What cold medications are safe to take with Lexapro?
By
Dr Drielli Vital-Fujii (PhD)
Author bio
Dr Drielli Vital-Fujii, PhD, is a Pharmacist with expertise in Drug Design and Development, Enzymes, Molecular Modelling, and Photodynamic Therapy. She writes and reviews content on these topics.
Dr Drielli Vital-Fujii’s Highlights:
- Postdoctoral fellow at the Department of Biochemistry at the University of São Paulo, emphasizing therapy of neglected diseases using light.
- PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences focusing on drug design and development at the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences of the University of São Paulo.
- Six months as an international researcher at the Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases (University of California San Diego)
- Master’s degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences focusing on drug design and development at the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences of the University of São Paulo.
- Bachelor of Pharmacy at the University of Mogi das Cruzes – São Paulo / Brazil
Professional Experience:
2012 – 2018 Project manager at University of São Paulo – Pharmacy Department
Dr Drielli Vital-Fujii has worked with computational studies, synthesis, biological evaluation, design, and development of new inhibitor candidates for Chagas Disease and Leishmaniasis.
2017 – 2017 International research fellow at University of California San Diego Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences – Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases.
She used Virtual Screening (VS) and High-Throughput Screening (HTS) Integration in the Discovery of new drugs against neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).
2018 – 2019 Faculdades Oswaldo Cruz
Dr Drielli Vital-Fujii was a professor in the Faculty of Pharmacy, teaching the subjects of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Drug Development.
2019 – 2021 Researcher in Biochemistry University of São Paulo – Biochemistry Department
She applied Photodynamic Therapy in Leishmaniasis Treatment, mentored undergraduate students in scientific activities, and wrote, executed, translated, and reported scientific projects with funding agencies.
2023-2023 UniPiaget – University Center.
Dr Drielli Vital-Fujii was a Biology, Nutrition, Physiotherapy, and Pharmacy professor.
Education:
2018 -2021 Postdoctoral at the Department of Biochemistry at the University of São Paulo
2013 -2018 PhD of Science: Drugs and Medicines at Department of Pharmacy at University of São Paulo
2012 -2013 M.Sc. of Sciences: Drugs and Medicines at the Department of Pharmacy at the University of São Paulo
2005-2008 Bachelor of Pharmacy at the University of Mogi das Cruzes
The leading publications of Dr Drielli Vital-Fujii are:
Vital-Fujii, D.G, Baptista, M.S. (2021). Progress in the photodynamic therapy treatment of Leishmaniasis. Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research, 54, 1-11.
Gatti, F. M., Gomes, R.A., da Fonseca, A.L., Lima, E.J.C., Vital-Fujii, D.G., Taranto, A.G., Varotti, F.P., Trossini, G.H.G. (2020). Antiplasmodial activity of sulfonylhydrazones: in vitro and in silico approaches. Future medicinal chemistry, 13, 233-250.
Silva, E.J., Bezerra-Souza, A., Passero, L.F., Laurenti, M.D., Ferreira, G.M., Fujii, D.G.V., et al. (2018). Synthesis, leishmanicidal activity, structural descriptors and structure-activity relationship of quinoline derivatives. Future medicinal chemistry, 10, 2069-2085.
Leite, F.H.A., Froes, T.Q., da Silva, S.G., de Souza, E.I.M., Vital-Fuji,i D.G., Trossini, G.H.G., et al. (2017). An integrated approach towards the discovery of novel non-nucleoside Leishmania major pteridine reductase 1 inhibitors. European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 132, 322-332.
Vital, D.G., Damasceno, F.S., Rapado, L.N., Silber, A.M., Vilella, F.S., Ferreira, R.S., et al. (2017). Application of bioisosterism in design of the semicarbazone derivatives as cruzain inhibitors: a theoretical and experimental study. Journal of Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics, 35, 1244–1259.
Mello, J. F.R., Gomes, R.A., Vital-Fujii, D.G., Ferreira, G.M., Trossini, G.H.G. (2017). Fragment-based drug discovery as alternative strategy to the drug development for neglected diseases. Chemical Biology & Drug Design, 90, 1067-1078.
