How does Cipralex work?
Cipralex tablets contain the active ingredient escitalopram oxalate, which is a type of antidepressant known as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). Antidepressant medicines act with nerve cells in the brain. In the brain there are numerous different chemical compounds called neurotransmitters. These act as chemical messengers between the nerve cells. Serotonin is one such neurotransmitter and has various functions that we know of. When serotonin is released from nerve cells in the brain it acts to lift mood. When it is reabsorbed into the nerve cells, it no longer has an effect on mood. It is thought that when depression occurs, there may be a decreased amount of serotonin released from nerve cells in the brain. SSRIs work by preventing serotonin from being reabsorbed back into the nerve cells in the brain. This helps prolong the mood lightening effect of any released serotonin. In this way, escitalopram helps relieve depression, panic and fear. It may take between two to
