Clomipramine and Constipation: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 22, 2022

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "I have been on Anafranil (50 mg) for a couple of weeks now for both OCD/OCP, intrusive thoughts, and intense irritability/anger. I have tried SSRIs and other medications, but nothing effectively dealt with the anger, a pretty severe side effect of my OCP. So far, Anafranil has been amazing. Within two weeks of starting, my anger has almost entirely gone away, and I find my obsessive/intrusive thoughts are also largely gone. I will be honest, when first starting Anafranil, the side effects were very apparent. I was shaky, had akathisia, insomnia, constipation, and my mood was initially very poor. However, after about a week or so, side effects began to lessen significantly. I am still struggling with some disrupted sleep and constipation, but my mood is significantly elevated, my anger is controlled, and altogether I am much more inclined to positive thinking. Optimal doses for OCD are really between 100-200 mg, so I am hoping to increase my dose as long as side effects are not an issue."

• 123...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 27, 2022

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "Suffering from pure harm OCD for 5 years now. No compulsions, just thoughts. It starts with the moment I wake up in the morning. Grueling and the most disgusting thoughts you can ever imagine, and an earworm that never stops and changes every day. No therapy has worked. After suffering for one year, I was at my wits' end. So my psychiatrist suggested we try Prozac with an optional conjunction with Abilify. I took it for two years, and it helped for about a 75% remission. Then it pooped out. My obsessions returned to full force, and for about 1.5 years, my suffering continued. I thought Clomipramine and maybe Abilify were my last hope. I started with 37.5 mg and upped my dose to 300 mg with 37.5 mg steps every week. Side effects: dry mouth, urine retention, severe constipation, tiredness, tremor in both hands, loss of libido, blurred vision, some of these disappeared, some didn't. Then I waited. After 7 long months and being on the max dose for over 4 months, I started to notice slight improvements."

• Meg...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 10, 2022

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "I've been taking 25 mg of clomipramine for six months. The first two months were rough. Constant dry mouth, fatigue, constipation, and brain fog. 25 mg was the highest I could go - any higher and the side effects were intolerable. That being said, by the sixth month, most of the side effects got better, but were not completely gone. My sleep and anxiety have improved greatly. My intrusive thoughts weren't gone, but I wasn't ruminating and obsessing like I used to. Overall, I was having a generally positive experience taking this drug. However, at the same time that I started taking clomipramine, I was diagnosed with lymphedema and gained weight in my legs that I can't lose. It's hard to know if this is tied to clomipramine because lymphedema is hereditary. The timing could be coincidental, but this medication is known for causing weight gain. So tomorrow I'm switching to Zoloft, which I took years ago. It's worth giving this med a try. Give it two months to really kick in."

• M13...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 16, 2021

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "I started this medicine last year. It does help with intrusive thoughts, but for me, it had too many side effects. Started at 25 mg, and it took me forever to get to 50 mg. At 50 mg, the tremors were bad, high heart rate, restless, insomnia, night sweats, constipation, urgency to urinate, feeling bloated. So I figured out why the constipation and bloating, it is because this medicine contains lactose. Currently tapering down. And terrible vivid nightmares."

• Bre...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 28, 2025

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "Great for OCD when on 150 mg, but had to stop this drug due to the horrible side effects. Constipation so bad I had to go to the hospital, dry mouth, and red skin, plus a weird constant tingling in my feet. Weaning off the medication was surprisingly easy. Recently started on Paxil 40 mg with no side effects. So far, Paxil doesn’t seem as “good,” but the side effects are just not worth it, unfortunately."

• lau...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 27, 2016

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "On 75 mg is enough for me, some side effects: sweating and constipation. Tried 3 different SSRIs, and this was the only one I could stick with! Life saver, highly recommend."

• Anu...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 2, 2014

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "Lots of side effects like drowsiness, headache, nausea, and constipation."

• Aka...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 14, 2019

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "Worst medication for OCD. It has caused severe constipation and very difficulty in bowel movement (painful)."