Anafranil and Sexual Dysfunction: What Users Say

• Mac...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 7, 2013

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "I have used Anafranil on and off for 30 years. Each time, it has worked superbly. I stop and then start again about 2 years later, for a period of about 4-6 months. Presently taking 200 mg along with Beta Blockers - the best experience ever: I am happier, more confident, and less anxious than ever in my life. Anafranil side effects are sometimes bad: loss of appetite, sexual dysfunction, and blurred vision tend to hit me badly. Also, can take 2-3 months before they really work. But worth the wait, even though it feels for a while as though it makes you feel worse. Outstanding medicine - a lifesaver!!"

• kma...
• February 24, 2012

For Panic Disorder "Outstanding medication for obsessive-compulsive stress disorder, panic, agoraphobia. I have been on this medicine for 15 years, and it has eliminated my panic attacks, anxiety, and I am able to leave the house without fear. Side effects include rapid heart rate, dry mouth, sexual dysfunction, and hypotension. I take Anafranil at night. There is absolutely no weight gain, in fact, I lost 50 lbs. I did switch to Zoloft with no success and am back on Anafranil. There were no withdrawal symptoms when tapered off. This is one of the best meds in the TCA class and works better than the new SSRIs for me."

• hel...
• November 11, 2013

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "It has worked really well for my severe OCD, depression, anxiety, and panic. It stabilizes my mood too. The side effects are awful for me, though. Sexual side effects (like my genitals are numb) and severe constipation are the two side effects that keep me from being on a more therapeutic dose. At 100mg, the side effects are bad. At 50mg I'm OK in terms of side effects, but the benefits are minimal. I will be going up to 75mg and see how that goes. In the past, I had been on 150mg and then 200mg. I had never been happier. I think I may have been too happy rather than normally happy, though."

• Sco...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 7, 2013

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "Anafranil: Most likely the best medicine for obsessive-compulsive disorder overall. Yet each person has their own body chemistry/energy issues. Most people with OCD need about 100 to 200 mg at night. The key is to GRADUALLY go up in dose. This will give your body TIME to ADJUST to Anafranil. I am now up to 150 mg after 3 months, and I am feeling much better. Much fewer OCD thoughts. Yes, sexual side effects... as with any OCD medicine. I used to take a high dose of Paxil for 8 years and it just wore out, OCD came back. I think I will try Anafranil 200 or 225 mg, stay on it for a year, then see how I do as I try to wean down the dose to 50 or so."

• Geg...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 3, 2021

For Depression "I had tried escitalopram (Scippa) and vortioxetine (Trintellix) before, practically both were ineffective. Anafranil has been a miracle for me, within a month, it reduced my severe suffering very effectively and made me much better for 90% of my time. And it was reached quickly with a very small dosage: 20 mg a day. Minor side effects occurred during the first couple of weeks, the most unpleasant was the dry mouth and reduced libido, but it bounced back within weeks."

• Anonymous
• March 21, 2012

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "After three years on different antipsychotics, I started taking this finally to some relief. I have been taking it now for about six months. It is still working well for obsessing, but the side effects are starting to add up. I have steadily gained weight. Severe dry mouth at first, not so bad now though. Total anorgasmia fixed by Viagra, and uncontrolled twitching. It sounds bad when I write it down but compared to the antipsychotics it's much better. I still feel better than I have and so much happier."

• Wol...
• November 7, 2017

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "I battled with OCD since being a child, but I was only diagnosed after being hospitalized in my forties. I have been taking clomipramine at 250 mg a day, along with antipsychotics, for the last 5 years. The intrusive thoughts that used to be so crippling have greatly reduced to a level I can handle. Clomipramine saved my life, literally, as I was hospitalized twice for attempted suicide. The only downside is the side effects. For me, as a man, the impotence and loss of libido are difficult to live with, but it's a price worth paying."

• hea...
• November 17, 2010

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "Works well for OCD, wonderful for body pain, and moderate for depression (it takes 6-8 weeks for me to see any effect), but the side effects are not pleasant: dry mouth, fatigue, drowsiness, difficulty concentrating, and anorgasmia."

• BeF...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 8, 2020

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "I took Anafranil for 5 months at a dose of 25 mgs. Definitely took some power away from the intrusive thoughts, but not fully. Had a hard time with being tired in the morning, terrible dreams, mild constipation. On a positive note, I did not gain any weight and was able to work out regularly. Tried to go up to 50 mg, but that got rid of my libido. Felt like taking an upper and downer at the same time. Some of the time, I felt good, other times, I felt depressed. Unfortunately, couldn’t tolerate a higher dose. But if you really need to shut off the noise, this may be the way to go. Best of luck."

• Inf...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 30, 2022

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "My experience with Anafranil over the past 3 months is as follows: severely chronic constipation, urinary retention that hospitalized me the other day, a 60 percent increase in my depression, a 90 percent increase in my overall anxiety, and at best a 15 percent decrease in my OCD symptoms. Not to mention the sexual dysfunction that includes painful orgasms and low libido, and then there's the constant dry mouth. I cannot for the life of me recommend this medication to anyone. I'm currently 5 days away from discontinuing this medication and replacing it with Prozac."

• Inf...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 30, 2022

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "My experience with Anafranil over the past 3 months is as follows: severely chronic constipation, urinary retention that hospitalized me the other day, a 60 percent increase in my depression, a 90 percent increase in my overall anxiety, and at best a 15 percent decrease in my OCD symptoms. Not to mention the sexual dysfunction that includes painful orgasms and low libido, and then there's the constant dry mouth. I cannot for the life of me recommend this medication to anyone. I'm currently 5 days away from discontinuing this medication and replacing it with Prozac."