Clomipramine and Tiredness: What Users Say

• Che...
• July 13, 2016

Clomipramine for Depression "I've been taking this medication for major depression for 14 years now. 17 years ago, I was given big doses of steroids due to problems resulting from back surgery. Those high doses of steroids pushed me into major depression. After 3 1/2 years of trying to find a medication that worked for me, I was prescribed Anafranil. Within two days, I was seeing positive results. Within a year of taking Anafranil, I was free of depression. I've been taking Anafranil ever since - somewhat afraid to stop. There are many side effects that I often get tired of, but they pale compared to the relief I received from this medication. It is the most serotonergic of the tricyclics, and I feel it should be more widely tried for major depression."

• Jul...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 8, 2023

For Panic Disorder "Had life debilitating panic attacks after my mum died. I couldn’t work or socialize and felt like I was dying too, it was so awful. After a couple of weeks on this drug, I started to get my life back, and now, 4 months in, I feel so good. Only wish I’d been prescribed this years ago, as OCD has affected me all my life. Side effects? A few (tiredness, hot sweats, and a dry mouth - but only in the first few weeks, now all gone). Honestly, this drug has been a lifesaver."

• Ste...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 20, 2020

Clomipramine for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "Bear in mind that this, like any medication, may work differently for you, but I can attest to the point that it does not work for everyone. I had a combination of OCD and depression. I took Anafranil for months. For one thing, it didn't do squat for the condition. It didn't help one bit. What it did was make me so tired and lethargic that I could not do a thing. I failed a college semester because I simply could not keep myself awake, and there was not enough caffeine on earth to do it. It made my situation many times worse."

• Ste...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 20, 2020

Clomipramine for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "Bear in mind that this, like any medication, may work differently for you, but I can attest to the point that it does not work for everyone. I had a combination of OCD and depression. I took Anafranil for months. For one thing, it didn't do squat for the condition. It didn't help one bit. What it did was make me so tired and lethargic that I could not do a thing. I failed a college semester because I simply could not keep myself awake, and there was not enough caffeine on earth to do it. It made my situation many times worse."

• 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."

• 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."

• Geo...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• April 26, 2018

Clomipramine for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "Been on since 1990, 25 mg at bedtime, and has worked fantastically for my OCD, which surfaced after a grand mal seizure. Generic ineffective - try to use the brand. Worst side effect is yawning, can also open the capsule and dilute in water partially if needed."

• DFr...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 28, 2016

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "The first 2 weeks were kind of difficult for me. Lots of side effects and very little results. Hot/cold flashes, lethargy, tiredness, dizziness, sexual dysfunction, and so on. After a month, the effects of clomipramine started to really kick in. It was effective against depression. Instead of going to bed every night hating myself and wanting to die, that only happened once a week. It reduced some (not all) of my OCD, particularly my obsessions. On the downside, it effectively made me bipolar. At one moment, I felt like Jesus. The other I was severely suicidal. I always had mania and depression, but not to this extent. Had to go off it. Lots of pros. Lots of cons. It works. But will it work for you?"

• DFr...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 28, 2016

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "The first 2 weeks were kind of difficult for me. Lots of side effects and very little results. Hot/cold flashes, lethargy, tiredness, dizziness, sexual dysfunction, and so on. After a month, the effects of clomipramine started to really kick in. It was effective against depression. Instead of going to bed every night hating myself and wanting to die, that only happened once a week. It reduced some (not all) of my OCD, particularly my obsessions. On the downside, it effectively made me bipolar. At one moment, I felt like Jesus. The other I was severely suicidal. I always had mania and depression, but not to this extent. Had to go off it. Lots of pros. Lots of cons. It works. But will it work for you?"

• 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."

• ImA...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 20, 2020

For Depression "Strong, nasty drug! Given clomipramine for anxiety, obsessive thoughts/ruminations, and depression. SSRIs are not much help, and Effexor helped for a while and then stopped. Pristiq didn’t help. So we tried clomipramine, an older drug. I only took 25 mg for 4 days before calling it quits! Very strong sedating effects but didn't really put me to sleep the first 2 days. Then the next three days, wow! This put me on my back the entire day! I couldn’t function and do anything. I just wanted to lay down because I was so exhausted but couldn’t sleep!!! That’s disastrous! I hated that feeling! It also gave me restless legs, which further worsened my ability to stay asleep! Now I’m gonna try buspar since I’m so sensitive to medication."

• 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."

• mic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 18, 2015

Clomipramine for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "I was put on this medication earlier this year for OCD. I didn't really notice a difference other than it made me tired about a half hour after taking it. It did not seem to improve my OCD symptoms. However, I do wonder if I was on a high enough dose. My doctor only had me on 50 mg, and I have a high tolerance to meds, so I might give this another shot at a higher dosage. Also, I was only on it for a few weeks, I think."

• Fyn...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 11, 2022

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "My experience with this drug is a strange one. It almost completely stopped my obsessive thoughts, and I stopped caring so much as it numbed me. However, my trichotillomania symptoms got much worse. Also, I became obsessive in the cleaning and presentation way. If something wasn't sitting correctly or the wrong way around, I'd freak out and sort it until it was fine again. It felt very intense. This drug also made me incredibly tired and hungry all the time, which was an undesired effect. In the end, I gave up. The withdrawal was pretty intense too. I've managed to cope with my original symptoms thanks to psychotherapy."

• Che...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 6, 2020

For Panic Disorder "Only lasted one day on this drug. I took 25 mg of clomipramine right before bed last night and experienced exhausting, intense, vivid dreams. Woke up groggy and very spacey. This lasted for a few hours before the nausea hit, which lasted most of the rest of the day. For the first half of the day, I was very tired, but not sleepy, and would start crying randomly. I wasn't as lethargic in the afternoon, but the nausea kept me on the couch. Was prescribed for OCD cyclical thoughts feeding into my anxiety. Granted, I haven't had any such thoughts all day, though this may be due to the distraction from the side effects of the drug. For me personally, the side effects outweigh any potential benefits. I do tend to be highly sensitive to medications, though, and have had previous issues with antidepressants. Hope it works better for the rest of you."

• Che...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 6, 2020

For Panic Disorder "Only lasted one day on this drug. I took 25 mg of clomipramine right before bed last night and experienced exhausting, intense, vivid dreams. Woke up groggy and very spacey. This lasted for a few hours before the nausea hit, which lasted most of the rest of the day. For the first half of the day, I was very tired, but not sleepy, and would start crying randomly. I wasn't as lethargic in the afternoon, but the nausea kept me on the couch. Was prescribed for OCD cyclical thoughts feeding into my anxiety. Granted, I haven't had any such thoughts all day, though this may be due to the distraction from the side effects of the drug. For me personally, the side effects outweigh any potential benefits. I do tend to be highly sensitive to medications, though, and have had previous issues with antidepressants. Hope it works better for the rest of you."