Tofranil 25mg (Imipramine)

Tofranil general information

What is Tofranil used for?

Tofranil tablets 25mg are used to treat used to depression also known as clinical depression or Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), to help relieve symptoms of depressive illness, including anxiety, loss of interest in usual activities, disturbed sleep, change in appetite, fatigue, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, difficulty thinking or concentrating, and recurrent thoughts of suicide. Tofranil 25 is also used to treat depression associated with personality disorders that affect the affect daily activities, perception of everyday situations and relationships with others; also depression associated with chronic alcoholism.

How does Tofranil work?

Tofranil tablets 25mg contains imipramine, a tricyclic antidepressant that has several pharmacological properties, due to its interaction with several chemicals and numerous neurotransmitter systems that are thought to be involved in depression and other psychiatric disorders. These include blocking the effect of histamine, which explains its sedative properties and blocking the actions of certain chemicals involved in nerve transmission (neurotransmitters) like acetylcholine and serotonin. However the major antidepressant effects of Tofranil 25 are thought to be due to the effect of imipramine on blocking the reuptake of serotonin and noradrenaline; neurotransmitters that are involved in mood regulation and response to stress. A chemical imbalance caused by a lack of certain neurotransmitters is thought to be one of the major causes of depression and other psychiatric disorders. Imipramine in Tofranil 25 acts in the brain to correct this chemical imbalance, by blocking the re-uptake of serotonin and noradrenaline from the synapse (the gap between nerve cells across which chemical messages are sent from one nerve cell to another). If the re-uptake of serotonin and noradrenaline by the first nerve cell (pre-synaptic) is blocked, this means that there is more neurotransmitter remaining for the receiving nerve cell (post-synaptic), which allows nerve cells to communicate with each other for longer. Tofranil tablets 25mg help relieve symptoms of depression and other mood disorders by increasing the amount of serotonin and noradrenaline in the brain, which in turn increases stimulation of nerve pathways that control mood.

What does Tofranil contain?

Tofranil tablets 25mg contain the active ingredient imipramine, a tricyclic antidepressant that is used to treat depression associated with several conditions. They also contain: glycerin, lactose, magnesium stearate, maize starch, stearic acid, silica, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, vinylpyrrolidone/vinylacetate copolymer, microcrystalline cellulose, titanium dioxide, red iron oxide, macrogol 8000, polyvidone, sucrose, talc and white printing ink.

Treating depression with Tofranil

Tofranil tablets 25mg contain imipramine, a tricyclic antidepressant that is used to treat depression associated with several conditions, including Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), personality disorders that affect the affect daily activities, perception of everyday situations and relationships with others; and chronic alcoholism. One of the major causes of depression is thought to be an imbalance of neurotransmitters (brain chemicals that allows nerve cells to communicate), particularly a lack of serotonin and noradrenaline; neurotransmitters that are involved in mood regulation and response to stress. Imipramine in Tofranil 25 acts in the brain to correct this chemical imbalance, by blocking the re-uptake of serotonin and noradrenaline from the synapse (the gap between nerve cells across which chemical messages are sent from one nerve cell to another). If the re-uptake of serotonin and noradrenaline by the first nerve cell (pre-synaptic) is blocked, this means that there is more neurotransmitter remaining for the receiving nerve cell (post-synaptic), which allows nerve cells to communicate with each other for longer and increases stimulation of nerve pathways that control mood. Tofranil tablets 25mg help relieve symptoms of depression, including anxiety, loss of interest in usual activities, disturbed sleep, change in appetite, fatigue, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, difficulty thinking or concentrating, and recurrent thoughts of suicide.

What are the side effects of Tofranil?

The most commonly reported side effects when taking Tofranil tablets 25mg include: weight gain, anorexia, tremor, tachycardia (rapid heart beat), vasodilation (hot flushes), orthostatic hypotension or dizzy spell (low blood pressure when standing up), gastrointestinal upset (diarrhoea, nausea), dry mouth, increased sweating, delirium, mania, hallucinations, drowsiness, dizziness, headache, fatigue, paraesthesia (tingling or numbness in toes or fingers), sexual problems, difficulty urinating, decreased lacrimation (tear formation), dermatitis, arrhythmias (irregular heart beat), palpitations

When should Tofranil not be used?

You should not use Tofranil tablets 25mg if you:

• are allergic to imipramine, any other tricyclic antidepressant or any ingredients in Tofranil
• have had a recent heart attack or have other heart problems, especially irregular heart beat
• are pregnant or are breastfeeding
• have kidney or liver disease
• have certain conditions without discussion with your doctor, including: glaucoma, chronic constipation thyroid problem, adrenal gland tumour, difficulty in passing urine, seizures, other psychiatric disorders, problems with blood pressure (high or low)
• are taking any monoamine oxidase inhibitor medications (such as phenelzine, tranylcypromine and moclobemide) as these can cause serious reactions if taken with Tofranil 25 or within 14 days
• are taking medicines that interact with Tofranil 25, including: other antidepressants like the SSRI fluoxetine, benzodiazepines for anxiety, general anaesthetics, antipsychotic like thioridazine and phenothiazine, adrenergic agonists like guanethidine, betanidine, reserpine and clonidine for high blood pressure, anticoagulants like warfarin, anticholinergics for Parkinson's disease, sympathomimetics like adrenaline for emergencies, antiarrhythmics like quinidine, the anticonvulsant carbamazepine, the antiepileptic phenytoin, oral contraceptives, nicotine patches or chewing gum, cimetidine for stomach ulcers, oestrogens in HRT, methylphenidate for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder

What medications interact with Tofranil?

Several medications interact with Tofranil and should either not be taken while you are taking Tofranil or only after discussion and instruction from your doctor:

• Drugs that cause a serious reaction with Tofranil: monoamine oxidase inhibitor, other antidepressants like SSRIs, the antipsychotic thioridazine, antiarrhythmics like quinidine,
• Drugs that affect Tofranil: other antidepressants like the SSRI fluoxetine, the antipsychotic thioridazine, barbiturates, the anticonvulsant carbamazepine, the antiepileptic phenytoin, oral contraceptives, nicotine patches or chewing gum, cimetidine for stomach ulcers, oestrogens in HRT, methylphenidate for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder
• Drugs that are affected by Tofranil: barbiturates (sedatives), benzodiazepines for anxiety, general anaesthetics, adrenergic agonists like guanethidine, betanidine, reserpine and clonidine for high blood pressure, anticoagulants like warfarin, the antipsychotic phenothiazine, anticholinergics for Parkinson's disease, sympathomimetics like adrenaline for emergencies

How should Tofranil be taken?

You should take your Tofranil tablets 25mg with a glass of water with or without food usually once to 3 times daily, at the same times each day, for several weeks or months, depending on your condition and your doctor’s recommendations. Your doctor may increase your dose, depending on what you are being treated for and how well you are responding to treatment. You should take your Tofranil tablets 25mg regularly for as long as recommended by your doctor. It may take 4 to 6 weeks to feel any real improvement and then you should continue to take your Tofranil 25 even if you feel well to ensure that the benefits last.

How long should you take Tofranil?

You should take your Tofranil tablets 25mg regularly for as long as recommended by your doctor. It may take 4 to 6 weeks to feel any real improvement and then you should continue to take your Tofranil 25 even if you feel well to ensure that the benefits last.

Missed dose of Tofranil

If you miss a dose of Tofranil tablets 25mg take it as soon as you remember, unless it is time to take the next dose, then skip the missed dose. Do not take a double dose.

How should Tofranil be stored?

You should store your Tofranil tablets 25mg below 30°C in a cool dry place and protect from moisture and light.