Lexapro Vs. Cymbalta: SSRIs and SNRIs to treat depression and Anxiety Side Effects

What’s the Difference Between Lexapro and Cymbalta?

• Lexapro (escitalopram) along with Cymbalta (duloxetine) can be both used to combat anxiety and depression. disorder.
• Cymbalta can also help treat pain due to diabetes-related neuropathy and Fibromyalgia as well as chronic muscle and joint pain..
• Lexapro and Cymbalta are part of different classes of drugs. Lexapro is an inhibitor of serotonin selectively (SSRI) as well Cymbalta (duloxetine) can be described as an selective serotonin and NOREPINHrine Reuptake Inhibitor (SNRI).
• Some of the side consequences of Lexapro and Cymbalta that are comparable include vomiting, dry mouth, diarrhea sleeplessness, insomnia and sexual issues (decreased sexual capacity or desire or desire, delay in ejaculation),
• The side adverse effects from Lexapro that differ from Cymbalta include restlessness or agitation blurred vision and drowsiness frequent urination headache, nausea as well as changes in appetite. an increase in sweating, changes to taste and shaking (shaking) and weight fluctuations.
• Cymbalta’s side effects that differ from Lexapro are constipation, dizziness, fatigue, high blood pressure, as well as seizures.
• In the event of withdrawal, symptoms could occur if you abruptly stop using Lexapro as well as Cymbalta. The signs that indicate withdrawal Lexapro can include dizziness or tingling fatigue intense dreams, irritation or moodiness. Signs that indicate withdrawal Cymbalta include anxiety, dizziness nausea, vomiting anxiety, diarrhea, irritability and insomnia.

What Are Lexapro and Cymbalta?

Lexapro (escitalopram) is an selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) which is prescribed to treat depression and generalized anxiety disorders. The other SSRIs comprise citalopram (Celexa) and the fluoxetine (Prozac) and paroxetine (Paxil) as well as sertraline (Zoloft). SSRIs are able to affect neurotransmitters within the brain, the chemical messengers neurons use to communicate with each other. Numerous specialists believe an imbalance in neurotransmitters can be the root of depression. Lexapro blocks the reuptake of serotonin (a neurotransmitter) and causes more serotonin to enter the brain that binds to receptors.

Cymbalta (duloxetine) is an selective serotonin and norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor (SNRI) utilized to treat depression, anxiety disorder and discomfort. Additional SNRIs comprise milnacipran (Savella) as well as the venlafaxine (Effexor) and desvenlafaxine (Pristiq). Cymbalta alters the neurotransmitters epinephrine and serotonin by inhibiting their reuptake increasing the impact of serotonin as well as norepinephrine inside the brain. The mechanism that Cymbalta uses in treating pain is not known however, it is believed to have an effect on norepinephrine and serotonin.

What Are the Side Effects of Lexapro and Cymbalta?

Lexapro

Common side effects of Lexapro are:

• Restlessness or agitation,
• blurred vision
• diarrhea,
• difficulties sleep,
• drowsiness,
• Dry mouth,
• fever,
• frequent urination,
• headache,
• indigestion,
• nausea,
• Increased or diminished appetite,
• more sweating,
• sexual problems (decreased sexual capacity or desire or desire to sexually engage, ejaculatory delay),
• Taste changes, tremor (shaking) and
• Changes in weight.

Antidepressants increase risks of suicidal thoughts and behaviors (suicidality) in studies conducted over a short period of time in adolescents and children suffering from depression or other mental disorders. Anyone who is considering using Lexapro and any antidepressant for a child or teenager must weigh the risk against the need for clinical treatment. Short-term studies have not shown an increase in suicidal risk with antidepressants as compared to placebo for adults over 24 years old. There was a decrease in suicidal risk in the presence of antidepressants, compared to placebo for adults who are who are 65 and over. Depression and other disorders of the psyche are connected to increased possibility to suicidal behavior. Patients who are starting treatment with antidepressants ought to be observed closely for any signs of signs of suicidality or any unusual behavior changes.

