Imipramine
About Imipramine
Imipramine is an oral prescription medication primarily used to treat depression. It helps restore the balance of certain natural chemicals in the brain, which improves mood and emotional well-being. In some cases, it is also prescribed to treat nighttime bedwetting in children.
To achieve the best results, you must take Imipramine consistently every day, often at bedtime, to help minimise daytime sleepiness. You can take this medicine with or without food, but taking it with a meal can help prevent a mild upset stomach. Combining this medication with healthy daily habits, such as regular sleep schedules and stress management, can significantly support your treatment progress.
While taking this medicine, you may experience mild temporary effects like dry mouth, mild sleepiness, or light dizziness. However, you should contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any serious side effects, such as a fast or irregular heartbeat, severe mood swings, or difficulty urinating.
Before starting this medication, tell your doctor if you have a history of heart problems, glaucoma, seizures, or difficulty urinating. Do not take this if you have recently had a heart attack or if you are currently taking certain other medications for depression. Your doctor will help determine if this treatment is safe for your specific health history.
This medicine can interact with alcohol, smoking, and medicines such as sleeping pills, which may increase drowsiness or affect how it works. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or elderly, consult your doctor before taking this medicine. Imipramine is generally avoided during the first trimester of pregnancy unless the expected benefit clearly outweighs the potential risk to the baby. It may also pass into breast milk, so your doctor will carefully weigh the benefits and risks before recommending its use during breastfeeding.
Uses of Imipramine
Medicinal Benefits
Imipramine helps relieve symptoms of depression and manage bedwetting in children, improving daily well-being and confidence.
The following are the benefits of Imipramine:
- Helps improve mood and reduce symptoms of depression.
- Increases energy levels and supports better daily functioning.
- Improves focus and emotional well-being.
- Reduces nighttime bedwetting episodes in children.
- Supports better sleep and builds confidence in children with bedwetting.
- Promotes long-term symptom control when taken as prescribed.
Directions for Use
- Always take Imipramine exactly as your doctor has prescribed.
- Swallow the tablet whole with a full glass of water. Do not crush, chew, or break the tablet, as this can affect how the medicine is released into your body.
- You can take this medicine with or without food. If you experience stomach upset, taking it with a meal or a snack can help.
- If you are taking it once daily, taking it at bedtime is often recommended to help prevent daytime sleepiness.
- Always consult your doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure about how to take your dose.
- Do not stop taking Imipramine suddenly. When it is time to stop treatment, your doctor will gradually reduce your dose over several weeks to help minimise withdrawal symptoms.
Storage
Side Effects of Imipramine
Common Side Effects (Usually mild):
- Dry mouth and dry eyes
- Drowsiness, fatigue, or mild sleepiness during the day
- Dizziness, especially when standing up too quickly
- Constipation or mild stomach upset
- Mildly blurred vision
Serious Side Effects (Call a doctor right away):
- A rapid, pounding, or irregular heartbeat
- Sudden changes in mood, such as severe anxiety, panic attacks, or thoughts of hurting yourself
- Inability to pass urine or painful urination
- Yellowing of your eyes or skin, which may point to liver damage
- Signs of a severe allergic reaction, such as a skin rash, itching, or swelling of the face, tongue, or throat
Drug Warnings
- Do not stop suddenly: Do not stop taking this medicine all of a sudden. Stopping quickly can cause withdrawal symptoms like nausea, headache, irritability, sleep problems, or flu-like symptoms. Your doctor will reduce the dose slowly if needed.
- Be careful with driving: Avoid driving, cycling, or using heavy machinery until you know how this medicine affects your alertness. It may cause drowsiness or slow your reaction time.
- Watch for mood changes: Pay close attention to any worsening depression, sudden mood changes, or suicidal thoughts, especially in the first few weeks or after dose changes. Contact your doctor immediately if these occur.
- Protect your skin from the sun: Use sunscreen, wear sunglasses, and cover your skin when outdoors. This medicine can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight and increase the risk of sunburn.
