Before taking Imipramine, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or to other tricyclic antidepressants (e.g., amitriptyline); or if you have any other allergies.
Imipramine should not be used if you have a certain medical condition. Before using this medicine, consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have had: a recent heart attack.
Before using Imipramine, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: breathing problems (e.g., asthma, chronic bronchitis), certain eye problems (e.g., glaucoma, increased intraocular pressure), diabetes, eating disorders (e.g., bulimia), heart problems (e.g., arrhythmias, coronary artery disease, heart failure, QT prolongation in the EKG), liver problems, kidney problems, personal or family history of other mental/mood conditions (e.g., bipolar disorder, schizophrenia), seizures, overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism), trouble urinating (e.g., due to enlarged prostate), any condition that may increase your risk of seizures (e.g., alcohol/sedative dependency, use of electroconvulsive therapy, brain injury/disease such as stroke), certain types of tumors (e.g., pheochromocytoma, neuroblastoma).
Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist that you are taking Imipramine.
Imipramine may make you dizzy or drowsy or cause blurred vision; use caution engaging in activities requiring alertness or clear vision such as driving or using machinery. Limit alcoholic beverages.
To decrease dizziness and lightheadedness, get up slowly when rising from a seated or lying position.
Imipramine may make you more sensitive to the sun. Avoid prolonged sun exposure, tanning booths, and sunlamps. Use a sunscreen and wear protective clothing when outdoors.
If you have diabetes, Imipramine may make it harder to control your blood sugar levels. Check your blood sugar regularly as directed by your doctor. Tell your doctor immediately if you have symptoms such as increased thirst/urination, shakiness, unusual sweating, or hunger. Your anti-diabetic medication or diet may need to be adjusted.
Caution is advised when using Imipramine in the elderly because they may be more sensitive to the side effects of the drug, especially effects on the heart and mental/mood changes (e.g., confusion, agitation).
Caution is advised when using Imipramine in children. (See also the Warning section.)
Imipramine should be used only when clearly needed during pregnancy. Infants born to mothers who have taken similar medications during pregnancy may have symptoms such as trouble urinating, prolonged sleepiness, shaking, and seizures. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.
Imipramine passes into breast milk and may have undesirable effects on a nursing infant. Breast-feeding while using Imipramine is not recommended. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The preceding information is intended to heighten awareness of health information and does not suggest diagnosis or treatment. This information is not a substitute for individual medical attention and should not be construed to indicate that use of the drug is safe, appropriate, or effective for you. See your health care professional for medical advice and treatment.
Store the US product in a tightly closed container at room temperature between 68-77 degrees F (20-25 degrees C) away from light and moisture.
Store the Canadian product in a tightly closed container at room temperature between 35.6-86 degrees F (2-30 degrees C) away from light and moisture.
Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.
Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The preceding information is intended to heighten awareness of health information and does not suggest diagnosis or treatment. This information is not a substitute for individual medical attention and should not be construed to indicate that use of the drug is safe, appropriate, or effective for you. See your health care professional for medical advice and treatment.
Read the Medication Guide available from your pharmacist. Consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.
Take Imipramine by mouth with or without food, usually 1-4 times daily or as directed by your doctor. If you have daytime drowsiness, your doctor may direct you to take the entire dose once daily at bedtime. Dosage of Imipramine is based on your medical condition and response to therapy. In children, dosage may also be based on body weight. To reduce your risk of side effects, your doctor may start you at a low dose and gradually increase your dose.
When used in children for bed-wetting, Imipramine should be taken one hour before bedtime. If your child usually wets the bed early in the night, the drug may be given earlier in separate doses (e.g., one dose in the afternoon and one dose at bedtime).
Follow your doctor's instructions carefully. Do not take more or less medication or take it more frequently than prescribed. Your condition will not improve any faster and your risk of side effects will increase. Use Imipramine regularly in order to get the most benefit from it. To help you remember, use it at the same time(s) each day.
Imipramine does not work right away. It may take up to 3 weeks before you experience the full benefits if you are taking Imipramine for depression.
It is important to continue taking Imipramine even if you feel well. Do not suddenly stop taking Imipramine without consulting your doctor. Some conditions may become worse when the drug is abruptly stopped. Your dose may need to be gradually decreased.
When used for an extended period in children for bed-wetting, Imipramine may not work as well and may require different dosing. Talk with the doctor if Imipramine stops working well.
Inform your doctor if your condition persists or worsens.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The preceding information is intended to heighten awareness of health information and does not suggest diagnosis or treatment. This information is not a substitute for individual medical attention and should not be construed to indicate that use of the drug is safe, appropriate, or effective for you. See your health care professional for medical advice and treatment.
Dry mouth, blurred vision, headache, drowsiness, dizziness, constipation, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhea, stomach cramps, weight gain/loss, and increased sweating may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor or pharmacist promptly.
