Does Increasing The Dosage Of Lexapro Show Better AntiOCD Effect?

Posted on Sat, 5 Sep 2015

Question: Hi,
My doctor rised my dose of Lexapro from 5 mg to 10 mg three days ago. I've been on 5 mg for a long time (several months). I am an intermediate metabolizer for cyp2d6 and cyp2c19. I would like to know how long can it take to some antiOCD effect of Lexapro to appear.
Thanks,
XXXX

Answered by Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (55 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
In about 1-2 weeks you can expect to see anti OCD effects of the drug

Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for asking from HCM for your health related queries

I can understand your concern. Lexapro is Escitalopram and the drug is a SSRI drug. In most of individuals the drug is used as an antidepressant or anti anxiety drug. You are an intermediate metaboliser for cyp2c19 and cyp2d6 and in such situation increasing the dose would help in better effects.

In OCD it is advised to use SSRIs in higher doses. OCD is a psychiatric disorder that is difficult to treat and medicines are used in high doses compared to other anxiety disorders.

Escitalopram is a SSRI drug that is considered as relatively faster acting so in most cases improvement start seeing in 1-2 weeks. In normal cases the drug show its good effects in about 4 weeks. So in about 1-2 weeks of increasing dose you would see increased anti-OCD effects of Lexapro and in about 4 weeks the full effects can be see.

Thanks, Hope this helps you. Please don't hesitate to ask again for more doubts.

Take care

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T