What is Imipramine?
Imipramine is a tricyclic drug used to treat depression symptoms. Imipramine can be used to treat bedwetting in older children.This medication guide does not list all possible uses of imipramine.
Side effects of Imipramine
If you experience any of the following symptoms of an allergic reaction, seek immediate medical attention: difficulty breathing, hives, swelling of your lips, face, tongue, or throat.
You should tell your doctor if any symptoms worsen or change, including changes in mood or behavior, anxiety, panic attacks, or trouble sleeping. Also, you may feel more impulsive, irritable, agitated, hostile, or aggressive.
Imipramine may cause serious side effects. If you experience:
- Easy bruising, unusual bleeding, or purple or red patches under the skin
- Tunnel vision is a condition that causes eye swelling or pain, or the perception of halos around lights.
- Feeling lightheaded, as if one could pass out.
- Heartbeats pounding or fluttering or new chest pain;
- Sudden numbness, weakness, or problems with speech, vision, or balance
- Fever; sore throat.
- Confusion, hallucinations, or unusual thoughts and behaviors;
- Urination that is painful or difficult
- Seizure (convulsions);
- Jaundice
Side effects of imipramine include:
- Increased blood pressure
- Feeling tingly, weak, and lacking coordination
- Dry mouth, nausea, vomiting,
- Breast swelling in men and women
There may be other side effects. For medical advice on side effects, call your doctor. The FDA can be contacted at 1-800-FDA-1088 to report side effects.
Warnings
When first starting an antidepressant, some young people may have suicidal thoughts.Be alert to any changes in mood or symptoms. Inform your doctor if you experience any new symptoms or if they worsen.
Before you take this drug
You may be allergic to imipramine or:
- You recently suffered a cardiac arrest.
- You are allergic to any other antidepressants, such as amitriptyline (amoxapine), clomipramine (desipramine), nortriptyline (protriptyline), or trimipramine.
If you've used an MAO inhibitor in the last 14 days, do not take imipramine. A dangerous drug interaction may occur. MAO inhibitors are isocarboxazid (linezolid), methylene blue injection, phenelzine, and tranylcypromine.
Tell your doctor if, in the last 5 weeks, you've taken an antidepressant called "SSRI", such as citalopram (Prozac), escitalopram (Citalopram), paroxetine (Paroxetine), sertraline ("Zoloft"), trazodone (Trazodone), or vilazodone.
Tell your doctor about any of the following:
- Heart disease, stroke, or seizures;
- Bipolar disorder (manic depression), schizophrenia, or any other mental illness
- Kidney or liver diseases
- Overactive thyroid
- Narrow-angle glaucoma;
- Urination problems.
When first starting an antidepressant, some young people may have suicidal thoughts. Be alert to any changes in mood or symptoms. Notify your doctor of any new symptoms or worsening symptoms.The safety of imipramine for an unborn child is unknown.Inform your doctor immediately if you plan to get pregnant or if you think that you may be pregnant.While taking imipramine, you should not breastfeed.
Imipramine has not been approved for treating depression in children younger than 18 years of age. Imipramine is not recommended for the treatment of bedwetting in children younger than six years.
How to take Imipramine?
Follow the directions in the guide or instructions that come with your medication. Your doctor may change the dosage. Take the medicine exactly as prescribed.Inform your doctor of any planned surgery.
If your symptoms don't improve or worsen, call your doctor.Do not abruptly stop taking imipramine. You should follow your doctor's advice about reducing your dose.Store away from heat, moisture, and light. When not in use, keep the bottle tightly shut.
What happens if I miss the dose?
If you are almost due for your next dose, skip the missed one. Never take two doses of the same medicine at once.
What happens if I overdose?
Call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 or seek emergency medical care. A fatal overdose of imipramine is possible.Overdose symptoms include seizures or coma, as well as irregular heartbeats.
What should be avoided?
Alcohol and imipramine can cause dangerous side effects or even death.You should avoid driving or other hazardous activities until you are sure of how imipramine affects you. You may be unable to react properly.
Avoid tanning beds or exposure to the sun. Imipramine may make you burn easier. When you're outdoors, wear protective clothing and use sunblock with an SPF of 30 or more.
Interaction with other drug
This effect can be worsened by taking this medication with other drugs that make you sleepy. Ask your doctor if you should take imipramine along with sleeping pills, narcotic pain medicines, muscle relaxers, or medication for anxiety, depression, or seizures.
There are many drugs that can interact with imipramine. These include prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. This list does not include all possible interactions. Tell your doctor about all medications you take.
