Imipramine is the active substance in the commercially available antidepressant Tofranil.
Tofranil can be found in pharmacies, in the dosage forms of tablets and 10 and 25 mg or capsules of 75 or 150 mg and should be ingested with food to decrease the gatrointestinal irritation.
In the market it is possible to find medicines with the same active as the trade names Depramina, Praminan or Imiprax.
Indications
Mental depression; chronic pain; enuresis; urinary incontinence and panic syndrome.
Side effects
Tiredness may occur; weakness; sedation; drop in blood pressure upon standing up; dry mouth; blurred vision; intestinal constipation.
Contraindications
Do not use imipramine during the acute recovery period after myocardial infarction; patients on MAOI (monoamine oxidase inhibitor); pregnancy and breastfeeding.
How to use
Imipramine hydrochloride:
- In adults - Mental depression: start with 25 to 50 mg for 3 to 4 times daily (adjust the dose according to the clinical response of the patient); panic syndrome: start with 10 mg once daily (usually associated with a benzodiazepine); chronic pain: 25 to 75 mg per day in divided doses; urinary incontinence: 10 to 50 mg per day (adjust the dose to a maximum of 150 mg daily according to the clinical response of the patient).
- In the elderly - mental depression: start with 10 mg per day and gradually increase the dose until reaching 30 to 50 mg per day (in divided doses) within 10 days.
- In children - bedwetting: 5 to 8 years: 20 to 30 mg per day; 9 to 12 years: 25 to 50 mg per day; over 12 years: 25 to 75 mg per day; Mental depression: start with 10 mg per day and increase for 10 days to reach doses of 5 to 8 years: 20 mg per day, 9 to 14 years: 25 to 50 mg per day, more than 14 years: 50 a 80 mg per day.
Imipramine pamoate
- In adults - mental depression: start at 75 mg at bedtime, the dose being adjusted according to clinical response (ideal dose of 150 mg).