Escitalopram Lexapro is a widely prescribed selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor that is used in the treatment of depression and anxiety. Lexapro is also known by its generic name of escitalopram or s-citalopram. History Escitalopram is an enantiomer of a drug called citalopram. Citalopram was discovered in 1977 and is a highly powerful and selective serotonin inhibitor. Citalopram has a chiral center due to its central atom being surrounded by two non matching arrangements of atoms. These surrounding atoms are called enantiomers and are classified as either r-enantiomers or s-enantiomers (Schatzberg & Nemeroff, 2013). It was discovered that many of the positive properties about the drug lie in the s-enantiomer, which is 30 times more potent than the r-enantiomer (Braestrup & Sanchez, 2004). Scientists removed the r-enantiomer, and s-citalopram or escitalopram was created. Some studies have shown that escitalopram may be more effective than citalopram due to the inhibitory effects of histamine of the r-enantiomer (Cipriani, et al., 2012). Escitalopram was discovered in 1997 and submitted to the Food and Drug Administration for approval in the United States of America in 2001. It was approved for the treatment of major depressive disorder in 2002 and for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder in …show more content…
The reported side effects include nausea, vomiting, increased sweating, dry mouth, headache, insomnia, and ejaculatory disorder (Schatzberg & Nemeroff, 2013). The authors report that it may also cause hyponatremia in elderly patients or discontinuation syndrome if usage is stopped abruptly. Discontinuation syndrome can present as dizziness, lethargy, nausea, vomiting, or flu like symptoms which can be prevented by titrating down under the supervision of a professional (Schatzberg & Nemeroff,
Zoloft was first introduced to the United States in 1980’s. Another name for Zoloft is sertraline and is in a group of antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. At first Zoloft was made to treat major depressive disorder, but as the drug progressed over time it can now treat panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Zoloft is the most commonly used antidepressant because it works extremely well, it is safe, and its side effects are not as serious as other antidepressants.
Risperdal (Risperidone) has been used for a number of different mental health disorders. It has been used for Schizophrenia, Bipolar I disorder, and to help with irritability in children with Autism. There are a number of different things that will be covered in this paper such as the chemical makeup of the medication, the appearance, side effects, off label use, side effects, administration, and how it works, with other additional information.
Citalopram, which was one of the first selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors approved by the Food and Drug Administration, is one of the antidepressant drugs that clinicians prescribe for routine generalized depression.3 “Thirty-seven trials compared citalopram with other antidepressants (such as tricyclics, heterocyclics, SSRIs and other antidepressants, either conventional ones, such as mirtazapine, venlafaxine and reboxetine, or non-conventional, like hypericum). Citalopram was shown to be significantly less effective than escitalopram in achieving acute response (odds ratio (OR) 1.47, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.08 to 2.02), but more effective than paroxetine (OR 0.65, 95% CI 0.44 to 0.96) and reboxetine (OR 0.63, 95% CI 0.43 to 0.91). Significantly fewer patients allocated to citalopram withdrew from trials due to adverse events compared with patients allocated to tricyclics (OR 0.54, 95% CI 0.38 to 0.78) and fewer patients allocated to citalopram reported at least one side effect than reboxetine or venlafaxine (OR 0.64, 95% CI 0.42 to 0.97 and OR 0.46, 95% CI 0.24 to 0.88, respectively).”4 Citalopram is a great drug choice for depression due to its low cost, good efficacy, and reduction of the amount of side effects. 4, 8
Anxiolytics are medications that decrease anxiety while hypnotics promote sleep. Some medications termed benzodiazepines are effective and used predominantly for anxiety but aid sleep due to having sedating properties. Benzodiazepine intended uses are for anxiety (general, panic, anticipatory and anxiety secondary to stress), sleep, side effects of other medications, agitation, alcohol and other sedative/hypnotic withdrawal and muscle spasms. Benzodiazepines include diazepam, lorazepam, clonazepam and alprazolam where all possess addictive properties. Other medications useful in treating anxiety without sedating properties include buspirone and D-cycloserine.
