Clomipramine and Constipation: What Users Say

• 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."

• wen...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 7, 2024

For Depression "I have been depressed nearly 33 years. I've tried 24 different medications, Spravato, and TMS. My psychiatrist suggested starting this. I'll be honest, I did not have high hopes about it at all, but after one week, I started feeling better. I've been on it now for approximately 6 months, and I've got my motivation back, the dark cloud that followed me is gone. I do have some side effects such as constipation and talking in my sleep, but I can deal with those. I know everyone is different, but my hope is that if it doesn't work, to not give up. There's a medication out there for you, you just have to keep looking."

• ove...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 16, 2024

For Depression "This has to be the best medicine. I replaced it with my depression bad. As I stopped taking it without Dr. consent, I honestly was very bad. Went twice to the hospital. After being put on these meds for 5 weeks, I got my life back. Never been this happy. I'm really overwhelmed writing this review. No side effects, only constipation, but settled quick. My depression is gone and the bad anxiety, for which I was taking Ativan up to 3 times a day, also gone. I'm alive again, going for morning walks every day, as I found it helped me a lot. What can I say? The best med ever. I honestly thought nothing was gonna work on my depression and anxiety. Here I am writing a review on it. 10 out of 10. Please give it a try."

• 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."

• 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."

• Phi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 5, 2023

Clomipramine for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "So far, I have been on 25 mg for about 2 weeks. It has given me much more headspace than other antidepressants I've tried so far. Sometimes I can now redirect my attention and not fixate on the thoughts. Obsessive thoughts do still come, though, but I need to put in the work in ERP anyways. I am having good hopes for increasing the dose now. The only issue is it makes me really constipated right now. But compared to every other antidepressant, I believe this is one of the best for OCD."

• 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."

• 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."

• 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."

• 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."

• Sam...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 19, 2021

Clomipramine for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "Anafranil helped my OCD symptoms a little bit and helped me sleep at night. However, as my doctor increased my dosage, I started gaining weight, having horrible acne, and severe constipation. It also made me crave junk food like some kind of addict. I was on Anafranil for about 10 months and gained 40 lbs. I haven't taken Anafranil in about 8 months. I've lost the 40 lbs. I didn't have to go on a diet or anything, as soon as I was off the drug, my appetite went back to normal. However, 8 months later, and my colon is still not healthy. I still have major issues with constipation and bloating. My doctor had me try Zyliss, a drug for IBS, and it helps a little. I feel like Anafranil may have ruined my gut. I have a hard time leaving the house because I am so uncomfortable in my gut. I wish I had never taken this drug. I was much better off before."

• Kar...
• August 17, 2020

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "I have tried all SSRIs for my OCD, but they made my condition worse and caused me suicidal thoughts, aggression, and depression. Taking those pills for several months (3 to 4 months on each SSRI), I had to quit them because I had several suicide attempts. Then I met with a doctor after years of struggling who gave me clomipramine! It stopped my suicidal thoughts and reduced my OCD by 90%. Now I have very few obsessions which are very easy to handle. They don't affect me. I started with a very low dose and raised it to 50mg within 3 weeks. Then I noticed a first small difference. After that, I slowly increased my dose to 150mg/day in week 5, and after week 7 (on 150mg/day), it reduced my symptoms by 90%. I am a 21-year-old guy and my weight is 50kg. Loss of libido, dry mouth, little constipation, and mild urinary retention can be a problem for you also, but this medicine is worth it, some of the side effects will go over time. It is old, that doesn't mean it won't work. This medicine is WORTH IT!!!"

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

Clomipramine 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."

• Muz...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 22, 2019

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "I started using this drug, clomipramine, 5 weeks ago. I had been on Lexapro, which didn't help. After 3 months, my doctor put me on clomipramine as he diagnosed me with OCD. I had bad anxiety, depression, and major intrusive thoughts continuously all day long. I'm now up to 100 mg, four tablets at night just before bed. I also have to use sleeping tablets to get to sleep at the moment, but the intrusive thoughts have calmed down a lot. In the mornings, I wake up a little tired. I get mild constipation and dry mouth. Is 100 mg too big of a dose? Also, is it best to take this medication at night or morning? How long does it take to get the full benefit of this medication? Muzz"

• 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)."

