there are no effective reporting systems to prevent future harms. Drug companies are constantly paying off lawsuits and keeping patients quiet about illegal harms.

Further Reading

For more information on antidepressant side effects, safety, efficacy, and withdrawal, you can refer to:

RxISK Side Effects of Antidepressants Guide to Stopping Antidepressants Myths about Antidepressants and Antipsychotics

For more posts on antidepressant side effects, safety, efficacy, and withdrawal, visit:

How likely is someone to get addicted to antidepressants and what factors does this depend on? What does research say about the effectiveness/ineffectiveness of SSRIs for depression? Is taking anti-depressants/SSRIs a slippery slope? What are some of the long-term effects of anti-depressants (SSRI)? What are the worst effects of antidepressants? How do I get off antidepressants?

To view the official prescribing information for Lexapro and reported adverse events for escitalopram, visit:

http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/ac/04/briefing/2004-4065b1-22-tab11C-Lexapro-Tabs-SLR015.pdf Escitalopram