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What Is Imipramine?

Imipramine is a drug that is used to treat different types of depression. It is also used to treat bed wetting in children. Other unlabeled uses include treatment of urinary incontinence in adults where an adult has has no control over when he urinates, management of long-term pain and in the prevention of vascular and cluster headaches. These headaches are more painful than severe migraines and have been described as more painful than childbirth by women. Imipramine is classified as a tricyclic antidepressant, and is sold under the brand name Tofranil.

  1. How it Works

    • Imipramine treats depression by increasing the amounts of two chemicals found in the body. The chemicals are serotonin and norepinephrine. These chemicals elevate mood and increase alertness. The antidepressant effects of imipramine is felt a few weeks after treatment begins, not right away. Imipramine also has the effect of preventing the body from secreting fluids, including urine, which is why it treats bed wetting. Children taking imipramine for bed wetting should be given their medication one hour before their bedtime.

    Warning

    • You should not take imipramine if you are allergic to it. If you have glaucoma, do not take imipramine. If you are allergic to tartrazine or sulfites, substances found in drugs, you should not take imipramine. Imipramine may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or suicide attempts and this risk may be greater in children and teenagers.

    Side Effects

    • Side effects of imipramine includes, drowsiness, dizziness, tiredness, anxiety, confusion, insomnia, hallucinations, blurred vision, dry eyes, constipation, dry mouth, nausea, skin sensitivity to the sunlight, difficulty urinating, enlarged breast size in men, changes in weight or appetite and changes in sex drive. Side effects in children are nervousness, insomnia, unusual tiredness, vomiting and mild nausea.

    Adverse Effects

    • Adverse effects of imipramine are serious side effects that you have to report to your doctor immediately and they are jaw, neck, and back muscle spasms, slow or difficult speech, shuffling walk, uncontrollable shaking of a part of the body, fever, sore throat, difficulty breathing or swallowing, severe rash, yellowing of the skin or eyes and irregular heartbeats.

    Considerations

    • Take your medication as prescribed at the same time each day and if you miss a dose, take it immediately you remember but don't take a missed dose just before the next dose is due. Get up slowly because of possible dizziness. Imipramine causes drowsiness, so you should not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you. Imipramine might make your skin sensitive to sunlight so put on sunscreen, sunglasses and protective clothing when you are out in the sun.

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