Other adverse side consequences are the flu-like symptoms, as well as pain in shoulders or neck.

While changes in sexual desire or sexual performance and sexual pleasure are typically in the context of depression itself, they might be due to the medications that are used in treating depression. In particular, around 1 in 11 men who are prescribed Lexapro have difficulty having trouble ejaculating.

Potentially serious side effects from Lexapro are:

• Serotonin syndrome
• Self-harming mental state and behaviour
• Abnormal bleeding
• Seizures
• Manic Episodes
• Confusion
• High fever
• Speech slurred
• Muscle rigidity
• Low sodium
• Angle closure glaucoma.

WARNING: Side Effects Warning

Certain patients suffer withdrawal symptoms after discontinuing SSRI treatment. The symptoms could include

• dizziness,
• tingling,
• tiredness,
• vivid dreams,
• irritability, or
• poor mood.

To prevent these side effects, the dosage of SSRI is gradually decreased instead of being abruptly cut off.

Paxil

The most frequently reported adverse effects of duloxetine include the following: nausea dry mouth, constipation, diarrhea, fatigue, trouble sleeping and dizziness. The increase in blood pressure may occur and is a reason to monitor it. Seizures have been observed. A sexually disorder ( decreased sex drive and delayed orgasm and Ejaculation) is associated with duloxetine.

Certain patients might have withdrawal symptoms after the discontinuation of duloxetine. Signs of withdrawal are:

• dizziness,
• anxiety,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• nervousness,
• diarrhea,
• irritation and
• insomnia.

The dosage of duloxetine must be reduced gradually as treatment is stopped to avoid withdrawal symptoms.

Antidepressants increase the risk of suicidal behavior and thinking (suicidality) in short-term research in adolescents and children suffering from depression as well as other mental disorders. Anyone who is considering using duloxetine or other antidepressants for a child or an teenager must weigh the risk against the clinical necessity. Patients who begin therapy must be observed closely for any signs of clinical improvement, suicidality or any abnormal changes in behavior.

What is the dose of Lexapro or. Cymbalta?

Lexapro

• The standard dose of Lexapro to treat depression in adolescents and adults is 10 mg twice every day in the morning or in the evening. The dosage may be upped to 20 mg daily after three weeks.
• Benefits may not be apparent until the treatment has been completed for up to four weeks. A daily dose of 20 mg could not be as effective as 10 mg daily to treat of depression.
• The dosage for treating generalized anxiety disorders is 10 mg per day.
• Lexapro can be consumed in combination with or without meals.

Cymbalta

• The dosage recommended in treating depression would be between 20 and 30 mg once every day or 60 mg once every day. Patients can start by taking 30 mg a day for a week prior to the dose is increased to 60 mg a day.
• The dose recommended for patients suffering from anxiety disorders, pain that is caused by diabetes neuropathy, fibromyalgia or chronic muscle and joint discomfort is 60 mg per day. Begin with 30 mg per day for a week, before gradually increasing to 60 mg a day could help patients adapt to the medication.
• It is not proven to suggest that dosages higher than 60 mg per day can provide benefits in addition to the 60 mg daily dose. The maximum dosage for treating anxiety disorders or depression is 120 mg per day.
• What Drugs interact in conjunction with Lexapro or Cymbalta?

