Trimipramine is taken by mouth and used to treat depression. It's not a first-choice medication because it can cause many side effects, such as dizziness, dry mouth, anxiety, or heart problems.
Depression
Trimipramine is a tricyclic antidepressant. The exact way that it works to treat depression is unknown. But it's thought to make your brain more sensitive to serotonin, a natural chemical in your brain. This is likely to improve mood.
Source:Â DailyMed
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
Incidence not known
Abdominal or stomach pain
agitation
black, tarry stools
bleeding or bruising
blood in the urine or stools
blurred vision
burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings
chest pain or discomfort
clay-colored stools
cold sweats
confusion about identity, place, and time
continuing ringing, buzzing, or other unexplained noise in the ears
convulsions
cool, pale skin
cough or hoarseness
dark urine
decrease in the frequency of urination
decreased urine output or volume
difficulty in passing urine (dribbling)
difficulty with speaking
dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
double vision
false beliefs that cannot be changed by facts
fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse
feeling of warmth
feeling that others are watching you or controlling your behavior
feeling that others can hear your thoughts
feeling, seeing, or hearing things that are not there
fever with or without chills
flushed, dry skin
fruit-like breath odor
general feeling of tiredness or weakness
headache
hearing loss
hostility
hyperventilation
inability to move the arms, legs, or facial muscles
inability to speak
increased hunger
increased need to urinate
increased thirst
increased urination
irritability
itching or rash
lack of coordination
lethargy
loss of appetite
loss of balance control
lower back or side pain
mood or mental changes
muscle spasm or jerking of all extremities
muscle trembling or stiffness
muscle twitching
nightmares
pain or discomfort in the arms, jaw, back, or neck
painful or difficult urination
passing urine more often
pinpoint red or purple spots on the skin
pounding in the ears
rapid weight gain
redness of the face, neck, arms, and occasionally, upper chest
restlessness
shakiness and unsteady walk
shuffling walk
slow speech
slurred speech
sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth
stiffness of the limbs
sudden loss of consciousness
sweating
swelling of the face, ankles, legs, or hands
swollen glands
talking, feeling, and acting with excitement
trouble in holding or releasing urine
trouble sleeping
twisting movements of the body
uncontrolled movements, especially of the face, neck, and back
unpleasant breath odor
unsteadiness, awkwardness, trembling, or other problems with muscle control or coordination
unusual behavior
unusual tiredness or weakness
vomiting of blood
weakness in the arms, hands, legs, or feet
weight gain or loss
yellow eyes or skin
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
Incidence not known
Abdominal or stomach cramps
bigger, dilated, or enlarged pupils (black part of the eye)
black tongue
decreased interest in sexual intercourse
difficulty having a bowel movement (stool)
disturbance of accommodation
enlargement of the breast
hair loss or thinning of the hair
hives or welts
inability to have or keep an erection
increase in sexual ability, desire, drive, or performance
increased sensitivity of the eyes to light
increased sensitivity of the skin to sunlight
loss in sexual ability, desire, drive, or performance
pain or discomfort in the chest, upper stomach, or throat
peculiar taste
redness or other discoloration of the skin
severe sunburn
small red or purple spots on the skin
swelling of the breasts or breast soreness in both women and men
swelling of the testicles
swelling or inflammation of the mouth
swollen, painful, or tender lymph glands in the neck
unexpected milk flow from the breasts
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Available as a lower-cost generic
Available in 3 different strengths, convenient if you need to adjust your dose
Can be taken once a day, usually before you go to bed
Might not notice changes in your mood until you've taken trimipramine for several weeks
Stopping trimipramine suddenly can cause withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, headache, and discomfort
Can cause more side effects than other medications used to treat depression
Not recommended for use for people with certain medical conditions, such as heart problems, thyroid problems, or seizures
Trimipramine can cause a lot of side effects. To help your body get used to the medication, your provider will start you at a low dose. They'll adjust your dose if you're not getting enough benefit from the medication, as long as you don't have side effects. Let your provider or pharmacist know before you start any new medications, including over-the-counter medications or supplements, so they can make sure that it's safe.
Make sure your provider has a full list of the medications you take or have recently taken (within the last 2 weeks). Trimipramine can have dangerous interactions with certain medications.
Since trimipramine can make you sleepy, don't drive or do anything that requires concentration or focus until you know how your body reacts to it.
Even if you start to feel better and less depressed, you'll need to keep taking trimipramine as your provider prescribed.
Don't stop taking trimipramine without talking to your provider first. If you want to stop, ask your provider how to do so safely. Stopping this medication suddenly can cause withdrawal symptoms, such as headache, nausea, or discomfort.
Be very careful getting up if you've been sitting or lying down for a while since trimipramine can make you feel dizzy or cause you to fall.
Trimipramine can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Risk factors: People 24 years or younger | History of depression or other mood problems | Taking antidepressants | Starting trimipramine for the first time | Change in dose of trimipramine
Trimipramine can raise the risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior. Watch for new or worsening depression, suicidal thoughts or behavior, especially during the first few months of treatment or when the dose changes. Let your healthcare provider know right away if you notice any unusual changes in mood or behavior while taking this medication.
Sometimes depression can be the first sign of bipolar disorder. Unfortunately, trimipramine doesn't treat bipolar and can cause a manic phase. Your provider will screen you for bipolar disorder before starting trimipramine. Let them know your full medical history and if anyone in your family has a history of bipolar disorder.
In some rare cases, taking trimipramine can lead to serotonin syndrome. Symptoms can include high fever, sudden changes in thought, mood, and movement, or high blood pressure. This is more likely to happen if you take certain medications for depression, migraines, or pain control. Tell your provider or pharmacist about all the medications you take before starting trimipramine.
Risk factors: History of heart disease
If you have a history of heart disease, talk to your provider or pharmacist before taking trimipramine. People have had faster heartbeats or irregular heartbeats while taking trimipramine. People have also had heart attacks and strokes while on trimipramine.
During the first few days of taking trimipramine, you might feel sleepy or drowsy. Be very careful driving or doing anything that requires concentration until you know how trimipramine affects you. This usually goes away after a few days to a week. Talk to your provider if you find the drowsiness isn't getting better, they may suggest taking your dose once a day at bedtime or they may switch you to a different medication.
If you've been taking trimipramine for a while and want to stop taking it, talk to your provider first. While it's not addictive, stopping trimipramine suddenly can cause nausea, headache, and uneasiness for a few days until your body readjusts. Your provider will work with you to lessen the discomfort.
Your dose might be lower if you're an adolescent or an older adult.
The typical dosing range for trimipramine is 50 mg to 150 mg by mouth daily, taken as divided doses throughout the day, or as a single dose at bedtime. The maximum daily dose is 200 mg.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
Recovering from a recent heart attack
Taking trimipramine within 14 days of a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI)
Depression
Bedwetting in children (imipramine hydrochloride only)
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