Last Updated on July 20, 2021 by
Alternative to Meds Editorial Team
Medically Reviewed by Dr Samuel Lee MD
Lexapro Alternatives Therapies
Creating successful Lexapro alternatives in a treatment plan may consist of more than one therapy. For example, cognitive-behavioral therapy in combination with another therapy could be even more effective. Eliminating things that contribute to depression is also a good place to start, getting ample sleep every night is important, and eating a healthy and balanced diet, being physically active, and avoiding drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, caffeine, and other toxins. Drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, caffeine, and certain food can contribute to depression and other mental disorders. Nutritional deficiencies3 can also contribute to depression. Other Lexapro substitutes include holistic and alternative medicine. There are some powerful natural remedies for depression that may be used effectively in place of pharmaceutical prescription medications.
Natural Alternatives for Lexapro Include:
- St John’s Wort 16
- Omega-3 fatty acids 16
- Amino acids 15
- Vitamin B6 32
- Tryptophan 29
- 5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan) 31
- SAMe (S-adenosyl-L-methionine) 16
- Valerian 30
*Studies done (Kofler et al.) show evidence that amino acids play an important role in treating and preventing depression.
Users of Lexapro (generic escitalopram) commonly seek out Lexapro alternatives to help eliminate the many associated problems with this antidepressant medication. This medication belongs to the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and is prescribed to treat depression (major depression or clinical depression) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).10 Natural Lexapro alternatives are often sought after when drug side effects become too bothersome or if the medication is not adequately controlling the symptoms it is being used to treat.11 Among the alternatives to Lexapro are many alternative therapies and alternative treatment modalities. Other medications that may be recommended as traditional Lexapro antidepressant alternatives such as other antidepressants or antipsychotic medications are very likely to cause any or all of the same problems as Lexapro.12
Counseling, psychotherapy, talk therapy, life coaching, and other forms of therapy greatly help people with depression or GAD who are seeking natural Lexapro alternatives.13 Therapy can be all that it takes to alleviate depression for some people, especially acute treatment of mild to moderate depression. Various forms of psychotherapy including short term therapy (10-20 weeks) allows patients to gain insight and resolve their depression through a verbal exchange. The therapist will often assign homework to work on between sessions. Behavioral therapists focus on helping patients to learn how they can obtain more satisfaction from their own actions and how they can unlearn behavioral patterns that are contributing to or resulting from their depression.
Acupuncture is another commonly used — and considered effective — alternative for depression.4 Medical acupuncture relieves pain, physically17 and emotionally.18 A weekly acupuncture treatment could be helpful to relieve stress, tension, and depression. Acupuncture and acupressure use direct pressure points that are believed to tap into the inner workings of your body. The acupuncturist uses the outside surface of the body to heal deep within. Massage therapy is a complementary alternative worth trying; where many people get a weekly massage to reduce stress, tension, and depression.19 Meditation and yoga are two healing therapies that can be practiced at home and meditation can be practiced anywhere, anytime and these Lexapro alternatives can provide relief for depression and other symptoms.20,21 Antidepressants do not cure depression, they manage the symptoms.22 We at Alternative to Meds believe that holistic and psychotherapeutic interventions have the potential to get more at what is causing the symptoms and alleviating those factors, which is likely why the alternative methods discussed here have efficacy. Counseling and other alternatives to Lexapro can allow constant growth and progress towards the desired level of mental health until it is reached.
Individuals are often given Lexapro and other antidepressants prior to any investigation into why they are suffering from depression.6 For example, is the individual really only low on serotonin,23, and were any other factors contributing to depression checked? What about looking for environmental neurotoxins that destroy energy metabolism? 5 What about food allergies in which internal swelling causes a slow metabolism? 24 Were these tested? Low thyroid can also be a factor.25 And so on. Even in the common instance of an individual not ever being low-serotonin in the first place, the medication itself can cause downregulation to develop.26 The SSRI meds block the reuptake of serotonin, and serotonin is supposed for reuptake to be used again by the nerve cell. When serotonin is forced into the synapse it can cause receptors like the presynaptic 5-HT1a serotonergic receptors and the postsynaptic 5-HT2 serotonergic receptors to become less sensitive to the effects of serotonin.26
When a person stops taking the drug they may encounter 
