Lexapro
Lexapro®, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), has been prescribed
for more than 18 million adults in the United States.
Lexapro is a treatment for both depression and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
in adults. As a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), Lexapro helps restore
the brain's chemical balance by increasing the available supply of serotonin, a
substance in the brain believed to influence mood. More than 20 million American
adults suffer from depression1 and 6.8 million American adults suffer
from GAD2.
1 National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Depression. Available at
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/depression.cfm. Accessed March 6, 2007.
2 Kessler RC, Chiu WT, Demler O, Walters EE. Prevalence, severity, and comorbidity
of twelve-month DSM-IV disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication
(NCS-R). Archives of General Psychiatry, 2005 Jun;62(6):617-27.