• mar...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 17, 2018

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "This really does help after suffering from depersonalization (DP), OCD, and panic attacks for decades. I finally begged my psychiatrist to let me try this drug. I had literally tried every antidepressant and even some antipsychotic medication. All the other drugs I tried were kind of useless, so when I tried this drug, I was a bit hesitant. Though it really does help with OCD and DP, the 'terrible' thoughts started to fade after a few weeks, so the domino effect is that this decreases anxiety. I am not totally OCD and anxiety-free, and I don't think I ever will be, but this drug really takes the edge off it. The side effects are a bit tough, yet again, lack of sex drive and also annoyingly constipation, but it is well worth it. If the standard SSRIs are not working, I would totally recommend this drug, for me, it has been a lifesaver."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 7, 2018

For Depression "Since finally demanding to wean off this drug, my life has improved dramatically. My docs always said I could not afford to stop this med, although I had 7 hospitalizations and 3 suicide attempts. After 25 years and 30 grand out of pocket, I started the weaning process from 200 mg to now 25 mg. Cerebral blood flow was inhibited, as well as blood flow to all other organs. Most noticeably, I now have the return of erections. Constipation, which took me to the ER for manual extraction, is now gone. Urinary inhibition, sometimes up to 1 to 2 hours, is gone. This med worsened my depression in many ways and cost me 20 years of a good life, as well as the loss of career, family, self-confidence, dignity, respect, and hundreds of thousands of dollars in income, medical bills, and more. Hopefully, this may help others who are on this drug or are considering it for treatment, as well as docs who prescribe, especially long term. That’s all. Good luck to all!"

• moa...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 7, 2018

For Depression "It's the best medication I've ever had for MDD and GAD. It initially came with sedation, tremor, constipation, urinary retention, body pain, and so on, but after being on it for a year (and thanks to some acupuncture), all the side effects are gone. If not for the side effects, I'd recommend it to everyone! Only current downside is it only comes in 25 mg tablets, apparently, and I take 150 mg, so that's 6 tablets, and that runs out quickly."

• Leo...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 3, 2017

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "One of the better drugs I have taken. It sure works - for me, 125 mg completely erased my OCD-related depression and anxiety, but there is a side effects price: excessive sweating, constipation, and reduced libido."

• Pka...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 7, 2017

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "I have been on this drug for 16 years, and it has been a lifesaver. The side effects were pretty intense at the start, mainly constipation, dry mouth, and I gained 15 pounds. I persevered with the side effects for about 3 months because I just felt so damn normal. The side effects went away, and weight returned to normal. I believe the only long-term side effect is excessive sweating. Oh well, I can live with that! I tried about 9 different meds for anxiety and depression, and none of them gave me any side effects at all. 1 week on clomipramine, and I was constipated big time and had major dry mouth but had joy back in my life! Can't live without it! Cost has gone up in Canada because I believe there are no longer any generic manufacturers."

• Liv...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 2, 2017

Clomipramine for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "I have been taking Anafranil 100mg for a year now and it has changed my life. I have battled with OCD, severe anxiety, panic disorders, and intrusive thoughts since I was young. While trying different drugs, finally at the age of 40, one drug works for me and this is it. I still have the 'thoughts' but instead of obsessing over them, they pass by like moving cars. The side effects are bothersome: dealing with constipation, bloating, sweating, insomnia, twitches. I don't believe I can ever function without this medication and instead maybe lower my dosage to see if it reduces the side effects."

• OCD...
• February 3, 2017

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "I've been taking clomipramine for a year now. I started at 200 mg and went quickly up to 300 mg (the max you can take). It gives me a very dry mouth and constipation. Also remember that this drug needs to be given in very high dosages to work (200 mg-300 mg). If a doctor just gives you 10 or 50 mg, it's not going to work. Also, this is an older drug, you likely will have to ask for it by name. I have pure obsessive disorder (no compulsions) and tried Prozac before this with no success. A few days on this and I noticed a big difference. I've been maintaining on 300 mg for a year now. I don't like the side effects, but I won't go off of it because it's been an amazing drug that works for me. It took away about 90%, and now I can easily manage what's left."

• RJR...
• August 4, 2016

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "I have tried many of the SSRIs with no success. I was on a tricyclic many years ago with great results. My doctor put me on Clomipramine, and the results were good. I saw a good improvement in racing thoughts with a decrease in anxiety. I should have asked for this drug in the first place. The side effects are rough, though. I experienced excessive sweating, dry mouth, blurry vision, constipation, postural hypotension, and impotence/ejaculatory issues. I remember these effects from years ago when I was on a tricyclic. I would rather live with it than be paralyzed with anxiety."

• 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."