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Imipramine (Oral route)

Pronunciation:

im-IP-ra-meen

Brand Names:

  • Tofranil
  • Tofranil-PM

Dosage Forms:

  • Tablet
  • Capsule

Warnings:

Oral route(Tablet)

In short-term studies, antidepressants increased the risk of suicidal thinking and behavior compared with placebo in children, adolescents, and young adults with psychiatric disorders, including major depressive disorder (MDD); there was not an increased risk of suicidality with antidepressants in adults older than 24 years and there was a decreased risk in adults aged 65 years or older. The risk of suicidal thinking and behavior should be balanced with the clinical need for therapy and patients should be monitored closely; instruct families and caregivers to communicate any changes in behavior with the prescriber. Not approved for use in pediatric patients .

Oral route(Capsule)

Antidepressants increased the risk of suicidal thinking and behavior in children, adolescents, and young adults in short-term studies with major depressive disorder (MDD) and other psychiatric disorders. This risk must be balanced with the clinical need. Short term studies did not show an increase in the risk of suicidality with antidepressants compared to placebo in adults beyond age 24, and there was a reduction in risk with antidepressants compared to placebo in adults aged 65 and older. Monitor all patients closely for clinical worsening, suicidality, or unusual changes in behavior. Families and caregivers should be advised of the need for close observation and communication with the prescriber. Imipramine pamoate is not approved for use in pediatric patients .

Classifications:

Therapeutic—

Antidepressant

Pharmacologic—

Antidepressant, Tricyclic

Uses of This Medicine:

Imipramine is used to treat depression. It belongs to a group of medicines known as tricyclic antidepressants (TCA). These medicines are thought to work by increasing the activity of a chemical called serotonin in the brain.

Imipramine tablets are also used to treat enuresis (bedwetting) in children.

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.

Before Using This Medicine:

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies—

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Children—

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of imipramine capsules to treat depression in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of imipramine tablets in children with enuresis (bedwetting) younger than 6 years of age. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Older adults—

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of imipramine in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have age-related kidney, liver, or heart problems, which may require caution and an adjustment in the dose for patients receiving imipramine.

Breast-feeding—

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Other medicines—

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

  • Bepridil
  • Bromopride
  • Cisapride
  • Dronedarone
  • Furazolidone
  • Grepafloxacin
  • Iproniazid
  • Isocarboxazid
  • Levoketoconazole
  • Levomethadyl
  • Linezolid
  • Mesoridazine
  • Methylene Blue
  • Metoclopramide
  • Moclobemide
  • Pargyline
  • Phenelzine
  • Pimozide
  • Piperaquine
  • Potassium Citrate
  • Procarbazine
  • Ranolazine
  • Rasagiline
  • Safinamide
  • Saquinavir
  • Selegiline
  • Sparfloxacin
  • Terfenadine
  • Thioridazine
  • Tranylcypromine
  • Ziprasidone

