Classes
DEA Class; Rx
Common Brand Names; Tofranil, Tofranil-PM
- Antidepressants, TCAs
Description
Tertiary amine tricyclic antidepressant; imipramine is metabolized to desipramine, an active metabolite
FDA-approved for use in adults for the treatment of depression; used off label for neuropathic pain and other uses
Used in children 6 years of age and older for nocturnal enuresis
Boxed warning for use in pediatric patients and young adults due to risk for suicidality
Indications
Indicated for the treatment of major depression.
Contraindications
Hypersensitivity
Acute recovery post-MI
Adverse Effects
- Fatigue
- Lethargy
- Sedation
- Weakness
- Constipation
- Dry mouth
- Blurred vision
- Agitation
- Anxiety
- Headache
- Insomnia
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Sweating
- ECG changes, orthostatic hypotension, tachycardia
- Confusion, extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS), dizziness, paresthesia, tinnitus
- Rash
- Increased LFTs
- Sexual dysfunction
- Seizure
- Agranulocytosis
- Eosinophilia
- Leukopenia
- Thrombocytopenia
- SIADH
Warnings
Risk of anticholinergic effects; use caution in BPH, urinary/GI retention, hyperthyroidism, oseizure disorder, brain tumor, respiratory impairment
Risk of mydriasis; may trigger angle closure attack in patients with angle closure glaucoma with anatomically narrow angles without a patent iridectomy
Clinical worsening and suicidal ideation may occur despite medication
Potentially life-threatening serotonin syndrome reported when coadministered with drugs that impair serotonin metabolism (in particular, MAOIs, including nonpsychiatric MAOIs, such as linezolid and IV methylene blue)
May cause bone marrow suppression (rare)
May cause orthostatic hypotension
May cause sedation and impair physical or mental abilities
Do not discontinue abruptly for prolonged high dosage
Pregnancy and Lactation
Pregnancy category: D
Lactation: Distributed in breast milk; do not nurse (AAP states effect on nursing infants is unknown but may be of concern)
Maximum Dosage
200 mg/day PO for outpatients; 300 mg/day PO for hospitalized patients.
100 mg/day PO.
100 mg/day PO for depression; 75 mg/day PO for enuresis.
12 years: 2.5 mg/kg/day PO not to exceed 75 mg/day for enuresis. Safety and efficacy in depression have not been established.
6 to 11 years: 2.5 mg/kg/day PO not to exceed 50 mg/day for enuresis. Safety and efficacy in depression have not been established.
Less than 6 years: Safety and efficacy have not been established.
Not indicated.
How supplied
Imipramine hydrochloride
Imipramine Maleate
Imipramine Pomoate
tablet
- 10mg
- 25mg
- 50mg
capsule
- 75mg
- 100mg
- 125mg
- 150mg