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Lexapro side effects: Is breast tenderness common?
By Mayo Clinic staffOriginal Article: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/lexapro-side-effects/AN01945
- With Mayo Clinic psychiatrist
Daniel K. Hall-Flavin, M.D.
read biographyclose windowBiography of
Daniel K. Hall-Flavin, M.D.
Daniel K. Hall-Flavin, M.D.
Dr. Daniel Hall-Flavin, board certified in general psychiatry and addiction psychiatry, is a St. Louis native looking to the Internet as a way to help people improve their health and be more active participants in their own health care by learning from Mayo Clinic's experts.
Dr. Hall-Flavin served on the faculties of Cornell University Medical College, New York Medical College and The George Washington University Medical School before joining the Mayo Clinic staff in 1996. He has special interests in adult psychiatry, addiction psychiatry, pharmacogenetics and personalized medicine. He served as medical director of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence from 1986 to 1999, and is currently involved in translational medicine research involving the introduction of pharmacogenetic technology into the daily practice of community psychiatry.
"With the advent of pharmacogenetics and related fields and the advances in translational medicine, informed collaborative relationships between knowledgeable, capable health professionals and informed, proactive individuals and their families are more vital than ever," he said.
"I'm optimistic that our Internet health education activities will contribute to ever-improving health outcomes for all who participate and apply what is learned."
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Question
Lexapro side effects: Is breast tenderness common?
I'm taking Lexapro, and my breasts seem unusually tender to the touch. For women, do Lexapro side effects include breast tenderness?
Answer
from Daniel K. Hall-Flavin, M.D.
Escitalopram (Lexapro) is a prescription drug commonly used to treat depression and generalized anxiety disorder. Breast tenderness isn't among the published Lexapro side effects, but some studies and unofficial reports have linked Lexapro and breast tenderness.
Lexapro may interfere with the normal processing of prolactin — a hormone that affects breast tissue. It's possible that this could lead to breast tenderness. Breast pain has been documented as a rare side effect of other antidepressants, including citalopram (Celexa), sertraline (Zoloft), venlafaxine (Effexor) and mirtazapine (Remeron). Some medications other than antidepressants also have been linked to breast tenderness.
Keep in mind, a number of other things can cause breast pain. Your doctor will consider any possible underlying causes for your symptoms. Your doctor may have you stop taking Lexapro for a period of time to see whether your breast tenderness improves. But don't change your dose or quit taking your antidepressant until you talk to your doctor. If your breast tenderness seems to be related to Lexapro, your doctor may recommend another antidepressant. In some cases, adding a medication specifically to relieve breast tenderness can help.
Next questionMAOIs and diet: Is it necessary to restrict tyramine?
- Lexapro (prescribing information). St. Louis, Mo.: Forest Laboratories; 2009. http://www.frx.com/pi/lexapro_pi.pdf. Accessed Oct. 28, 2010.
- Aggarwal A, et al. Escitalopram induced galactorrhoea: A case report. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry. 2010;34:55.
- Smith RL, et al. Evaluation and management of breast pain. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 2004;79:353.
- Golshan M, et al. Breast pain. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Oct. 28, 2010.
- Celexa (prescribing information). St. Louis, Mo.: Forest Laboratories; 2009. http://www.frx.com/pi/celexa_pi.pdf. Accessed Oct. 28, 2010.
- Zoloft (prescribing information). New York, N.Y.: Pfizer; 2010. http://media.pfizer.com/files/products/uspi_zoloft.pdf. Accessed Oct. 28, 2010.
- Effexor XR (prescribing Information). Philadelphia, Pa.: Wyeth Pharmaceuticals; 2009. http://www.pfizerpro.com/content/showlabeling.asp?id=100. Accessed Oct. 28, 2010.
- Remeron SolTab (prescribing information). Kenilworth, N.J.: Schering Corporation; 2010. https://www.spfiles.com/piremeronsoltab.pdf. Accessed Oct. 28, 2010.
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