Clomipramine and Anxiety: What Users Say

• Gez...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 31, 2025

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "I guess all my life I have had obsessive thoughts, but it was not until 50 that I finally broke down. First of all, I just did not know what was happening to me. I started the SSRI lottery, and my obsessions and major depression were joined by panic attacks, mania, anxiety, massive insomnia, and burning pains all over my body. After 1 year of trying all kinds of stuff and benzos, I was put on clomipramine. I felt awful for a month and massively without hope as I thought that it would be another fail and that I was condemned to a life in bed, no job, no nothing. However, miraculously I started to pull out of it and get my life back. So thanks to the medicine, it created a version 2.0 of me, more relaxed and more confident than my previous life. I am now 55 and living a perfectly normal life. I take 50 mg (2 tablets of 25 mg) and sleep 8 hours a day without a problem. A little bit of dizziness, but only rarely, and a very small amount of urinary retention. It's been a miracle for me!"

• Chr...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 12, 2025

For Depression "I've been taking this drug for over 40 years, and it saved my life. I had a nasty virus in my 20s, which left me with anxiety and depression. After trying and failing to cure myself, I was put on this. After 2 weeks, I felt normal again. I regulate it myself, as I'm always better in the summer. A few years back, the doctor wanted me to try a different SSRI type, and it left me suicidal. So I'm back on Anafranil/clomipramine and back to normal. I currently take 40 mgs."

• Bre...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 5, 2024

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "Started on clomipramine after being on SSRIs for 20 years. Weaned off Lexapro 40 mg and started on 25 mg of clomipramine. The first month has been rough, no sleep, extreme constipation, dry mouth, and anxiety, but 5 weeks in it’s getting easier and helping my OCD more than anything ever has. It’s also helped with my depression and irritability. I am now on 100 mg 5 weeks in, and things are looking better. Only side effects now are dry mouth and constipation."

• clo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 4, 2024

For Depression "Been on it for 10 days today along with mitrazipine 30 mg, hoping this will work for me soon as I suffer from depression and anxiety, the only side effect I got was reduced appetite and anxiety, will it get better anyone please need some advice, support, thanks too early to rate it now, hoping it will work soon."

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

Clomipramine 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."

• Gin...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 14, 2022

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "I always swore I’d found a drug that helped me, that I would come back onto this site and post a review. After suffering from anxiety and depression for over 10 years, my diagnosis changed in the past 2 years, and I was crippled by pure OCD (obsessional thoughts but no compulsions). I tried Citalopram, Sertraline, Mirtazapine, and now Clomipramine. When I first tried this drug, I had no hope and couldn’t see a way out of the dark place I was in. I had no faith in therapy or drugs as both had failed. The initial week was tough - side effects included increased anxiety, jitteriness, nausea, etc. But I pushed through these, and within 2 to 3 weeks, I started to see light at the end of the tunnel. I’ve been on 100 mg now for 3 months, and this tablet has honestly saved my life. I was at a stage where I couldn’t do anything but think about my intrusive thoughts, and nothing brought me joy. My obsessional thoughts are now reduced by over 80%!!!"

• Gin...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 14, 2022

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "I always swore I’d found a drug that helped me, that I would come back onto this site and post a review. After suffering from anxiety and depression for over 10 years, my diagnosis changed in the past 2 years, and I was crippled by pure OCD (obsessional thoughts but no compulsions). I tried Citalopram, Sertraline, Mirtazapine, and now Clomipramine. When I first tried this drug, I had no hope and couldn’t see a way out of the dark place I was in. I had no faith in therapy or drugs as both had failed. The initial week was tough - side effects included increased anxiety, jitteriness, nausea, etc. But I pushed through these, and within 2 to 3 weeks, I started to see light at the end of the tunnel. I’ve been on 100 mg now for 3 months, and this tablet has honestly saved my life. I was at a stage where I couldn’t do anything but think about my intrusive thoughts, and nothing brought me joy. My obsessional thoughts are now reduced by over 80%!!!"