Lexapro

• All SSRIs such as Lexapro are not to be used in conjunction with medications belonging to the monoamine oxide (MAO) inhibitor category of antidepressants like isocarboxazid (Marplan) or the phenelzine (Nardil) and Tranylcypromine (Parnate) selegiline (Eldepryl) and procarbazine (Matulane) or other medicines that block monoamine oxidase like for linezolid (Zyvox) as well as intravenous Methylene Blue. Combinations like these can result in anxiety, high blood pressure and excessive fevers the tremor or muscle rigidityand increase activity. A minimum of 14 days should expire after stopping Lexapro prior to starting the treatment with an MAO inhibitor. In contrast, at least 14 days should pass when you stop taking an MAO inhibitor prior to starting Lexapro.
• Similar reactions happen similar reactions occur when SSRIs are mixed with other medications that boost serotonin levels within the brain. like Tryptophan St. John’s wort meperidine (Demerol) and lithium (Lithobid, Eskalith), triptans (for instance, sumatriptan [Imitrex, Alsumaas well as sumatriptan [Imitrex, Alsuma]) as well as tramadol (Ultram)
• Utilizing selective serotonin inhibitors can raise the chance of bleeding from the stomach when patients are who take warfarin (Jantoven, Coumadin), aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) and other drugs that cause bleeding.

Cymbalta

• Duloxetine shouldn’t be used when combined with an inhibitor of monoamine oxidase ( MAOI) like phenelzine (Nardil) or the tranylcypromine (Parnate) or isocarboxazid (Marplan) as well as selegiline (Eldepryl) at least 14 days of stopping the MAOI. A minimum of five days should be allowed following the cessation of duloxetine prior beginning an MAOI. The combination of SNRIs as well as MAOIs can cause serious reactions that can be fatal such as extremely high body temperature and muscle stiffness, as well as rapid variations in blood pressure and heart rate and extreme agitation, which can progress into delirium and the onset of coma. Similar reactions can occur when duloxetine is paired in combination with other antipsychotics tricyclic antidepressants or other medications that alter serotonin inside the brain. Examples include sumatriptan, tryptophan (Imitrex) and lithium linezolid (Zyvox) and tramadol (Ultram) and St. John’s Wort.
• Fluoxetine (Prozac, Serafem), paroxetine (Paxil, Paxil CR, Pexeva) as well as fluvoxamine (Luvox) and quinidine raise the levels of duloxetine in blood due to a decrease in its metabolism within the liver. The combination of these drugs can cause an increase in adverse consequences of taking duloxetine.
• Combining duloxetine and aspirin with nonsteroidal antiinflammatory medications (NSAIDs) warfarin (Coumadin) or other medications that cause bleeding can increase the chance of bleeding due to the fact that duloxetine itself can cause bleeding.
• Duloxetine is coated with an enteric layer which prevents it from dissolving until it is in a region of the gastrointestinal system that is pH greater than 5.5. In theory, substances which raise the pH in the digestive system (for instance, Prilosec) could cause duloxetine to be released prematurely, and conditions that slow gastric emptying (for instance, diabetes) can result in the breakdown of duloxetine to be premature. However, administration of duloxetine by an antiacid as well as Famotidine ( Axid) didn’t significantly alter its absorption.
• Duloxetine can slow down degradation of desipramine (Norpramine) and lead to higher blood levels of desipramine as well as possible negative side consequences.

Are Lexapro and Cymbalta Safe to Take While Pregnant and Breastfeeding?

Lexapro

• The security for Lexapro when used during the pregnancy as well as breastfeeding is not known. So, Lexapro should not be utilized during pregnancy unless, according to the physician, the benefits for a patient exceed unknown risks for the foetus.
• Lexapro is excreted into the human milk. Lexapro should not be administered to nursing mothers unless, according to the opinion of the doctor the expected benefits to the patient are greater than the potential risks for the child.

Cymbalta

• Duloxetine is excreted into milk of lactating mothers. Due to the fact that its safety for infants isn’t known breastfeeding while taking duloxetine isn’t recommended.

Summary

Lexapro (escitalopram) as well as Cymbalta (duloxetine) both are prescribed to combat depression and generalized anxiety disorder. Cymbalta also helps alleviate pain caused by chronic fibromyalgia as well as diabetic neuropathy and chronic musculoskeletal discomfort. Lexapro and Cymbalta are part of two different classes of drugs which include selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) and an selective serotonin and NOREPHYRIN RECUPTURING INHIBITORS (SNRI) in addition to.