Some of the side effects are: Loss of appetite, Nausea and vomiting, weakness and fatigue, weight gain, premature menopause and hair loss.
The most common side effects include bleeding gums, diarrhea, constant chills, loss of appetite, nausea, unusual weight gain or loss, and tingling hands. More serious side effects include delusions ("beliefs that are not true" dictionary.com), back or side pain, abnormal dreams, change of personality, lip smacking, irritability, and vomiting. The drug can also cause anxiety, rapidly changing moods, and hyperventilation. Less common side effects include small red- purple dots on the skin, yellow eyes, swollen joints, hair thinning, and excessive urination. Other less common side effects are puffy cheeks, loss of strength, loss of bladder control, and dizziness.
As for Chlorpromazine this anytpsychotic medication was first introduced in 1957 and shown to reduce hospitalization (Preston, O’Neal and Talaga, 2017). It is known to reduce symptoms of calmness and sedation (Advokat, Comaty and Julien, 2014). Chlorpromazine would be suggested only if Resperidone or Abilify were not effective.
Pt is currently on citalopram 20 mg one-half tablet by mouth once daily. Citalopram is appropriate as first line therapy for treatment of major depression per APA Practice guidelines. Starting dose of citalopram is also appropriate as patient is elderly. Citalopram has no major drug interactions with pt’s current medications or current medical conditions. Pt reports tolerating it well and has been adherent to
The Swedish Prescribed Drug Register was a major data source because it aided researchers to evaluate the impact that the drug may have with ECT. The pharmacological treatments such as: quetiapine, valproate, antidepressants, benzodiazepines, anxiolytics, hydroxyzine and central stimulants were reviewed during this experiment to keep track of any effects the drugs may cause. During this research these medications were chosen because of its significance in slowing down the progressive symptoms of bipolar depression.
All antidepressants work in a similar way, though there are various types of antidepressants—often called “families”—that each work a bit differently. They all, however, increase the brain’s concentration of various neurotransmitters. Antidepressants are psychiatric medications given to patients with depressive disorders to alleviate symptoms. They correct chemical imbalances of neurotransmitters in the brain which probably cause changes in mood and behavior. Antidepressants may be used for a wide range of psychiatric conditions, including social anxiety disorder, anxiety disorders. Antidepressants were initially developed in the 1950s. Their use has become progressively more common over the last twenty years. Generally speaking, antipsychotic
Its dual mechanistic approach combines two mechanisms in a single drug, namely serotonin transporter (SERT) inhibition with 5HT1A receptor partial agonist actions. Hence, vilazodone is called a serotonin partial agonist reuptake inhibitor (SPARI).
Amitriptyline is a tricyclic antidepressant displays a wide array of biological properties including several psychiatric disorders and neuropathic pain. Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) mediate their therapeutic effect by inhibiting the reuptake of both serotonin and norepinephrine, leaving more neurotransmitter in the synaptic cleft stimulating the
The first compounds of the triazolobenzodiazepine structure were synthesized at the end of the 1960s by a team of specialists from the USA, but it was 10 years before the tranquilizers appeared in the triadolobenzodiazepine group. Alprazolam (Xanax), which has been on sale since 1981, is
ii. Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) which you may have heard of as Pristiq, Cymbalta or Effexor, though they are a more recent addition to the antidepressants. Then we have,
The chemical name of Lexapro is Escitalopram. The IUPAC name is (1S)-1-[3-(dimethylamino) propyl]-1-(4-fluorophenyl)-3H-2-benzofuran-5-carbonitrile, and the molecular formula is C20H21FN2O.2 Lexapro is used for treating major anxiety and depression in adolescents and adults. When diagnosed with depression, you lack the chemical serotonin. Serotonin is made in both the brain and intestines, linking