How to deal with depression on your own? It is rather difficult to answer this question. After all, few are able to get out of this state without the help of specialists. In this regard, we recommend that you consult a doctor who will subsequently prescribe an effective treatment.
general information
Depression is a mental disorder characterized by a bad mood, impaired thinking (a pessimistic view of everything that happens, negative judgments, etc. prevail), motor inhibition, and the loss of the ability to experience joy.
It should also be noted that in this condition, a person has lowered self-esteem, lost interest in life and work. In most cases, a patient who suffers from depression can begin to abuse alcohol, drugs, and other psychotropic drugs. Often such people have a suicidal tendency.
Today, depression is treatable. During therapy, the patient may be prescribed psychotropic substances. The list of them is quite extensive. That is why they should be appointed only by an experienced specialist.
Antidepressant
The most popular anti- mental disorder is the antidepressant Lenuxin. In this article we will tell you about the cases in which it is prescribed, whether it has contraindications and side effects, as well as what is its cost, form of release, composition, whether this medication has analogues, etc.
The composition of the drug, its packaging and release form
Before telling you about the effect of the Lenuxin medication, reviews of which will be presented later, it is necessary to present its form of release. This product goes on sale in the form of tablets, which are coated with a film coating.
The medicine contains such an active component as escitalopram oxalate. In addition to it, the tablets also contain auxiliary elements in the form of microcrystalline cellulose, croscarmellose sodium, talc, silicified microcrystalline cellulose, siliconized microcrystalline cellulose and magnesium stearate.
The drug "Lenuxin", the price of which is quite high, is sold in polypropylene bottles (maybe in blisters), placed in a cardboard box. Each jar contains 28 or 14 tablets.
Pharmacological Characteristics of Antidepressant
The drug "Lenuxin", reviews of which are more positive, is an antidepressant. This is SSRIs, which increases the concentration of neurotransmitters in the synaptic cleft, and also prolongs and enhances the effect of serotonin on postsynaptic receptors.
The active element of the drug practically does not bind to alpha-adrenergic receptors, m-cholinergic receptors, opioid, serotonin, benzodiazepine, dopamine and histamine receptors.
Practice shows that the antidepressant effect in patients begins to develop only 2-4 weeks after the start of therapy. The maximum result for the repayment of panic disorders is usually achieved in a couple of months.
Pharmacokinetics
How is the drug "Lenuxin" absorbed? Instructions for use of this antidepressant say that its absorption does not depend on food intake. The bioavailability of the drug is approximately 80%. The maximum concentration in the blood is reached after 4 hours. The binding of the drug to plasma proteins is approximately 56%.
Antidepressant metabolism occurs in the liver (before the formation of active didemethylated and demethylated metabolites). The elimination half-life after repeated administration is about 30 hours.
Indications for the use of an antidepressant
In what cases is the drug "Lenuxin" used? Instructions for use, reviews indicate that it must be used only with the following deviations:
- severe or moderate depression;
- anxiety social disorder (i.e. social phobia);
- panic disorders with agoraphobia or without it;
- generalized anxiety disorder.
Contraindications to the use of an antidepressant
In no case should antidepressant treatment be carried out under the following conditions and factors:
- with the simultaneous administration of MAO inhibitors;
- in childhood as well as in youth under the age of 18;
- with increased sensitivity to the drug or its elements;
- with a deficiency of isomaltase or sucrose, glucose-galactose malabsorption and fructose intolerance.
Cautious use
Lenuxin tablets should be used with extreme caution in patients with renal failure, diabetes mellitus, hypomania, bleeding tendencies, mania, liver cirrhosis and pharmacologically uncontrolled epilepsy.
It is also extremely carefully required to use this medication for depression with suicidal tendencies, while taking medications with a lowering threshold and metabolizable CYP2C19 isoenzymes, in old age and together with ethanol.
