How long does diarrhoea from Lexapro take to 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
How long does diarrhoea from Lexapro take to go away?
Lexapro-induced diarrhoea usually does away within a week or two. Diarrhoea is one of the most common early side effects of Lexapro and antidepressants in general.
The early side effects usually begin to subside as your body adjusts to the medication. Some people might take longer than a week or two to get rid of Lexapro-induced diarrhoea, but you can recover earlier with proper care.
How to get rid of Lexapro-induced diarrhoea fast?
There are a few things you can do to speed up your recovery from Lexapro-induced diarrhoea. These include:
Take antidiarrheal medications
There are some OTC antidiarrheal medications that can help control your increased intestinal motility. You can also ask your doctor or pharmacist about the best-suited antidiarrheal medication you can take with Lexapro to get rid of your diarrhoea fast.
Loperamide (Imodium) is commonly used for diarrhoea. It basically slows down the movement of food through your gastrointestinal tract and helps your body absorb more liquid (1). This makes your stool less watery. Other agents like Pepto-Bismol (bismuth subsalicylate) are also used.
Your doctor may also prescribe Alosetron – a medication used to treat Irritable bowel syndrome – to help you with your diarrhoea. Alosetron is known to provide promising results to treat SSRI-induced diarrhoea (2).
Probiotics
You can also take Probiotics to speed up your recovery from Lexapro-induced diarrhoea. Probiotics are good bacteria that help promote your gut health and aid in digestion.
When you suffer from diarrhoea, a lot of good bacteria are lost along with the watery stools. This can make your diarrhoeal symptoms even worse and taking supplemental probiotics can help you recover faster.
Electrolyte replenishers
Diarrhoeal stools not only make your body unable to absorb nutrients, but they also make you lose all the important electrolytes. This loss of electrolytes is the biggest reason why diarrhoea makes you extremely weak and lethargic.
Electrolyte replenishers can help with the loss of electrolytes and you don’t feel as lifeless as you feel without them. It is important to drink a lot of fluids in general when you suffer from diarrhoea.
When you should seek immediate medical attention
You should seek immediate medical attention if you experience diarrhoea from Lexapro that persists for more than a few days. Additionally, if you experience any of the following symptoms, you should contact your doctor immediately:
- Blood in the stool
- Severe abdominal pain or cramping
- High fever
- Dehydration (dry mouth, excessive thirst, decreased urine output)
- Signs of an allergic reaction, such as rash, hives, itching, difficulty breathing, or swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat.
The above-mentioned symptoms can indicate a potential health risk and you should immediately get it checked. Your doctor may recommend additional tests or treatments to determine the exact cause of your symptoms and the best treatment strategy to help you recover.
Prevention of diarrhoea while being treated with Lexapro
There are a few tips that can help you prevent diarrhoea while taking Lexapro. These include:
- Take your antidepressant with food or a full glass of water to help prevent your GI tract from getting irritated.
- Avoid spicy, greasy, or high-fat foods that can exacerbate your diarrhoea or Lexapro-induced acid reflux.
- Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated, which can help reduce the severity of diarrhoea.
- Take a probiotic supplement or eat probiotic-rich foods, such as yoghurt or kefir, to help maintain healthy gut flora.
- Avoid alcohol, which can exacerbate the gastrointestinal side effects of Lexapro.
- Discuss dosage adjustments or alternative treatment options with your doctor if you experience severe or persistent diarrhoea.
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References
1.-
Sahi N, Nguyen R, Santos C. Loperamide. 2022 May 23. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan–. PMID: 32491808. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557885/
2.-
Berigan TR, Zeff KN. The Use of Alosetron to Treat SSRI-Induced Gastrointestinal Symptoms. Prim Care Companion J Clin Psychiatry. 2000 Aug;2(4):143. doi: 10.4088/pcc.v02n0409. PMID: 15014651; PMCID: PMC181129. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC181129/
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