Lexapro vs. Effexor

• Are Lexapro and Effexor the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Lexapro? (Side effects)
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Effexor? (Side effects)
• What is Lexapro? (Uses)
• What is Effexor? (Uses)
• What Drugs Interact with Lexapro? (Interactions)
• What Drugs Interact with Effexor? (Interactions)
• How Should Lexapro Be Taken? (Dosage)
• How Should Effexor Be Taken? (Dosage)

Lexapro (escitalopram) and Effexor (venlafaxine) are antidepressants used for treatment of major depression. One difference is that Lexapro is also used to treat anxiety in adults.

Common side effects of Lexapro include:

• drowsiness,
• dizziness,
• sleep problems (insomnia),
• nausea,
• upset stomach,
• gas,
• heartburn,
• constipation,
• weight changes,
• dry mouth,
• yawning,
• ringing in the ears,
• decreased sex drive,
• impotence, or
• difficulty having an orgasm.

Common side effects of Effexor include:

• dizziness,
• nervousness,
• nausea,
• constipation,
• headaches,
• anxiety,
• insomnia,
• strange dreams,
• drowsiness,
• increased sweating,
• blurred vision,
• dry mouth,
• changes in appetite or weight,
• decreased sex drive,
• impotence,
• difficulty having an orgasm,
• increased blood pressure, and
• seizures.

Lexapro is a prescription medicine used to treat depression. It is important to talk with your healthcare provider about the risks of treating depression and also the risks of not treating it. You should discuss all treatment choices with your healthcare provider. Lexapro is also used to treat:

• Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
• Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

Talk to your healthcare provider if you do not think that your condition is getting better with Lexapro treatment.

Effexor is a prescription medicine used to treat depression. It is important to talk with your healthcare provider about the risks of treating depression and also the risks of not treating it. You should discuss all treatment choices with your healthcare provider. Talk to your healthcare provider if you do not think that your condition is getting better with Effexor.

Do not take Lexapro if you:

• are allergic to escitalopram oxalate or citalopram hydrobromide or any of the ingredients in Lexapro. See the end of this Medication Guide for a complete list of ingredients in Lexapro.
• take a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI). Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you are not sure if you take an MAOI, including the antibiotic linezolid.
• take the antipsychotic medicine pimozide (Orap®) because taking this drug with Lexapro can cause serious heart problems.

Do not take an MAOI within 2 weeks of stopping Lexapro unless directed to do so by your physician.

Do not start Lexapro if you stopped taking an MAOI in the last 2 weeks unless directed to do so by your physician.

People who take Lexapro close in time to an MAOI may have serious or even life-threatening side effects. Get medical help right away if you have any of these symptoms:

• high fever
• uncontrolled muscle spasms
• stiff muscles
• rapid changes in heart rate or blood pressure
• confusion
• loss of consciousness (pass out)

Before starting Lexapro, tell your healthcare provider if you:

• Are taking certain drugs such as:
• Triptans used to treat migraine headache
• Medicines used to treat mood, anxiety, psychotic or thought disorders, including tricyclics, lithium, SSRIs, SNRIs, amphetamines, or antipsychotics
• Tramadol
• Over-the-counter supplements such as tryptophan or St. John's Wort

• have liver problems
• have kidney problems
• have heart problems
• have or had seizures or convulsions
• have bipolar disorder or mania
• have low sodium levels in your blood
• have a history of a stroke
• have high blood pressure
• have or had bleeding problems
• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

It is not known if Lexapro will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your healthcare provider about the benefits and risks of treating depression during pregnancy are breast-feeding or plan to breast-feed. Some Lexapro may pass into your breast milk. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby while taking Lexapro. Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines that you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Lexapro and some medicines may interact with each other, may not work as well, or may cause serious side effects.

Your healthcare provider or pharmacist can tell you if it is safe to take Lexapro with your other medicines. Do not start or stop any medicine while taking Lexapro without talking to your healthcare provider first.

If you take Lexapro, you should not take any other medicines that contain escitalopram oxalate or citalopram hydrobromide including: Effexor.

Especially tell your healthcare provider if you take:

• triptans used to treat migraine headache
• medicines used to treat mood, anxiety, psychotic or thought disorders, including tricyclics, lithium, buspirone, SSRIs, SNRIs or MAOIs
• tramadol and fentanyl
• amphetamines
• cimetidine
• the antibiotics ciprofloxacin, enoxacin
• medicine to treat irregular heart rate (like propafenone, flecainide, quinidine)
• theophylline
• the blood thinner warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven)
• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) (like ibuprofen, naproxen or aspirin).
• over-the-counter supplements such as tryptophan or St. John's Wort
• thioridazine (Mellaril). Mellaril together with Lexapro can cause serious heart rhythm problems or sudden death.

Ask your healthcare provider for a list of these medicines if you are not sure.

Do not take Lexapro with any other medicine that contain duloxetine.

Before starting Effexor, USP, tell your healthcare provider if you:

• Are taking certain drugs such as:
• Medicines used to treat migraine headaches such as:
• triptans
• Medicines used to treat mood, anxiety, psychotic or thought disorders, such as:
• tricyclic antidepressants
• lithium
• SSRIs
• SNRIs
• antipsychotic drugs
• Medicines used to treat pain such as:
• tramadol
• Medicines used to thin your blood such as:
• warfarin
• Medicines used to treat heartburn such as:
  • Cimetidine
• Over-the-counter medicines or supplements such as:
• Aspirin or other NSAIDs
• Tryptophan
• St. John's Wort
• have heart problems
• have diabetes
• have liver problems
• have kidney problems
• have thyroid problems
• have glaucoma
• have or had seizures or convulsions
• have bipolar disorder or mania
• have low sodium levels in your blood
• have high blood pressure
• have high cholesterol
• have or had bleeding problems
• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if Effexor, USP will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your healthcare provider about the benefits and risks of treating depression during pregnancy
• are breast-feeding or plan to breast-feed. Some Effexor, USP may pass into your breast milk. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby while taking Effexor, USP.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines that you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Venlafaxine tablets, USP and some medicines may interact with each other, may not work as well, or may cause serious side effects.

Your healthcare provider or pharmacist can tell you if it is safe to take Effexor, USP with your other medicines. Do not start or stop any medicine while taking Effexor, USP without talking to your healthcare provider first.

Take Lexapro exactly as prescribed. Your healthcare provider may need to change the dose of Lexapro until it is the right dose for you.

Lexapro may be taken with or without food.

If you miss a dose of Lexapro, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time. Do not take two doses of Lexapro at the same time.

If you take too much Lexapro, call your healthcare provider or poison control center right away, or get emergency treatment.

Take venlafaxine tablets, USP exactly as prescribed. Your healthcare provider may need to change the dose of venlafaxine tablets, USP until it is the right dose for you.

Venlafaxine tablets, USP is to be taken with food.

If you miss a dose of venlafaxine tablets, USP, take the missed dose as s oon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time. Do not take two doses of venlafaxine tablets, USP at the same time.

If you take too much venlafaxine tablets, USP, call your healthcare provider or poison control center right away, or get emergency treatment.

When switching from another antidepressant to venlafaxine tablets, USP your doctor may want to lower the dose of the initial antidepressant first to avoid side effects.