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

  • Abiraterone Acetate
  • Acecainide
  • Aceclofenac
  • Acemetacin
  • Adagrasib
  • Albuterol
  • Alfentanil
  • Alfuzosin
  • Almotriptan
  • Amantadine
  • Amiodarone
  • Amisulpride
  • Amitriptyline
  • Amoxapine
  • Amphetamine
  • Amtolmetin Guacil
  • Anagrelide
  • Apomorphine
  • Aprindine
  • Aripiprazole
  • Aripiprazole Lauroxil
  • Arsenic Trioxide
  • Artemether
  • Asenapine
  • Aspirin
  • Astemizole
  • Atazanavir
  • Azimilide
  • Azithromycin
  • Benzhydrocodone
  • Benzphetamine
  • Berotralstat
  • Bretylium
  • Bromfenac
  • Bufexamac
  • Buprenorphine
  • Bupropion
  • Buserelin
  • Carbamazepine
  • Carisoprodol
  • Celecoxib
  • Ceritinib
  • Chloral Hydrate
  • Chloroquine
  • Chlorpromazine
  • Choline Salicylate
  • Ciprofloxacin
  • Citalopram
  • Clarithromycin
  • Clofazimine
  • Clomipramine
  • Clonidine
  • Clonixin
  • Clothiapine
  • Clozapine
  • Cobicistat
  • Codeine
  • Crizotinib
  • Cyclobenzaprine
  • Dabrafenib
  • Dacomitinib
  • Darifenacin
  • Darunavir
  • Dasatinib
  • Degarelix
  • Delamanid
  • Desipramine
  • Deslorelin
  • Desmopressin
  • Desvenlafaxine
  • Deutetrabenazine
  • Dexibuprofen
  • Dexketoprofen
  • Dexmedetomidine
  • Dextroamphetamine
  • Dextromethorphan
  • Diclofenac
  • Diflunisal
  • Dihydrocodeine
  • Dipyrone
  • Disopyramide
  • Dofetilide
  • Dolasetron
  • Domperidone
  • Donepezil
  • Droperidol
  • Droxicam
  • Duloxetine
  • Efavirenz
  • Encorafenib
  • Enflurane
  • Entrectinib
  • Epinephrine
  • Erythromycin
  • Escitalopram
  • Etodolac
  • Etofenamate
  • Etoricoxib
  • Etrasimod
  • Fedratinib
  • Felbinac
  • Fenfluramine
  • Fenoprofen
  • Fentanyl
  • Fepradinol
  • Feprazone
  • Fexinidazole
  • Fingolimod
  • Flecainide
  • Floctafenine
  • Fluconazole
  • Flufenamic Acid
  • Fluoxetine
  • Flurbiprofen
  • Fluvoxamine
  • Formoterol
  • Foscarnet
  • Fostemsavir
  • Frovatriptan
  • Gatifloxacin
  • Gemifloxacin
  • Gepirone
  • Glasdegib
  • Glucagon
  • Glycopyrrolate
  • Glycopyrronium Tosylate
  • Gonadorelin
  • Goserelin
  • Granisetron
  • Halofantrine
  • Haloperidol
  • Halothane
  • Histrelin
  • Hydrocodone
  • Hydromorphone
  • Hydroxyamphetamine
  • Hydroxychloroquine
  • Hydroxyzine
  • Ibuprofen
  • Ibutilide
  • Iloperidone
  • Indomethacin
  • Inotuzumab Ozogamicin
  • Iobenguane I 123
  • Iobenguane I 131
  • Isoflurane
  • Isradipine
  • Ivabradine
  • Ivosidenib
  • Ketoprofen
  • Ketorolac
  • Lapatinib
  • Lasmiditan
  • Lefamulin
  • Lenvatinib
  • LetibotulinumtoxinA-wlbg
  • Leuprolide
  • Levalbuterol
  • Levofloxacin
  • Levomilnacipran
  • Levorphanol
  • Lidoflazine
  • Lisdexamfetamine
  • Lithium
  • Lofexidine
  • Lorcainide
  • Lorcaserin
  • Lornoxicam
  • Loxapine
  • Loxoprofen
  • Lumefantrine
  • Lumiracoxib
  • Macimorelin
  • Meclofenamate
  • Mefenamic Acid
  • Mefloquine
  • Meloxicam
  • Meperidine
  • Metaxalone
  • Methacholine
  • Methadone
  • Methamphetamine
  • Methylphenidate
  • Metronidazole
  • Mifepristone
  • Milnacipran
  • Mirtazapine
  • Mobocertinib
  • Moricizine
  • Morniflumate
  • Morphine
  • Morphine Sulfate Liposome
  • Moxifloxacin
  • Nabumetone
  • Nafarelin
  • Nalbuphine
  • Naproxen
  • Naratriptan
  • Nefopam
  • Nepafenac
  • Niflumic Acid
  • Nilotinib
  • Nimesulide
  • Nimesulide Beta Cyclodextrin
  • Norepinephrine
  • Norfloxacin
  • Nortriptyline
  • Octreotide
  • Ofloxacin
  • Olanzapine
  • Oliceridine
  • Ondansetron
  • Osilodrostat
  • Osimertinib
  • Oxaliplatin
  • Oxaprozin
  • Oxycodone
  • Oxymetazoline
  • Oxymorphone
  • Oxyphenbutazone
  • Ozanimod
  • Pacritinib
  • Paliperidone
  • Palonosetron
  • Panobinostat
  • Parecoxib
  • Paroxetine
  • Pasireotide
  • Pazopanib
  • Peginterferon Alfa-2b
  • Pentamidine
  • Pentazocine
  • Phenylbutazone
  • Piketoprofen
  • Pimavanserin
  • Piroxicam
  • Pitolisant
  • Pixantrone
  • Ponesimod
  • Posaconazole
  • Pranoprofen
  • Procainamide
  • Prochlorperazine
  • Proglumetacin
  • Promethazine
  • Propafenone
  • Propyphenazone
  • Proquazone
  • Protriptyline
  • Quetiapine
  • Quinidine
  • Quinine
  • Quizartinib
  • Relugolix
  • Remifentanil
  • Revefenacin
  • Ribociclib
  • Risperidone
  • Rofecoxib
  • Salicylic Acid
  • Salsalate
  • Scopolamine
  • Secretin Human
  • Selpercatinib
  • Sematilide
  • Sertindole
  • Sertraline
  • Sevoflurane
  • Siponimod
  • Sodium Phosphate
  • Sodium Phosphate, Dibasic
  • Sodium Phosphate, Monobasic
  • Sodium Salicylate
  • Solifenacin
  • Sorafenib
  • Sotalol
  • Spiramycin
  • Sufentanil
  • Sulfamethoxazole
  • Sulindac
  • Sulpiride
  • Sultopride
  • Sumatriptan
  • Sunitinib
  • Tacrolimus
  • Tapentadol
  • Tedisamil
  • Telavancin
  • Telithromycin
  • Tenoxicam
  • Tetrabenazine
  • Tiaprofenic Acid
  • Tiotropium
  • Tocilizumab
  • Tolfenamic Acid
  • Tolmetin
  • Toremifene
  • Tramadol
  • Trazodone
  • Triclabendazole
  • Trifluoperazine
  • Trimethoprim
  • Triptorelin
  • Tryptophan
  • Valdecoxib
  • Vandetanib
  • Vardenafil
  • Vemurafenib
  • Venlafaxine
  • Vilanterol
  • Vilazodone
  • Vinflunine
  • Voclosporin
  • Voriconazole
  • Vortioxetine
  • Zolmitriptan
  • Zolpidem
  • Zotepine
  • Zuclopenthixol

