Does Lexapro-induced insomnia go away?
By
Dr Milena Locci de Oliveira (PhD)
Author bio
Dr Milena Locci de Oliveira is a Pharmacist and Doctor of Philosophy in Sciences from the University of São Paulo (USP). She has experience in microbiology, analytical toxicology, and clinical pharmacokinetics. She writes and reviews content on these topics.
Dr Milena’s Highlights:
-PhD in Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2019.
-University College London (UCL) – Semester of remote collaboration in the areas of Pharmacometrics and Population Pharmacokinetics, 2018.
-Bachelor in Biochemical Pharmacy, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2013.
“Science can be translated, and it is essential that everyone has access to quality information to make informed decisions” – Dr Milena Oliveira, PhD.
Professional Experience:
With a decade-long career as a researcher, Dr Milena has amassed extensive experience in conducting research projects in microbiology, analytical toxicology, and clinical pharmacokinetics.
Her expertise also extends to the preparation of technical and scientific reports, literature reviews, data analysis, and scientific communication, both oral and written.
Dr Milena has served as a Clinical Pharmacist, providing expert supervision and guidance to teams during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in the ICUs of two reference hospitals for patient hospitalization.
In her most recent role, Dr Milena worked on the implementation of the deliberatives of the São Paulo State Government Pharmaceutical Assistance Coordination. These decisions were aimed at ensuring medication access within the Unified Health System.
A widely multidisciplinary background enabled Dr Milena to become a professional capable of integrating scientific knowledge into private initiatives, education, and healthcare, delivering consistent services in patient safety and population health.
Professional Memberships & Affiliations:
Dr Milena Oliveira is a member of the Regional Council of Pharmacy of the State of São Paulo, Brazil.
Education:
-PhD in Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2019.
-University College London (UCL) – Semester of remote collaboration, 2018.
-Bachelor in Biochemical Pharmacy, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2013.
Relevant Published Work & Citations:
Oliveira ML de, Rocha A, Nardotto GHB, Pippa LF, Simões BP, Lanchote VL. Analysis of daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol in plasma and urine with application in the evaluation of total, renal and metabolic formation clearances in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. Nov 2020. 191:113-124.
Abstracts. CPT: Pharmacometrics & Systems Pharmacology. 2020 Nov; 9 (S1).
Pippa LF, Oliveira ML de, Rocha A, de Andrade JM, Lanchote VL. Total, renal and hepatic clearances of doxorubicin and formation clearance of doxorubicinol in patients with breast cancer: Estimation of doxorubicin hepatic extraction ratio. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. 2020 Jun 5; 185:113-231.
Godoy ALPC, De Jesus C, De Oliveira ML, Rocha A, Pereira MPM, Larangeira DF, Lanchote VL, Barrouin-Melo SM. Determination of Allopurinol and Oxypurinol in Dogs Plasma by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with an Ultraviolet Detector: Application for Pharmacokinetic Studies. J Chromatogr Sep Tech. 2017; 8 (4).
Clímaco EC, Oliveira ML de, Pitondo-Silva A, Oliveira MG, Medeiros M, Lincopan N, et al. Clonal complexes 104, 109 and 113 playing a major role in the dissemination of OXA-carbapenemase-producing Acinetobacter baumannii in Southeast Brazil. Infection, Genetics and Evolution. 2013 Oct;19:127–33.
Conference Papers:
Oliveira, M. L.; NARDOTTO, G. H. B.; PIPPA, L. F.; ROCHA, A.; SIMOES, B. P.; LANCHOTE, V. L. . Daunorubicin metabolism and urinary excretion in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. In: 84th Annual Meeting of the German Society for Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology (DGPT) and the 20th Annual Meeting of the Association of the Clinical Pharmacology Germany (VKliPha), 2018, Göttingen. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg’s Arch Pharmacol, 2018. v. 391. p. S76-S76.
Oliveira, M. L.; NARDOTTO, G. H. B. ; ROCHA, A. ; SIMOES, B. P. ; LANCHOTE, V. L. . The low contribution of urinary excretion in the elimination of daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. In: 49th Brazilian Congress of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics., 2017, Ribeirão Preto. Livro de Resumos, 2017. p. 64-64.
Oliveira, M. L.; PIPPA, L. F. ; ROCHA, A. ; SIMOES, B. P. ; LANCHOTE, V. L. . Quantification of daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol in human plasma by LC-MS/MS. In: I International Meeting of Environmental Health and Toxicology (IMEHTOX), 2016, Ribeirão Preto. Livro de Resumos, 2016.
Oliveira, M. L.; Clímaco, E.C. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Lincopan, N. ; Darini A.L.C. . PFGE typing of Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii isolated from different University Hospitals. In: V International Postgraduate and Research Symposium, 2012.