• Rac...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 13, 2022

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "This medication takes time to work. You need to be patient and give it maybe 3 months. Maybe more. It's given me my life back. From waking every day in terror, I now just wake up like a person without OCD. No SSRI drug has helped me. Clomipramine has removed the mild depression that I had for 2 years following an episode of clinical depression. It has taken away my constant anxiety and calmed my obsessions. I'll stay on it forever."

• Typ...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 10, 2021

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "I started this medicine 2 weeks ago. I had been majorly depressed for about 3 years and OCD longer. It started off okay, and I felt better almost a day in. This continued as I increased the dosage. I slept better, I was less stressed, happier, and could relax in a chair, which was almost impossible when depressed. Intrusive thoughts appeared every so often, but not as severe. It was life-changing until day 13, after taking 100 mg a day for the past 3 days. I had dissociation, fast heartbeat, panic, anxiety, paranoia, hallucinations, shaking, and everything turned dark. I smelled a pungent varnish bark smell. I had a trip to A&E for 2 nights. The medication has been stopped, and I am left in a dark, strange, scary place with strange perceptions. I am bedridden and afraid to go anywhere. I hope I at least am able to recover as I was on them for less than 2 weeks, and just hoping I get something to come off the drug with. It is seriously brutal - it is like winning a football match then suddenly being dumped in a graveyard with screaming voices and strangers."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 26, 2020

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "Intense drug. Didn’t help me. Side effects were brain zaps, nausea, insomnia, suicidal thoughts, increase in depression and anxiety. Was on it for 4 months at 150 mg. Quit cold turkey. Withdrawal was gnarly. I changed to ERP (exposure and response prevention), exercise, and a healthy lifestyle, and you may be better off."

• Ken...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 17, 2020

For Depression "Only took 25 mgs of clomipramine, and the effects were horrendous: shaking, restlessness, all-over body burning, pins and needles, anxiety, nausea, insomnia. It was so bad I ended up in A&E. I'm glad I only took 3 doses."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 7, 2020

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "Suffered with severe intrusive thoughts, was on 300 mg of clomipramine for about a year and had side effects of putting weight on (6 stone), dry mouth, shaky hands, just felt like a zombie. Gradually came off of them and started to feel better, then along came COVID and intrusive thoughts came back, so got put back on them but made me feel anxious, so came off them."

• Jak...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 4, 2019

For Depression "Terrible medication that is way too powerful for anybody sensitive to medications. Caused a lot of nervousness, mania, and mixed states for me when used in a depressive episode when struggling with OCD and needed safe mood stabilizing meds, as well as safer OCD options like Luvox at a low dose. Stick with safer options, this stuff is terrible, it is very powerful."

• Cha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 13, 2019

For Depression "This is a VERY effective Rx; it totally cured my depression and repetitive thinking, but is the polar opposite of imipramine and amitriptyline in side effects. The others were sedating, increased my appetite, and decimated my memory. Clomipramine decreased my appetite and gave me tons of energy. My outlook changed 180 degrees. It may increase anxiety for some, but made me feel so well and happy that I wasn’t worried about anything (not that I didn’t care or was catatonic as on imipramine). I’m no longer always obsessing about the minutiae to the point of being impossible to live with; fear no longer motivates me. This could make someone who is bipolar (last reviewer) more manic and takes a while to adjust your sleep pattern to, but this prescription is a godsend. I’ve been on and off antidepressants for 35 years. I wish I had found it sooner. If the other TCAs made you slow or confused, have weird skin problems, rashes or acne, try this."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• June 10, 2019

For Depression "OMG, everybody on these reviews is so keen on telling people to try clomipramine. Are you kidding me? If you are sensitive to meds, this stuff is the worst. It is much, much more powerful than other options. It can make you extremely unstable and unwell. There’s a reason newer treatments were developed, they are much more selective, and this is the very, very, very last resort after literally trying everything. I was put on this during a depressive episode when I needed different bipolar options, and it turned me into something scary, plus caused constant nervousness. I recommend more gentle mood-stabilizing or antidepressant options over this stuff. I feel it completely harmed me after being put on it at a high dose of up to 150 mg for a long time by a reckless hospital that just made things worse. I was in a vicious cycle of being on this terrible med. If you need to try it, make sure you take the lowest dose. Powerful, powerful stuff."