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

  • Acenocoumarol
  • Arbutamine
  • Atomoxetine
  • Cimetidine
  • Desogestrel
  • Dicumarol
  • Dienogest
  • Drospirenone
  • Ethinyl Estradiol
  • Ethynodiol
  • Fosphenytoin
  • Gestodene
  • Levonorgestrel
  • Mestranol
  • Mibefradil
  • Nomegestrol
  • Norethindrone
  • Norgestimate
  • Norgestrel
  • Phenindione
  • Phenprocoumon
  • Phenytoin
  • Ritonavir
  • S-Adenosylmethionine

Other interactions—

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following is usually not recommended, but may be unavoidable in some cases. If used together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use this medicine, or give you special instructions about the use of food, alcohol, or tobacco.

  • Tobacco

Using this medicine with any of the following may cause an increased risk of certain side effects but may be unavoidable in some cases. If used together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use this medicine, or give you special instructions about the use of food, alcohol, or tobacco.

  • Ethanol

Other medical problems—

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

  • Bipolar disorder (mood disorder with mania and depression), or risk of or
  • Diabetes or
  • Glaucoma (angle-closure type), or
  • Heart or blood vessel disease or
  • Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) or
  • Mania, history of or
  • Schizophrenia (mental illness) or
  • Seizures, history of or
  • Urinary retention (trouble urinating), history of—Use with caution. May make these conditions worse.
  • Heart attack, recent—Should not be used in patients with this condition.
  • Kidney disease or
  • Liver disease—Use with caution. The effects may be increased because of slower removal of the medicine from the body.

Proper Use of This Medicine:

Take this medicine only as directed by your doctor to benefit your condition as much as possible. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered.

This medicine comes with a Medication Guide. Read and follow these instructions carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions.

Dosing—

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

  • For oral dosage form (capsules):
    • For depression:
      • Adults—At first, 75 milligrams (mg) once a day. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 200 mg per day, unless you are in the hospital. Some hospitalized patients may need higher doses.
      • Teenagers and older adults—At first, 25 to 50 mg per day using the tablets. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed and switch you to the capsule form. However, the dose is usually not more than 100 mg per day.
      • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
  • For oral dosage form (tablets):
    • For depression:
      • Adults—At first, 75 milligrams (mg) per day. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed. However the dose is usually not more than 200 mg per day. Some hospitalized patients may need higher doses.
      • Teenagers and older adults—30 to 40 mg per day. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 100 mg per day.
      • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
    • For enuresis (bedwetting):
      • Children 6 years of age and older—At first, 25 milligrams (mg) once a day, taken 1 hour before bedtime. Your doctor may adjust the dose as needed.
      • Children younger than 6 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed dose—

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage—

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

Precautions While Using This Medicine:

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to allow for changes in your dose and to check for any unwanted effects. Blood tests may be needed to check for any unwanted effects. Check with your doctor right away if you start having a fever or sore throat while taking this medicine.

Do not take imipramine with a monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor (eg, isocarboxazid [Marplan®], linezolid [Zyvox®], methylene blue injection, phenelzine [Nardil®], selegiline [Eldepryl®, or tranylcypromine [Parnate®]). Do not start taking imipramine during the 2 weeks after you stop a MAO inhibitor and wait 2 weeks after stopping imipramine before you start taking a MAO inhibitor. If you do take them together or do not wait 2 weeks, you may develop confusion, agitation, restlessness, stomach or intestinal symptoms, a sudden high body temperature, an extremely high blood pressure, or severe convulsions.

Imipramine may cause some teenagers and young adults to be agitated, irritable, or display other abnormal behaviors. It may also cause some people to have suicidal thoughts and tendencies or to become more depressed. Some people may have trouble sleeping, get upset easily, have a big increase in energy, or start to act reckless. If you, your child, or your caregiver notice any of these side effects, tell your doctor or your child's doctor right away. Let the doctor know if you or anyone in your family has bipolar disorder (manic-depressive) or has tried to commit suicide.