Clímaco, E.C. ; SILVA, A. P. ; Oliveira, M. L. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Lincopan, N. ; Darini A.L.C. Relação clonal entre linhagens de Acinetobacter baumannii produtoras de carbapenemases da família OXA em quatro hospitais no Brasil. In: XXI Latin American Congress of Microbiology, 2012, Santos. XXI Latin American Congress of Microbiology, 2012.
Oliveira, M. L.; Clímaco, E.C. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Darini A.L.C. . Dissemintion of OXA carbapenemases genes in carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in University Hospital of Juiz de Fora, MG. In: 8th CIFARP – International Congress of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2011, Ribeirão Preto.
Clímaco, E.C. ; Oliveira, M. L. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Darini A.L.C. . Avaliação do sequenciamento parcial do gene rpoB e de seus flanqueadores para identificação de espécies de Acinetobacter na rotina laroratorial. In: 2° International Symposium on Clinical Microbiology, 2010, Florianópolis.
You can view some of Dr Milena’s work below and links to her professional profile.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dra-milena-locci-de-oliveira-28986042/?locale=en_US
ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Milena-Oliveira-6
Escavador: https://www.escavador.com/sobre/5394254/milena-locci-de-oliveira
Lattes: https://buscatextual.cnpq.br/buscatextual/busca.do
Scopus: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57199779361
Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?view_op=list_works&hl=pt-BR&user=1YUBDIQAAAAJ
Does Lexapro-induced insomnia go away?
Yes, Lexapro-induced insomnia goes away within a few weeks of your treatment. Insomnia is one of the most common early side effects of Lexapro and other SSRIs.
Some people may find falling asleep difficult, and some experience nighttime wakefulness. Either way, Lexapro can cause sleep deprivation which leads to fatigue and mood disturbances the following morning (1). However, Lexapro can also cause general tiredness and sedation in some people.
The side effects are usually expected to get better within a week or two and completely disappear within 4 weeks. However, some people may take longer than that.
Make sure you report Lexapro-induced insomnia to your healthcare provider to determine the best possible way to mitigate it. Some people may think of stopping Lexapro just because of the side effects, but I don’t recommend doing that – not without your doctor’s approval.
How to get rid of Lexapro-induced insomnia fast?
There are a few things that can speed up your recovery from Lexapro-induced insomnia. These are (2):
Take Lexapro early in the morning
Taking Lexapro early in the morning can reduce the intensity of insomnia at night. People who take Lexapro in the evening or at bedtime suffer more significantly.
If you take it early in the morning, the concentration of the drug will reach its peak in the daytime, when you’re supposed to be busy and have your full mental alertness.
As the day progresses, the concentration of the drug drops in your blood and is at its lowest when the nighttime comes. It doesn’t guarantee no insomnia at all, but this way you may get away with a milder version of it.
Make sure your sleeping environment is comfortable
According to the CDC guidelines, your room should be quiet and peaceful when it’s time to sleep. The temperature, lighting, and everything should be as per your liking to help your body and muscles relax.
The calmness and relaxation you feel when you’re in your safe space prepare your body for sleep.
Don’t use electronic gadgets while trying to sleep
CDC guidelines also share how using electronic gadgets at bedtime can ruin the quality of your sleep. Using a smartphone or laptop can alert your brain.
Another reason why it’s not recommended to use electronic gadgets in bed is that the light coming from these devices can trigger the Melatonin receptors in your eyes into believing that it’s time to stay awake.
This way, your body takes much longer to fall asleep when you’re done using your smart gadgets and significantly affects the quality of your sleep as well.
Do not drink coffee after 4 pm
Drinking coffee after 4 pm can significantly affect your sleep quality. Caffeine has a half-life of about 6 hours. If you drink it in the evening, it will surely keep you awake at night.
This is why you need to make sure that the last cup of coffee you take is completely excreted out of your system before you go to bed.
Do not consume heavy foods before bedtime
Eating heavy meals before you go to bed can also ruin your sleep quality. Your last meal should be at least 3 hours before bedtime. When you go to sleep, all of your muscles are relaxed, but eating late at night keeps your stomach busy digesting all the food you consumed.
This not only affects your sleep but eating late at night can also trigger acid reflux and the symptoms associated with it.
What to do if Lexapro-induced insomnia does not go away?
If Lexapro-induced insomnia does not go away even after weeks of using this antidepressant, reach out to your healthcare provider. Lexapro is generally well tolerated, but it is not the best choice of antidepressant for every other individual.
If Lexapro is causing persistent side effects in you, your doctor may try dose reduction at first to help your body adjust better. If that doesn’t work, your doctor may switch you to another antidepressant. Make sure you don’t stop using Lexapro without your doctor’s approval.
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References
1.-
PubChem [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US), National Center for Biotechnology Information; 2004-. PubChem Compound Summary for CID 146570, Escitalopram; [cited 2023 Feb. 4]. Available from: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Escitalopram
2.-
National Health Services NHS. 10 tips to beat insomnia. [Internet]. [updated 20 Oct 2021; cited 4 Feb 2023]. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/sleep-and-tiredness/10-tips-to-beat-insomnia/
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