Cipralex - application, reviews, narcotic effect

Who is Cipralex for?

Doctors usually prescribe Cipralex for depression or generalized anxiety disorder. Some healthcare providers prescribe Cipralex along with other medications and therapies to treat these conditions.

Researchers have shown that Cipralex is safe and effective for treating depression in adolescents aged 12-17 years, but not in children under 12 years of age.

Doctors do not use Cipralex to treat general anxiety disorder in people under 18 years of age.

Some doctors also prescribe Cipralex for conditions such as:

Panic attacks;
Social anxiety disorder, sometimes called social phobia;
Obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Side effects

As mentioned earlier, the drug in question is a powerful drug. Side effects may occur from Cipralex, and every patient should be aware of the likely occurrence of unwanted reactions from the body.

Here's what we're talking about:

Abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, nausea and other dyspeptic disorders.
Metabolic disorders – hyponatremia, sweating, hyperthermia.
Headaches, drowsiness or insomnia, constant fatigue, dizziness and other manifestations of asthenic syndrome.
Hypotension or orthostatic collapse.
Thrombocytopenia and insufficiency of the blood coagulation system.
Ecchymosis, purpura, skin rash.
Myalgia of idiopathic origin, arthralgia not associated with stress placed on muscles or joints.
Allergic reactions. Anything can occur - even angioedema, even anaphylactic shock.
Decreased reproductive function - potency in men and libido in women.

All these consequences usually occur within 1-2 weeks of therapy. If you continue treatment according to the prescribed course, they either disappear or, at a minimum, diminish in their manifestations.

So, what Cipralex helps with is clear. What side effects it might have, too. But that's not all you need to know about the drug.

Since this medication belongs to the “B” list of pharmacological products, withdrawal syndrome may occur if you abruptly stop taking it. In simple terms, the body will suffer from a lack of the active ingredient. This is fraught with frequent dizziness, nausea, irritability, and headaches.

How to use Cipralex for depression: dose and frequency of use

The doctor will usually start the adult on a low dosage initially for 1 week, then gradually increase the dosage over time if he or she feels it is needed. For teenagers, the doctor will wait for 3 weeks before increasing the dosage.

It is important to use Cipralex exactly as directed, without skipping or changing doses.

As with other antidepressants, it may take some time before a person feels the effects of Cipralex. The patient must continue treatment even after he feels better. It is important not to stop treatment suddenly without consulting your doctor. This may cause side effects such as severe drowsiness and dizziness.

The patient can also cut the tablet in half to form a different dosage as advised by the doctor.

Characteristics of the drug

I bought the tablets without any problems. I gave the recipe, paid the money and gave everything. Before use, I carefully read the instructions and realized that it is quite difficult to understand the principle of action of an antidepressant. I tried to make jokes based on the reviews of ordinary people and there I came across a more or less normal description. It turned out that Cipralex is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. Probably everyone has heard about this substance. It is called the “hormone of happiness.”

I will not describe the formula and composition of the tablets; I think that there is no point in diving deeply into incomprehensible chemistry. I was a little upset that the maximum effect from using Cipralex occurs after 3 months of treatment.

This means you will have to buy a significant number of tablets and hope for no side effects, complications for the liver or kidneys.

Can antidepressants cause addiction, and what are the side effects of Cipralex?

In adults and teenagers, some common side effects after taking Cipralex include: yawning, sweating, dry mouth, constipation, drowsiness, trouble sleeping, changes in appetite, etc.

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Cipralex: skin rash or hives; difficulty breathing, etc. Tell your doctor about any new or worsening symptoms such as: changes in mood or behavior, anxiety.

In addition to sudden weight gain or loss, Cipralex for depression can cause a feeling of euphoria, which can lead to abuse and addiction.

Common side effects are often mild, and they typically go away over time as the person gets used to the medication. However, if they persist or get worse, consult your doctor.

Cipralex - instructions for use, analogues, reviews, price

Both I and other people with whom I spoke note one very good property of Cipralex - it is a milder effect compared to other antidepressants. It also has less pronounced side effects. True, it does not help in all cases, but if it works, it works for sure.