- Inform healthcare providers: Tell your dentist, surgeon, or any healthcare professional that you are taking this medicine before any procedure. It may interact with certain anaesthetics.
Drug Interactions
- Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) (e.g., phenelzine, tranylcypromine): Do not take Imipramine with MAOIs, as this can cause extremely high blood pressure, high body temperature, and seizures. You must wait at least 14 days after stopping an MAOI before starting this medicine.
- Central nervous system depressants (e.g., diazepam, zolpidem): Taking this medicine with sleeping pills, prescription pain relievers, or muscle relaxants can cause extreme drowsiness and dangerous breathing difficulties.
- Heart medications (e.g., amiodarone, quinidine): Certain medicines used to treat abnormal heart rhythms can interact with Imipramine, increasing the risk of serious heart rhythm problems.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
unsafeAvoid consumption of alcohol while taking Imipramine as it may cause increased drowsiness.
Pregnancy
cautionImipramine belongs to pregnancy category C. Please consult your doctor if you have any concerns regarding this; your doctor will prescribe only if the benefits outweigh the risks.
Breast Feeding
cautionImipramine may pass into breastmilk. Consult your doctor before taking Imipramine; your doctor will decide whether Imipramine can be taken by breastfeeding mothers or not.
Driving
unsafeImipramine may cause impaired alertness, drowsiness or blurred vision. Do not drive or operate machinery if you experience these symptoms.
Liver
cautionDose adjustment may be needed in patients with liver impairment. Please consult your doctor if you have a liver impairment or any concerns regarding this.
Kidney
cautionDose adjustment may be needed in patients with kidney impairment. Please consult your doctor if you have kidney impairment or any concerns regarding this.
Children
cautionImipramine is not recommended for children below 6 years as its safety and effectiveness have not been established.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Manage dry mouth: Chew sugar-free gum, suck on ice chips, or sip water frequently throughout the day to keep your mouth moist.
- Prevent constipation: Drink plenty of water and gradually increase your intake of dietary fibre, such as whole grains, fresh fruits, and vegetables.
- Prevent dizziness: Take your time when standing up from a sitting or lying position to allow your blood pressure to adjust.
- Avoid alcohol: Do not drink alcohol while taking this medicine, as it can dangerously increase sleepiness and affect your coordination.
- For bedwetting support: Limit your child's fluid intake in the evening, especially caffeinated or sugary beverages, and encourage them to use the bathroom right before bedtime.
Special Advise
- Close monitoring of patients taking Imipramine for suicidal behaviour, clinical worsening, or unusual changes in behaviour is recommended. Consult the doctor immediately if the patient experiences suicidal thoughts such as killing or harming oneself.
- Talk to your doctor before taking Imipramine if you are due to have any surgery that involves an anaesthetic, including dental surgery.
- Your doctor may advise regular blood tests and liver functioning tests while taking Imipramine.
- Imipramine may cause problems with your teeth, so a regular dental check-up is advised.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Depression: Depression is a mental health disorder characterised by a persistent and intense feeling of sadness for an extended duration of time. It mainly impacts mood, behaviour and other physical functions, such as sleep and appetite. Symptoms include sadness, loss of interest, appetite changes, sleep problems, restlessness, lack of energy, feeling worthless or guilty, thoughts of harming oneself, difficulty in concentrating, making decisions and thinking. The exact cause of depression is unknown. However, factors such as stress, changes in hormone levels, alcohol or drug abuse, abuse during childhood, certain medical conditions and medications might increase the risk of developing depression.
Bed-wetting: Childhood enuresis is also known as bed-wetting in children. In most cases, children are toilet trained by the age of 5, but generally, there is no target date for complete bladder control development. A small number of children still wet the bed even after the age of 7 years. This may or may not be purposeful, and the condition is not diagnosed until the child is 5 years or older. The causes could be a small bladder, urinary tract infections, stress and developmental delays that could interfere with toilet training. Symptoms include repeated bed-wetting, wetting in the clothes and wetting at least twice a week for 3 months.