The drug "Lenuxin": instructions for use
This medication is dispensed in a pharmacy only by prescription. After all, only specialists who have the appropriate qualifications can appoint him.
The dosage of the drug and its frequency of use depends on the degree and type of deviation. According to the instructions, the mentioned remedy must be used once a day before, after or in between meals.
- Depression, having a severe or moderate form.
In this case, the drug "Lenuxin", the price of which is quite high, is prescribed in the amount of 10 mg once a day. Depending on the reaction of the (individual) patient, the dosage may be increased to 20 mg per day. After the disappearance of signs of depression, treatment should be continued for 6 months to consolidate the result.
- Panic disorders with agoraphobia or without it.
During the first week of therapy, the patient needs a dose of 5 mg per day. In the future, it should be increased exactly twice. Depending on the patient’s reaction, the volume of the drug may approach the maximum, that is, 20 mg per day. Such treatment lasts for several months.
- Social phobia, or social anxiety disorder.
With this diagnosis, the drug "Lenuxin" (synonyms of the drug) is prescribed in the amount of 10 mg once a day. The weakening of signs of deviation develops after about 2-4 weeks. Subsequently, the dosage can be reduced to 5 mg per day or increased to 20 mg per day.
Due to the fact that social phobia is a disease with a chronic course, the duration of the therapeutic course should be at least 12 weeks. To prevent recurrence of the disease, a specialist may prescribe a second treatment, which must be carried out for 6 months.
By the way, before prescribing such a medication, a doctor should differentiate social phobia with ordinary shyness or shyness.
- Anxiety disorder generalized.
How is the Lenuxin medication prescribed for the diagnosis? Reviews of experts say that at the very beginning of treatment, this tool should be used in an amount of 10 mg once a day. If necessary, the dosage can be increased to the maximum, that is, up to 20 mg per day. Permissible long-term use of the drug (for 6 months or longer).
People in old age (over 65) need to use half the usual dose less, that is, 5 mg and 10 mg, respectively (per day).
Special instructions for the use of the drug
In moderate renal failure, dose adjustment is not required. As for patients with a similar disease, but in a severe form, they are prescribed the drug with extreme caution.
For moderate or mild liver failure, the recommended dosage for the first two weeks of therapy should be 5 mg per day. Depending on the reaction of the patient, the volume of the drug can be doubled.
For patients with reduced activity of the CYP2C19 isoenzyme, the initial dose of the drug is also 5 mg per day. If necessary, it can be increased to 10 mg.
When therapy is discontinued, the medication volume should decrease gradually over a period of 1-2 weeks. This is necessary in order to avoid the occurrence of withdrawal syndrome.
Overdose cases
A fairly large number of people ask the question of whether it is possible and how to deal with depression on their own? If this condition has been observed for a long time, then you can not do without contacting specialists. After all, patients require the use of antidepressants, which should only be prescribed by a doctor.
If a person uses the mentioned drug in increased volumes, then soon the following signs of overdose may occur: respiratory depression, tremors, convulsions, dizziness, tachycardia, agitation, rhabdomyolysis, drowsiness, metabolic acidosis, dizziness, arrhythmia, ECG changes, vomiting and hypokalemia .
It should be specially noted that fatal outcome and coma in case of overdose are very rare. This can happen only with a simultaneous increased intake of the drug with other drugs.
As a treatment in case of overdose, supportive and symptomatic therapy is used in the form of gastric lavage and adequate oxygenation. In addition, they monitor the functioning of blood vessels and the heart, as well as the respiratory system.
The drug "Lenuxin": side effects
Side effects from taking the remedy most often occur at the very beginning of therapy. After some time, they become less and less intense.
- Digestive system: decreased appetite, nausea, taste disturbances, vomiting, dry mouth, diarrhea, increased appetite and constipation.
- Nervous system: increased irritability, headache, anxiety, dizziness, agitation, weakness, visual disturbances, insomnia, panic attacks, drowsiness, depersonalization, cramps, mania, tremor, serotonin syndrome, motor disturbances, hallucinations and confusion.
