Serotonin is a neuro-transmitting chemical. It functions like a brain hormone. This is essentially a monoamine. That transmits messages from your nervous system, advising how your body needs to work. Serotonin is associated with memory, overall well-being, happiness, sleep patterns, streamlining your body temperature, etc. An insufficient amount of serotonin can lead to anxieties, depression and mania. Drugs are available to increase levels of serotonin. Lexapro (escitalopram) is one among them. But do you know the best time to take Lexapro (escitalopram) for anxiety? It pays to know more.
A substantial portion of serotonin is seen in gastric cells. Only a small share of serotonin (as low of 9%) is available in your brain. From such sites, this chemical is directly released into your blood and is taken-in by your platelets. Serotonin is made of amino acids, and are produced from foods you normally consume.
What does serotonin do to your system?
This chemical has the ability to regulate your moods. Owing to this, it is also known as your body’s ‘feel good’ chemical. At the right levels, it helps you focus more, stay with stable moods and digest foods you eat well.
Another key task of serotonin is to regulate how your bowel functions and has a role in safeguarding your intestinal tract. This chemical speeds-up the rate of digestion, and thus gets rid of foods irritating you or toxic items. Your quality of sleep has a lot to do with the extent of serotonin your body has. Melatonin is a hormone known for regulating sleep cycles. Your body needs serotonin to make melatonin!
Insufficient amount of serotonin and the adverse effects
A suboptimal amount of serotonin can cause a few mental conditions such as being depressed, staying anxious, go through mood-swings, etc. You may also have difficulties in falling asleep and have troubles in digesting foods you eat. People have also complained of other mental conditions like schizophrenia, panic, obsessive compulsive disorder, phobia, post-traumatic stress disorder and strong instincts to harm yourself.
Low levels of serotonin occurs when your body is unable to make enough of it. This can also occur when your system is not putting available-serotonin to proper use. Your dietitian may tell you to eat a lot of tryptophan-rich food products such as eggs, tofu, fishes like salmon, fruits such as pineapple, and a lot of seeds / nuts. You are also advised to stay exposed to sun's rays, pursue an active workout schedule and more importantly, lead a stress-free life.
In this light, what is Lexapro (escitalopram)?
Lexapro (escitalopram) is one of the antidepressant meds used for regulating your moods and emotional wellbeing. The key function of Lexapro (escitalopram) is to enhance the levels of serotonin in your brain and thus streamline your moods. The good news is Lexapro (escitalopram) can be procured as a generic medication; this means it is sold at relatively lower cost i.e., than its branded counterparts.
It is administered to people who live with mental conditions like depression and phobias. Beware: Users are likely to develop self-harming thoughts or suicidal instincts when they use this med for the first time. If parents notice any aggressive or self-injuring thoughts in their children – after using Lexapro – must seek help without much delay.
Caveat: Excessive doses of Lexapro can be quite harmful. Those who took an overdose may report stiffness of muscles, tremors, involuntary twitching, increase in body temperature, profuse spells of sweating, loss of muscular coordination, abdominal conditions like vomiting, ingestion and nausea.
What is the best time to take Lexapro (escitalopram) for anxiety?
You are advised to take Lexapro i.e., escitalopram as per the instructions of your caregiving team. This med is often prescribed as a single dose i.e., one dose per 24 hours. You can take it either during your bedtime or in the morning hours. If the chief key ingredients of Lexapro (escitalopram) are not letting you to get a proper sleep, you are advised to have it in the mornings.
On the other hand, if the drug makes you drowsy or dizzy, it's a strongly advised to have it before you go to bed. Some people report of night sweating soon after using this antidepressant. For such cases it is highly recommended to have it during the morning hours. If you see excessive sweating during the daytime, such episodes are relatively easier to manage as compared to nighttime sweats.
If you want to shift to a morning dose i.e., from a bedtime dosing, the best way to do it is to skip a dose. You can then start taking it during morning hour and follow the morning dosing-schedule henceforth.
Drugs to treat anxiety and anxiety-related disorders, Escitalopram is a highly effective medication for anxiety and related disorders. As a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), it helps balance serotonin levels in the brain, improving mood, reducing anxiety, and promoting emotional stability. Trusted by healthcare providers worldwide, escitalopram is a safe, reliable choice offering significant relief from anxiety symptoms. Consult your doctor to see if it's right for you.
You are advised to stay aware of a likely increase in body weight. This drug can inhibit the transporters of serotonin - to increase the levels in your cerebral system. As this occurs, it enhances your appetite and also brings down your rate of metabolism. In more than 37 % of individuals who took Lexapro a gain in body gain has been observed. Gain is in the range of 6% i.e., as compared to the weight they started the doses with.
If your gain in body weight is getting way too much, you need to tell your caregiver of it. Your caregiving team may change the meds accordingly.
It may take only 3 – 4 hours for a dose to boost your serotonin level. But you may get to see the remedial effects only after taking Lexapro (escitalopram) for 10 – 12 days. You can know if this med is working by some positive effects viz., better quality of sleep, getting back a healthy appetite and digesting food with ease.
In order to know more on best time to take Lexapro (escitalopram) for anxiety, talk to a mental health specialist.
Disclaimer
Information provided here are only of supplementary nature. Information shared here does not substitute a qualified doctor’s advice. This website is not suggesting intake of this drug as safe or appropriate. Hence it is advised to talk to your doctor before consuming this med or any other drug.