There are specialists who generally work mostly with Cipralex; other drugs are prescribed only when it does not help. I know several of them. Naturally, there are fewer hemorrhoids with it than with other drugs, and the patient will be less likely to come or call with a story about his side effects.

Cipralex is a drug used to relieve depression and get rid of panic attacks. The release form of an antidepressant is tablets containing substances that help improve mood and clarify consciousness. Reviews from patients taking the drug indicate its fairly high effectiveness. There are significantly more people who were helped by the drug than people who were disappointed in its therapeutic ability.

“It’s a good drug that saved me from such unpleasant phenomena as anxiety, agoraphobia and obsession.

I didn’t take it for long, but positive changes appeared almost immediately. The only side effect I noticed was increased sweating, and the sweat was cold, which is not very pleasant, but tolerable.”

“Cipralex and its analogue Estitalopram are a mild antidepressant that does not cause rejection by the body. After taking it, there is no feeling of anxiety, your mood and well-being improve. The only negative is cardiotoxicity, so they take the medicine only as directed and under the supervision of a doctor.”

Arkady Dmitrievich, psychotherapist

“Cipralex is well tolerated by the body, side effects after taking it are minimal or completely absent. I was treated with this drug for at least six months, everything was fine, my depression went away and is not going to return yet. Before that, I tried to use other antidepressants, but only worsened my already not very favorable condition.”

“Before using the drug, I read many reviews from those who drank Cipralex Woman, they all seemed to be positive, but my experience with this antidepressant was extremely sad. Took it as prescribed by a doctor to treat panic and depression. I drank about half a tablet a day, after which unbearable headaches began, my soul became so anxious that I could even cry. After I stopped taking Cipralex, all the unpleasant symptoms went away.”

Ekaterina Borisovna, 45 years old

I was so frightened by the possibility of communicating with people on the subway, at a bus stop, and even in the office that I locked myself in my own house and did not leave it until my eldest daughter arrived. She is my doctor, although not in this area, but she immediately took me to a psychotherapist. The doctor prescribed me to take an antidepressant, warning about possible side effects such as rapid heartbeat and anxiety. Fortunately, I didn’t observe anything like this in myself. I recovered from depression, but I still remember that time like a bad dream.”

Victor Yurievich, 50 years old

“I take 5 mg of Cipralex a day, the doctor advises to increase the dose, but I am afraid of possible side effects. Judging by the reviews of psychiatrists, Cipralex is safe for the body, but personal experience accumulated while using other antidepressants suggests the opposite. In principle, my condition has improved significantly even from taking the minimum dose. The feeling of anxiety has passed, there is no panic, I can look at things soberly, I no longer want to throw hysterics.”

READ MORE: Listen to a happy life without panic attacks

“The main advantage of Cipralex over similar drugs is the lack of reaction to other drugs. I have been taking this drug for several years in a row, the treatment is comprehensive and is not limited to antidepressants alone. Before Cipralex, I tried at least a dozen different drugs, all of them were either rejected by the body or suppressed by stronger drugs.

“The doctor recommended Cipralex after prolonged postpartum depression. This drug is considered practically harmless; after its use there are no unpleasant side effects. It is thanks to him that I can soberly assess my current situation, not take it out on my loved ones, and take care of my child and husband. I would never have been able to cope on my own, so I recommend the medicine to all those girls for whom life after childbirth does not seem pleasant.”

“I’ve been taking Cipralex recently; before using it, I read the latest reviews from 2020 about the effect of this drug. They made me happy, because I am very afraid of worsening my situation. My depression has lasted for more than 2 years in a row, it all started after breaking up with my boyfriend just before the wedding.

Before the start of treatment, I literally went crazy from fear of others, I didn’t want to communicate with anyone, I forgot my friends, I saw my parents once every few months. Now I’m in my 2nd month of therapy, I feel much better, I’m trying to restore old connections, I go out more, walk, and pay attention to my beloved.