Remember that your doctor has prescribed Imipramine because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using Imipramine do not have serious side effects.
Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: fainting, mental/mood changes (e.g., confusion, depression, hallucinations, memory problems), enlarged/painful breasts, unusual breast milk production, irregular/painful menstrual periods, muscle stiffness/twitching, restlessness, ringing in the ears, sexual problems (e.g., decreased sexual ability, changes in desire), shakiness (tremors), numbness/tingling of the hands/feet, pain/redness/swelling of arms or legs, trouble urinating, severe vomiting.
Tell your doctor immediately if any of these rare but very serious side effects occur: easy bruising/bleeding, signs of infection (e.g., fever, persistent sore throat), severe stomach/abdominal pain, dark urine, yellowing of eyes/skin.
Seek immediate medical attention if any of these rare but very serious side effects occur: chest pain, slow/fast/irregular heartbeat, seizures, slurred speech, weakness on one side of the body, vision changes.
A very serious allergic reaction to Imipramine is unlikely, but seek immediate medical attention if it occurs. Symptoms of a serious allergic reaction include: rash, itching, swelling, severe dizziness, trouble breathing.
This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
Click HERE to learn more about Imipramine side effects.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The preceding information is intended to heighten awareness of health information and does not suggest diagnosis or treatment. This information is not a substitute for individual medical attention and should not be construed to indicate that use of the drug is safe, appropriate, or effective for you. See your health care professional for medical advice and treatment.
If you miss a dose of Imipramine, take it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The preceding information is intended to heighten awareness of health information and does not suggest diagnosis or treatment. This information is not a substitute for individual medical attention and should not be construed to indicate that use of the drug is safe, appropriate, or effective for you. See your health care professional for medical advice and treatment.
Your healthcare professionals (e.g., doctor or pharmacist) may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for it. Do not start, stop or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with them first.
Imipramine should not be used with the following medications because very serious, possibly fatal interactions may occur: arbutamine, disopyramide, sibutramine, MAO inhibitors (e.g., furazolidone, isocarboxazid, linezolid, moclobemide, phenelzine, procarbazine, rasagiline, selegiline, tranylcypromine).
Avoid taking MAO inhibitors within 2 weeks before, during, and after treatment with Imipramine. In some cases a serious, possibly fatal drug interaction may occur.
If you are currently using any of these medications listed above, tell your doctor or pharmacist before starting Imipramine.
Before using Imipramine, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products you may use, especially of: anticholinergics (e.g., atropine, belladonna alkaloids, scopolamine, drugs for Parkinson's disease such as benztropine), inhaled bronchodilators (e.g., albuterol, salmeterol), certain drugs for high blood pressure (e.g., clonidine, guanadrel, guanethidine, reserpine), digoxin, nasal decongestants (e.g., epinephrine, phenylephrine), levodopa, lithium, stimulants (e.g., amphetamine, epinephrine, methylphenidate), thyroid supplements, valproic acid, drugs affecting liver enzymes that remove Imipramine from your body (e.g., alcohol, barbiturates such as phenobarbital, cimetidine, cisapride, haloperidol, certain drugs for heart rhythm such as flecainide/propafenone/quinidine, halofantrine, certain HIV protease inhibitors such as amprenavir/fosprenavir, phenothiazines such as thioridazine, pimozide, certain anti-seizure drugs such as carbamazepine/phenytoin, antidepressants such as citalopram/fluvoxamine/paroxetine/trazodone, St. John's wort, terbinafine).
If you have been taking fluoxetine, wait at least 5 weeks after your last dose before starting Imipramine.
Other drugs besides Imipramine which may affect the heart rhythm (QTc prolongation in the EKG) include amiodarone, dofetilide, erythromycin, procainamide, sotalol, and sparfloxacin, among others. QTc prolongation can infrequently result in serious, rarely fatal irregular heartbeat. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details and for instructions on how you may decrease the risk of this effect.
Also report the use of drugs which might increase seizure risk (decrease seizure threshold) when combined with Imipramine such as bupropion, isoniazid (INH), theophylline, or tramadol, among others. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for details.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you also take drugs that cause drowsiness such as: certain antihistamines (e.g., diphenhydramine), anti-anxiety drugs (e.g., diazepam), anti-seizure drugs (e.g., levetiracetam), drugs for motion sickness (e.g., meclizine).
Check the labels on all your medicines (e.g., cough-and-cold products) because they may contain drowsiness-containing ingredients or decongestants that could increase your heart rate or blood pressure. Ask your pharmacist about the safe use of those products.
Cigarette smoking decreases blood levels of Imipramine. Tell your doctor if you smoke or if you have recently stopped smoking.
This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The preceding information is intended to heighten awareness of health information and does not suggest diagnosis or treatment. This information is not a substitute for individual medical attention and should not be construed to indicate that use of the drug is safe, appropriate, or effective for you. See your health care professional for medical advice and treatment.