https://medixway.com/anti-anxiety/lexapro/ Lexapro, the brand name for escitalopram, is a prescription medication commonly used to treat depression and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). It belongs to a class of drugs known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which work by increasing levels of serotonin, a chemical in the brain that helps regulate mood, emotion, and sleep.Lexapro works by blocking the reabsorption (reuptake) of serotonin into nerve cells, making more serotonin available in the brain.