Lexapro for Women’s Health: PMS/PMDD, Anxiety & Menopause

Nurse Practitioner Sophie Mengele at TMA discusses Lexapro (escitalopram) for women’s health, explaining it as an SSRI that increases serotonin to help stabilize mood and reduce anxiety. She describes using Lexapro for younger patients and for premenopausal/menopausal patients, either continuously through the menstrual cycle or only during the luteal phase (after ovulation, about 12–14 days before a period) for recurring premenstrual symptoms like mood fluctuations, anxiety, depression, and sleeplessness. She notes standard dosing is 10–20 mg but often starts at 5 mg to see if a lower dose helps. She also uses Lexapro in menopause for similar symptoms and says it can help with hot flashes, offering an option for those not ready for or not candidates for hormone therapy.

00:00 Lexapro Overview

00:26 How SSRIs Work

00:51 Cycle Based Dosing

01:17 PMDD Like Symptoms

01:32 Starting Dose Tips

01:43 Menopause Benefits

02:08 Who It Helps Most

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