“I took Cipralex about 10 years ago, now neuroses have arisen again, which is why the doctor suggested repeating the course of treatment with the same drug. The first time I took no more than half a tablet per day, but now the doctor prescribed me to take 1 or even 1.5 tablets, which unsettled me somewhat, as it made me think about the severity of my illness.

“I took Cipralex in an amount of 15 mg, it acted quickly, my mood immediately jumped to its maximum level, the panic stopped, I didn’t even get hysterical over trifles anymore and was recognized by my family and friends as a completely adequate person, which they had not previously considered me as.

Among the disadvantages, it is worth noting the increased need for rest and sound sleep. I woke up, ate, took a pill and went back to sleep. After a month spent in this way, allotted for vacation, I discovered that I begin to feel sleepy only after taking 10 mg of medication, but if I limit myself to 10 mg, then the therapeutic effect will be the same, but I will not be drawn to sleep.

“I came to the neurologist with seizures, depression and panic attacks. He prescribed me Cipralex in the maximum dosage, so much so that I came home and was horrified. The instructions for it say that large doses are undesirable, and now I’m sitting here worrying. Anyone who has taken Cipralex, please respond, can I reduce the dosage on my own?”

Ekaterina Viktorovna, 36 years old

“I took only 1 tablet of Cipralex, after which I felt unbearably ill. Loss of vision and hearing, and seizures were observed. I was brought out of this extremely dangerous state with the help of calcium chloride. Unfortunately, I did not refuse to continue taking the medicine; the doctor convinced me that such a reaction of the body was normal.

“I have been taking Ciplarex for 6 days, there are no side effects noted in the instructions. Anxiety does not bother me, the only and, in my opinion, huge minus is severe diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. I can’t eat normally at all; everything comes out, including the liquid I take.

I don’t even understand how this medicine stays in the body. I took Cipralex about 3 years ago, then such symptoms were not observed, I no longer know what to think. Most likely, you will have to give up the antidepressant, which is undesirable, since before this I tried many tablets with similar properties and all of them caused a negative reaction in the body. Cipralex was the only drug to which such a reaction did not occur.”

“I didn’t notice anything special about this drug; it’s in vain that it’s so recommended and advertised. I took it for 2 weeks in a row, without combining it with other medications. There is zero effect, neither negative nor positive. The doctor tried to increase the dose, bringing it to the maximum, but this also did not work. I refused to continue using Cipralex.”

“I combined taking 10 mg of Cipralex per day with Wellbutrin. Everything was fine, the depression subsided, I began to panic and worry less, social phobia practically disappeared. The doctor insisted on increasing the dose and increasing it to 2 mg per day. Unpleasant side effects did not take long to manifest themselves.

It all started with a desire to sleep, and it arose anywhere I was, most often at work. In addition to the desire to lie down and sleep, I felt nauseous, and the apathetic state that had accompanied me throughout the previous year before the start of treatment returned. Reviews from those taking the drug say that I exceeded the dose allowed for me, but I don’t know how to explain this to the doctor.”

Overdose and its treatment

Cipralex overdose occurs when a patient consumes a potentially dangerous amount of the substance. This drug is considered one of the safest antidepressants, and overdose is a relatively rare case, especially when used strictly according to the prescription. However, in some rare cases, taking too much Cipralex can have dangerous consequences.

The most common complications include unpleasant symptoms such as nausea, sweating, dizziness, vomiting and excessive drowsiness. In rare cases, overdose may also cause blue discoloration of the skin due to lack of oxygen.

Although Cipralex is not physically addictive, it may cause some psychological dependence in people trying to cope with symptoms of depression and anxiety. An overdose of Cipralex may be a sign of drug abuse. Treatment for drug addiction is faster and easier if you start it in the early stages. Contact a drug rehab center if you show any signs of dependence on this antidepressant.

Action

Cipralex 500 is a potent antidepressant. It inhibits neurotransmitter reuptake in synaptic structures, acting primarily on the metabolic pathways of serotonin.

What is the reason for its prolonged enhanced effect on the postsynaptic membrane? The fact that the physiological transmitter of the impulse is located in the synaptic cleft of the neuronal contact for a long time.

