warnings

What is the most important information I should know about Imipramine (Tofranil)?

You should not use imipramine if you are allergic to it, or if:

you recently had a heart attack; or
you are allergic to other antidepressants (amitriptyline, amoxapine, clomipramine, desipramine, doxepin, nortriptyline, protriptyline, or trimipramine).

Do not use imipramine if you have used an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur. MAO inhibitors include isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, tranylcypromine, and others.

Tell your doctor if you have used an "SSRI" antidepressant in the past 5 weeks, such as citalopram, escitalopram, fluoxetine (Prozac), fluvoxamine, paroxetine, sertraline (Zoloft), trazodone, or vilazodone.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

heart disease, stroke, or seizures;
bipolar disorder (manic-depression), schizophrenia or other mental illness;
kidney or liver disease;
overactive thyroid;
narrow-angle glaucoma; or
problems with urination.

Some young people have thoughts about suicide when first taking an antidepressant. Stay alert to changes in your mood or symptoms. Report any new or worsening symptoms to your doctor.

It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

You should not breastfeed while using imipramine.

Do not give this medicine to a child without medical advice. Imipramine is not approved to treat depression in anyone younger than 18 years old. Imipramine should not be used to treat bed-wetting in a child younger than 6 years old.

Side Effects

What are the side effects of Imipramine (Tofranil)?

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Report any new or worsening symptoms to your doctor, such as: mood or behavior changes, anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, or if you feel impulsive, irritable, agitated, hostile, aggressive, restless, hyperactive (mentally or physically), more depressed, or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

easy bruising, unusual bleeding, purple or red spots under your skin;
tunnel vision, eye pain or swelling, or seeing halos around lights;
a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;
new or worsening chest pain, pounding heartbeats or fluttering in your chest;
sudden numbness or weakness, problems with vision, speech, or balance;
fever, sore throat;
confusion, hallucinations, unusual thoughts or behavior;
painful or difficult urination;
seizure (convulsions); or
jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Common side effects may include:

increased blood pressure;
tingly feeling, weakness, lack of coordination;
dry mouth, nausea, vomiting; or
breast swelling (in men or women).

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Dosage Guidelines & Tips

How to take Imipramine (Tofranil)?

Use Imipramine (Tofranil) exactly as directed on the label, or as prescribed by your doctor. Do not use in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

Tell your doctor if you have a planned surgery.

Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve, or if they get worse.

You should not stop using imipramine suddenly. Follow your doctor's instructions about tapering your dose.

Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light. Keep the bottle tightly closed when not in use.

What should I do if I missed a dose of Imipramine (Tofranil)?

Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take two doses at one time.