FAQs
Imipramine is used to treat depression. Additionally, it is also used to treat bed-wetting at night in children aged 6 years and older.
Imipramine works by increasing mood-enhancing chemical messengers (neurotransmitters) such as serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain that communicate between brain cells, thereby regulating mood and treating depression.
Do not discontinue Imipramine without consulting your doctor as it could lead to withdrawal symptoms. To treat your condition effectually, continue taking Imipramine for as long as prescribed. Do not be reluctant to speak with your doctor if you feel any difficulty while taking Imipramine. The doctor may reduce the dose gradually to prevent withdrawal symptoms.
Dry mouth could be a side-effect of Imipramine. Limiting caffeine intake, avoiding smoking and mouthwashes containing alcohol, drinking water regularly and chewing sugar-free gum/candy might stimulate saliva and prevent drying of the mouth.
Orthostatic hypotension could be a side-effect of Imipramine. Orthostatic hypotension is a sudden lowering in blood pressure leading to dizziness on standing. If you experience this, do not try to stand up suddenly or start walking, instead, lie down and get up slowly only when you feel better.
Imipramine may cause photosensitivity or increased sensitivity to sunlight. Therefore, people taking Imipramine should avoid excessive exposure to sunlight or tanning beds. Use effective sunscreen and wear protective clothing while going outside.
Consult your doctor before taking Imipramine if you are diabetic, as Imipramine may cause elevation or lower blood glucose levels. Regularly monitor blood sugar levels while taking Imipramine.
Imipramine may make your open-angle glaucoma worse. Your doctor may monitor your vision while you are taking this medication.
Imipramine may affect blood sugar levels, especially in people with diabetes. It can cause fluctuations in blood sugar, so it's important to monitor your levels closely and consult your doctor for personalized advice.
Imipramine may cause weight gain in some people as it is an antidepressant that works by blocking certain neurotransmitters. This can lead to increased appetite and changes in metabolism, resulting in weight gain. Monitor your weight and discuss any changes with your doctor. They can adjust your medication or suggest lifestyle changes to manage this side effect.
Imipramine is not an addictive or habit-forming medication.
The common side effects of Imipramine you may experience are dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, increased blood pressure, lack of coordination, swelling of the breast, and weakness. However, these symptoms vanish as your body adjusts to the medication. If these symptoms become worse, please consult a doctor for relief.
No, you should not stop taking Imipramine suddenly without consulting your doctor. Stopping abruptly can lead to withdrawal symptoms like nervousness, anxiety, and irritability.
Imipramine belongs to pregnancy category C medication, meaning it may be harmful to a fetus. Please consult your doctor before taking Imipramine if you plan to become pregnant or are already pregnant. Your doctor will weigh the potential risks and benefits before prescribing Imipramine.
Store Imipramine in a cool, dry place away from sunlight. Keep it out of reach of children.
Imipramine may cause drowsiness or sleepiness, especially when first starting the medication or increasing the dosage. This sedative effect may decrease as your body adjusts to the medication. If it is not, consult the doctor.
If you forget a dose of Imipramine, take it immediately when you remember. However, if your next dose is near, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule. Never double dose to make up for a missed dose, as this may increase side effects.
Taking more than the recommended dosage does not provide additional relief and can increase the risk of adverse effects.
No, you should avoid alcohol while taking Imipramine. Alcohol can severely increase drowsiness and dizziness, and it can also interfere with how well the medicine treats your symptoms. Talk to your doctor.
Yes, Imipramine can be prescribed to children aged 6 and older for the short-term treatment of nighttime bedwetting when other treatments have not worked. Your child's doctor will determine the safest dose and monitor their progress closely. Talk to your doctor.
For most people, taking Imipramine at bedtime is recommended because it can cause drowsiness. However, your doctor will give you the best schedule based on why you are taking it and how it affects you. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