The active substance binds to the carrier enzyme in two places. It should be noted that the effect of the drug is enhanced due to the fact that its constituent parts bind to the allosteric center of the molecule.

Also, the instructions for use of the antidepressant Cipralex state that it has a weak effect on the following receptors:

Dopamine D2 and D1.
M-cholinergic receptors.
Serotonin 5-HT2 and 5-HT1A.
Histamine H1 receptor cells.
Beta and alpha adrenergic synapses.
Benzodiazepine and opioid.

The instructions for use of Cipralex state that the absorption of the active ingredients does not depend on food intake, since it is a powerful pharmaceutical drug. Its absolute bioavailability reaches 80%. It takes about 4 hours for half-life, but this is an average figure.

The drug is metabolized in the liver. Even after oxidation, the active substances remain active. They are released in the form of glucuronides after undergoing certain changes in metabolic processes.

Then these metabolites are transported to the kidneys - they excrete the remains, which are then excreted along with the urine.

The kinetics of escitalopram oxalate is described linearly. With a daily dose of 10 mg, equilibrium concentration in the bloodstream is achieved after 7 days of a conservative course.

In patients over 65 years of age, the drug is eliminated a little more slowly. Scientists who conducted clinical trials were able to prove that after a single dose taken as part of a course, the volume of the active component in the bloodstream is approximately 50% greater than in young patients.

Recommendations for admission

All of them are listed in the instructions for use of Cipralex. Feedback from patients, which will be discussed a little later, is mostly positive, which once again convinces of the effectiveness and efficiency of the drug being studied. But in order for it to give the desired result, you must follow the rules of administration.

The tablets can be taken regardless of meals. The recommendations are as follows:

To achieve an antidepressant effect, loading doses must be used for 2-4 weeks. The daily dose is 10 mg. In the next six months, it is necessary to carry out maintenance therapy aimed at consolidating the results obtained.
For panic disorders, therapy should begin with 5 mg per day. Gradually the dose is increased to 10 mg - the doctor will tell you when it needs to be done. It all depends on the individual characteristics of the body. In some cases, the amount can be increased to 20 mg per day. The maximum effect is achieved after three months of use. However, therapy can be extended up to six months.
In patients with hepatic or renal insufficiency, the maximum dose is 5 mg. It is not recommended to increase it, however, if the desired effect cannot be achieved, then you have to resort to this. In such cases, the dose is increased to 10 mg.

Under no circumstances should you increase the amount of the drug you take on your own. Even an overdose is possible. Such cases are known in clinical practice, and they manifest themselves with the following symptoms:

Confusion and darkened consciousness.
Convulsive seizures.
Impaired fine motor skills and tremors.
Agitation, manifested by strong emotional arousal, accompanied by a feeling of anxiety and a strong need to constantly move.
Arrhythmia type tachycardia.
Significant changes in the electrocardiogram - depolarization occurs, the ventricular complex expands.
Depression of the respiratory function of the respiratory system.
Hypokalemia.
Metabolic acidosis.

Unfortunately, the drug does not have a specific antagonist or antidote. Therefore, an overdose is treated by providing the patient with palliative and symptomatic care.

First of all, the stomach is washed, which helps to evacuate all the remnants of the drug that have not had time to be absorbed. And then oxygenation and monitoring of body systems is provided.

Composition and release form

The drug is available in the form of round or oval biconvex white film-coated tablets with different dosages:

5 mg of active substance (marked “EK”) – 14 tablets in a blister pack (usually made of aluminum foil or PVC), 2 packs in a cardboard box.
Cipralex 10 mg (symmetrical o and “L” relative marks on one of the surfaces) – 14 tablets in a blister, 1, 2 or 4 contours in a box.
20 mg of biologically active component (marked “E” and “N” on both sides of the line on one side of the tablet) - in a box there are 2 blisters with 14 filled cells.

1 tablet contains:

active ingredient: escitalopram (in the form of oxalate) – 5, 10 or 20 mg;
auxiliary components: croscarmellose sodium, colloidal silicon dioxide, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, talc;
film shell: macrogol 400, titanium dioxide (E 171), hypromellose 5cP.