Pantaleao, S.Q., Fujii, D.G.V., Maltarollo, V.G., da C. Silva, D., Trossini, G.H.G., Weber, K.C., et al. (2017). The Role of QSAR and Virtual Screening Studies in Type 2 Diabetes Drug Discovery. Medicinal Chemistry, 13, 706-720.
Vital, D., Arribas, M., Trossini, G. (2014). Molecular Modeling and Docking Application to Evaluate Cruzain Inhibitory Activity by Chalcones and Hydrazides. Letters in Drug Design and Discovery, 11, 249-255.
Blau, L., Menegon, R.F., Trossini, G.H.G., Molino, J.V.D., Vital, D.G., Cicarelli, R.M.B., et al. (2013). Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of new aryl thiosemicarbazone as antichagasic candidates. European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 67, 142-151.
You can view some of Dr Drielli’s work below and links to her professional profile.
Orcid: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9270-0466
Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Drielli-Gomes-Vital-Fujii
Scopus: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=55829534000
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=F9U50AEAAAAJ&hl=pt-BR
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/driellivital
Escavador: https://www.escavador.com/sobre/6101380/drielli-gomes-vital
CDIPD: https://cdipd.org/index.php/about-us/visiting-scientists
What cold medications are safe to take with Lexapro?
There are some cold medications that are considered safe to be taken with Lexapro. These include:
- Anti-allergy medications (Antihistamines)
- Guaifenesin (Mucinex)
- Vitamin C or zinc supplements
- Acetaminophen
Lexapro is an antidepressant belonging to the class of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Although Lexapro is considered the safest antidepressant, it might still react with some medications. Let’s get into the details of cold meds that you can use with Lexapro.
Anti-allergy medications (Antihistamines)
Usual antihistamines like Cetirizine, Loratadine, etc can be used with Lexapro. These meds can control a huge range of allergy symptoms and can be used for seasonal allergies as well.
Although the use of Lexapro with such antihistamines is pretty common, excessive use or misuse can lead to some side effects, like sedation, dry mouth, etc. Make sure you take as much as needed and don’t take any more than that.
Guaifenesin (Mucinex)
Mucinex is also safe to be taken with Lexapro. Guaifenesin, the active ingredient, unclogs your airways by removing the thick mucus. This helps relieve chest congestion, which is a very common symptom of a cold.
These two meds are used together quite often and there is no drug-drug interaction reported. However, I would recommend using the original Mucinex and not any of its other variants as they may contain ingredients which could interact with your Lexapro.
Vitamin C or zinc supplements
Vitamin C or zinc supplements can be safely taken with Lexapro. They are not medications and are found in the body normally. Vitamin C and Zinc are excellent to boost your immunity against the common cold and flu.
Acetaminophen
Acetaminophen (Tylenol) can also be taken safely along with Lexapro. In fact, Acetaminophen is considered the only safe painkiller to be taken with antidepressants because there are known interactions between antidepressants and pain reducers.
With Acetaminophen, there is no such interaction reported and you can safely take Tylenol 3 to 4 times a day, as per your need.
What cold medications should not be taken with Lexapro?
There are some cold medications that should not be taken with Lexapro. These include Pseudoephedrine and Dextromethorphan.
These two meds can interact with Lexapro and can cause cardiovascular side effects like arrhythmia, high blood pressure, palpitations, QT elongation, etc.
These side effects can vary in intensity, depending on your age and how much of these meds are taken. Make sure you steer clear of these cold meds while you’re on Lexapro. This antidepressant should also be avoided with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like Ibuprofen, Naproxen, etc unless recommended by a doctor.
You can always rely on conventional methods to relieve cold and flu, like ginger-honey tea, lemon-honey tea, liquorice tea, salt-water gargling, applying vaporub, etc. These meds are often found effective and they don’t interfere with your antidepressant.
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References
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MedlinePlus. Escitalopram. MedlinePlus drug information [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US); [updated 2022 Feb 15; cited 2022 Oct 4]. Available from: https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a603005.html
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