Imipramine may cause a serious condition called serotonin syndrome if taken together with some medicines. Do not use imipramine with buspirone (Buspar®), fentanyl (Abstral®, Duragesic®), lithium (Eskalith®, Lithobid®), methylene blue injection, tryptophan, St. John's wort, or some pain or migraine medicines (eg, rizatriptan, sumatriptan, tramadol, Frova®, Imitrex®, Maxalt®, Relpax®, Ultram®, Zomig®). Check with your doctor first before taking any other medicines with imipramine.

Do not suddenly stop taking this medicine without first checking with your doctor. Your doctor may want you to gradually reduce the amount you are using before stopping it completely. This will decrease the chance of having withdrawal symptoms such as agitation, breathing problems, chest pain, confusion, diarrhea, dizziness or lightheadedness, fast heartbeat, headache, increased sweating, muscle pain, nausea, restlessness, runny nose, trouble in sleeping, trembling or shaking, unusual tiredness or weakness, vision changes, or vomiting.

This medicine will add to the effects of alcohol and other central nervous system (CNS) depressants (medicines that cause drowsiness). Some examples of CNS depressants are antihistamines or medicine for hay fever, other allergies or colds, sedatives, tranquilizers, or sleeping medicines, prescription pain medicine or narcotics, medicine for seizures or barbiturates, muscle relaxants, or anesthetics, including some dental anesthetics. Check with your doctor before taking any of the above while you are using this medicine.

Before having any kind of surgery, tell the medical doctor in charge that you are using this medicine. Taking imipramine together with medicines used during surgery may increase the risk of side effects.

This medicine may affect blood sugar levels. If you notice a change in the results of your blood or urine sugar tests, or if you have any questions, check with your doctor.

This medicine may make your skin more sensitive to sunlight. Use a sunscreen when you are outdoors. Avoid sunlamps and tanning beds.

This medicine may cause some people to become drowsy or less alert than they are normally. Make sure you know how you react to this medicine before you drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are drowsy or not alert.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

Side Effects of This Medicine:

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

Incidence not known
Abdominal or stomach pain
agitation
blurred vision
burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings
chest pain or discomfort
clay-colored stools
cold sweats
confusion about identity, place, and time
continuing ringing or buzzing or other unexplained noise in the ears
cough or hoarseness
dark urine
decrease in the frequency of urination
difficulty in passing urine (dribbling)
dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
double vision
dry mouth
false beliefs that cannot be changed by facts
fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse
feeling, seeing, or hearing things that are not there
feeling that others are watching you or controlling your behavior
feeling that others can hear your thoughts
fever with or without chills
flushed, dry skin
general feeling of tiredness or weakness
hearing loss
hostility
hyperventilation
inability to move the arms, legs, or facial muscles
irritability
itching or rash
lack of coordination
lethargy
loss of balance control
lower back or side pain
mood or mental changes
muscle spasm or jerking of all extremities
muscle trembling, jerking, or stiffness
nightmares
pain or discomfort in the arms, jaw, back, or neck
painful or difficult urination
pinpoint red or purple spots on the skin
rapid weight gain
redness of the face, neck, arms, and occasionally, upper chest
restlessness
seizures
shakiness and unsteady walk
slow speech
sore throat
stiffness of the limbs
stupor
sweating
swelling of the face, ankles, legs, or hands
talking, feeling, and acting with excitement
trouble sleeping
twisting movements of the body
uncontrolled movements, especially of the face, neck, and back
unusual behavior
unusual tiredness or weakness
weakness in the arms, hands, legs, or feet
yellow eyes or skin

Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur:

Symptoms of overdose
Bluish color of fingernails, lips, skin, palms, or nail beds
cold, clammy skin
decreased awareness or responsiveness
difficult or troubled breathing
disorientation
fast, weak pulse
hallucinations
irregular, fast, slow, or shallow breathing
severe sleepiness

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

Incidence not known
Bigger, dilated, or enlarged pupils (black part of the eye)
black tongue
decreased interest or ability in sexual intercourse
difficulty having a bowel movement (stool)
enlargement of the breast
hives or welts
increase in sexual ability, desire, drive, or performance
increased sensitivity of the eyes to light
increased urge to urinate during the night
peculiar taste
redness or other discoloration of the skin
severe sunburn
swelling of the testicles
swelling of the breasts or breast soreness in both females and males
swollen, painful, or tender lymph glands on the side of the face or neck
unexpected or excess milk flow from the breasts
waking to urinate at night

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.


Last Updated: 4/24/2024

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites.

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The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites.
All rights reserved.

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