Posted by BrittPark on August 16, 2004, at 9:34:28
In reply to Re: Questions about long term TCA (esp desipramine), posted by zeebop on August 16, 2004, at 5:55:29
I've been taking imipramine for 23 years more or less continuously, and though I've had breakthrough depressions it has generally just worked. The only long term problem with TCAs in general (as long as you can get along with the side-effects) is cardiotoxicity. This does concern me and I therefore get EKGs done fairly regularly and so far nothing dangerous has shown up. Mild tachychardia, increased rate of PVCs (palpitations) but nothing fundamentally damaging. My psychiatrist tells me that for certain heart disorders TCAs are in fact cardio-protective. I do have some concern for the future as I get older, but the benefits have so far outweighed the drawbacks.
BTW I have at various times tried paxil, remeron, and lexapro and all were decidedly uneffective for me. If ever my imipramine starts doing bad things to my heart I'm holding effexor, duloxetine, and any new multiple receptor acting ADs that come along, in reserve.
poster:BrittPark
thread:377967
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040811/msgs/378214.html