- Reproductive system: impotence, violation of ejaculation, as well as menstrual irregularities.
- Skin: angioedema, hyperhidrosis, purpura, ecchymosis, pruritus and skin rash,
- General: hyperthermia and weakness.
- Urinary system: urinary retention.
- Heart and blood vessels: orthostatic hypotension.
- Metabolism: ADH secretion is insufficient.
- Musculoskeletal system: arthralgia and myalgia.
- Laboratory studies: changes in liver function, ECG and hyponatremia.
- Allergy: anaphylactic reactions are likely.
If any of the above side effects occur and worsen, you should immediately inform your doctor.
Breastfeeding and pregnancy
Is it possible to use the drug "Lenuxin" during pregnancy? Reviews of experts say that, due to the lack of information on the safety and effectiveness of this medication, it is highly not recommended to use it during the period of gestation. Moreover, the drug should be stopped during lactation.
Concomitant use with other drugs
Psychotropic substances, the list of which is quite extensive, should be taken only as prescribed by specialists and strictly under his control.
The Lenuxin medication should not be prescribed together with MAO inhibitors, as this may contribute to the development of serotonin syndrome. It should also be noted that taking this remedy by young people (under 24 years old) with mental disorders and depression increases the occurrence of suicidal thoughts, as well as suicidal behavior.
With the simultaneous use of the drug with lithium and tryptophan, there are cases of strengthening the effect of the first drug
Joint administration of the drug with Hypericum perforatum leads to an increase in the number of side effects.
The simultaneous use of an antidepressant with indirect anticoagulants, as well as other means that affect blood coagulation, can contribute to disruption of this process. In such cases, at the end of treatment, regular monitoring of the patient and his blood condition is required.
In patients who take the drug with serotonergic drugs, serotonin syndrome may occur .
Ethanol Interactions
The medication Lenuxin does not enter into pharmacokinetic or pharmacodynamic interaction with ethanol. But this does not mean that such an antidepressant can be taken with alcohol. During treatment, the patient is better to refuse the use of any alcohol.
It should also be noted that during therapy, a person should refrain from driving a car and engaging in dangerous types of work that require increased speed of psychomotor reactions and concentration of attention.
Price and analogues of the drug
How much are Lenuxin antidepressant tablets? The price of this medicine may be different and depend on the margin. The average cost of the drug is 990 Russian rubles for 28 pieces. Agree, this is a rather expensive drug that not everyone can afford. It should also be noted that it is rarely sold in pharmacies. As a rule, after presenting a prescription, the pharmacist offers to order a medication, which usually comes within a few days.
So what to do if the patient was prescribed an antidepressant, but it was not available, or on order? In this case, experts recommend purchasing its analogue. "Lenuxin" has them in quite a large number. Consider a list of such drugs right now:
- "Escitalopram oxalate."
- "Miracitol".
- "Escitalopram-Teva."
- "Santsipam."
- "Escitalopram Sandoz."
- "Selectra."
- "Escitalopram."
- Cipralex.
- "Elicea".
- Eisipi.
These funds can be both more expensive than the original, and cheaper. However, they all act on the same principle as the Lenuxin medication. Moreover, they are also available on prescription. Therefore, you will not be able to purchase them at the pharmacy at your own discretion.
Reviews about the drug
Now you know how much the antidepressant Lenuxin costs (price). Reviews about it are ambiguous. Someone claims that he copes well with the assigned tasks, while others, on the contrary, talk about his inefficiency.
Positive reviews about this medication contain information that it quickly relieves anxiety disorder, improves mood and well-being. Patients also claim that taking antidepressants in recommended doses allowed them to get rid of social phobia, panic and depression. Moreover, this effect persists after discontinuation of the drug.
As for negative reviews, they are more associated with the absence of side effects. Some patients experience nausea, some have headaches, and some do not observe any treatment result at all.