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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by ricardo on February 5, 2003, at 11:45:50
Hi
My doctor has just put me on Imipramine (Tofranil). I understand it's a tricyclic anti-depressant. I'd love to hear your experiences on it.
Thanks,
Ricardo
Posted by BrittPark on February 5, 2003, at 15:38:30
In reply to Imipramine (Tofranil) - Has anyone ever taken it?, posted by ricardo on February 5, 2003, at 11:45:50
I've been taking imipramine for more than 20 years (with a few holidays). It has worked consistently and very well for me. I've had breakthrough depressions but have always responded to a temporary addition of Xanax to pull me out.
Some people find the side-effects too difficult, but at a rate not much higher than that for SSRIs. The initial side effects are very strongly anticholinergic, sleepiness, dry mouth, sometimes vivid dreams, tremor. These mostly disappear or lessen once you get to an equilibrium dosage. If it works for you, take excellent care of your teeth; the dry mouth promotes caries strongly.
Best of luck,
Britt
Posted by ricardo on February 5, 2003, at 20:06:17
In reply to Re: Imipramine (Tofranil) - Has anyone ever taken it?, posted by BrittPark on February 5, 2003, at 15:38:30
Thanks... I'll keep you posted on the results!
Posted by borderliner21 on February 5, 2003, at 21:20:20
In reply to Re: Imipramine (Tofranil) - Has anyone ever taken it?, posted by BrittPark on February 5, 2003, at 15:38:30
what about sexual side effects?? Are they the same as ssris?
Posted by ricardo on February 6, 2003, at 5:41:48
In reply to Re: Imipramine (Tofranil) - Has anyone ever taken it?, posted by ricardo on February 5, 2003, at 20:06:17
My doc said I'll be on a very low dosage (50mg/day), so I shouldn't have any sexual side-effects... I've taken my first tablet this morning. So far, I feel sleepy, but maybe that's why I woke really early this morning...
Posted by babs on February 6, 2003, at 9:07:05
In reply to Re: Imipramine (Tofranil) - Has anyone ever taken it?, posted by ricardo on February 6, 2003, at 5:41:48
There should be no sexual side effects on imipramine- another reason I loved it as SSRI's kill my sex drive.
Posted by Eddie Sylvano on February 6, 2003, at 9:14:03
In reply to Re: Imipramine sexual side effects, posted by babs on February 6, 2003, at 9:07:05
> There should be no sexual side effects on imipramine- another reason I loved it as SSRI's kill my sex drive.
------------------Although... the worst side effect I experienced when starting imipramine was postural hypotension. Every time I stood up, it took a little while to fight off the near-fainting spell it induced. Assuming that's due to low blood pressure, it might also make maintaining an erection more difficult.
Posted by babs on February 6, 2003, at 9:48:07
In reply to Re: Imipramine sexual side effects, posted by Eddie Sylvano on February 6, 2003, at 9:14:03
Good point Eddie- i didn't think of that as i was thinking from my own feminine perspective on the stuff. I had postural hypotension as well.
Posted by neptune on February 6, 2003, at 20:07:14
In reply to Imipramine (Tofranil) - Has anyone ever taken it?, posted by ricardo on February 5, 2003, at 11:45:50
Hi Ricardo,
Thanks for the post. Yes I have had many years with it. The biggest thing it did for me was quit the stomach problems, I had had them for about 22 years and felt like I was going to die every morning. From about 1968-1989 I was sick ,and scared to travel away because my stomach was such a mess, does it relieve depression and anxiety I felt that it let me do things I normally could not have done, even though the fear and anger were there I was not physically ill. I changed about a year and 1/2 ago. I had terrible break up of a 14 year relationship and fell to pieces stayed in be for about 2 months, cried all day, and the tofranil did not seem to touch it, finally went to effexor, and now 4 months ago went to Lexapro, and have not gotten the full effect then added in the 50 mg of tofranil. Do they still make Tofranil , the year 2000 they ran out and I had to take the imiprimine. Suppose to be the same stuff. Good luck.
Posted by IsoM on February 7, 2003, at 1:08:20
In reply to Re: Imipramine sexual side effects, posted by Eddie Sylvano on February 6, 2003, at 9:14:03
As long as you didn't stand up during love-making, but remained in a horizontal postion, it should be okay. I know it sounds like a joke but it's true. Remember, if vertical, stay vertical. If horizontal, stay that way too.
Posted by ricardo on February 7, 2003, at 6:26:49
In reply to Re: Imipramine sexual side effects » Eddie Sylvano, posted by IsoM on February 7, 2003, at 1:08:20
Thanks! I'll try to keep that in mind!
This is the end of the thread.
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