• Cur...
• March 15, 2019

For Panic Disorder "I've read so many scary reports about clomipramine and wanted to say to anyone feeling desperate that it has worked for me for panic disorder. Drugs respond differently to each individual; we aren't a textbook, and you must trust your gut instinct as to whether it's suiting you. Having tried multiple tricyclics and SSRI medications, it is the only one I can take. I'm very sensitive to medication and start on a slow titration of 10 mg for 2 weeks, then 20 mg for 4 weeks, and to 25 mg. It isn't easy at the beginning; I feel tired and my moods are all over the shop, but as the weeks go by, I feel more myself. The feelings of derealization and terror are overwhelming; clomipramine has allowed me to function. I was recently advised to stop clomipramine as there was a shortage and have been dealing with the awful effects of taking a medication that just didn't suit me. I'm now slowly returning to clomipramine (hoping stocks will continue). Chemicals are unpredictable, so be your best advocate of how you feel."

• Wil...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 6, 2018

Clomipramine for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "I have been taking Anafranil 200 mg for OCD for three months, and it's not working. I'm getting severe anxiety, intrusive thoughts, and tremors. My GP gave me diazepam 2 mg for when I get really bad, and that helps, but last week he told me to stop taking it, and the psychiatrist told me to just ignore my thoughts and anxiety. I can't get into a private psychiatrist or a public one for a second opinion, so I don't know what to do."

• Lal...
• December 16, 2017

Clomipramine for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "Took this medication for 5 months at 250 mg, and it did nothing for my OCD and GAD. It actually made my anxiety worse. So glad to be off it."

• Sha...
• August 31, 2017

Clomipramine for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "I was on Effexor for 3 months, and I really liked it besides the fact it didn't help with my obsessive/intrusive thoughts. I did quite a bit of research on medications and decided to ask my doctor if I could try Anafranil. I have been on Anafranil for a month now, and it has really helped with the obsessing over intrusive, meaningless thoughts. In the beginning, it did spike my anxiety, which I used a benzodiazepine to help with until the anxiety calmed down. After that, I noticed I started to feel dizzy when I stood up fast, and it was another side effect. At this point, I began to get nervous, but I heard so many good reviews about this drug I really wanted it to work. After making it through my first month with it, the side effects began to lessen."

• Anonymous
• August 6, 2017

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "I was on Anafranil for 6 weeks. Increased slowly up to 100 mg twice a day. Anafranil did not work for me at all! It seemed to have the opposite reaction than intended. My anxiety and OCD both increased significantly. My pain from fibromyalgia also significantly worsened."

• New...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 19, 2017

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "This med caused me to hear internal voices (auditory hallucinations, but in my head). Made me paranoid, anxious, scared to be alone, tired, nauseated, no appetite, and felt schizophrenic. Started at 50 mg, coming off immediately, per my PDoc. I hope it gives you relief, as most seem satisfied. Bummer it wasn't my lifesaver."

• New...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 19, 2017

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "This med caused me to hear internal voices (auditory hallucinations, but in my head). Made me paranoid, anxious, scared to be alone, tired, nauseated, no appetite, and felt schizophrenic. Started at 50 mg, coming off immediately, per my PDoc. I hope it gives you relief, as most seem satisfied. Bummer it wasn't my lifesaver."

• Can...
• February 24, 2017

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "I used the drug for 4 months, but I experienced auditory hallucinations. It made me stressed. I don't understand why it increased my OCD."

• Mel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 31, 2014

Clomipramine for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "I started taking this medication 2 months ago, starting on 25mg but was too high as the side effects were bad for me so I started on 10mg slowly to 20mg and I think it has made a big difference. I am doing CBT too but the anxiety has decreased significantly. I suffer from intrusive thoughts and this helps it become more manageable and I feel that I'm living again!"