Imipramine and Anxiety: What Users Say

• Pat...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 15, 2024

Imipramine for Depression "When I was in my middle to late 30s (1960s), I encountered severe depression. Anxiety, sadness, loss of appetite, shakes, sitting and staring into space, anxiety, the whole 12 yards. Went on for a year until Tofranil was prescribed. 81 hours to the minute, I broke out. Cannot express the feeling of returning to calmness and myself again."

• Tai...
• September 27, 2019

For Pain "I was suffering from 'atypical facial pain' for two years, which was absolutely excruciating (every other day). I held off taking a medicine such as this because I was concerned about the impact it may have on my (male) fertility. In the end, I succumbed because the pain was just too much. 80 mg - 40 in the morning and 40 in the evening - has taken away the pain. I switched between this and amitriptyline for a while because this one does have side effects. I have an endlessly dry mouth, so I have to drink a lot of water. Urinating can also be a challenge, but the sheer amount of water I drink offsets this problem somewhat. Amitriptyline worked equally well, but it was more sedating. Imipramine makes it more difficult to sleep at night, but it doesn't send me to sleep during the day. Amitriptyline is worse for weight gain, in my experience, and both are equally bad for libido. Neither has been good for my anxiety. On the whole, I am extremely grateful to imipramine though."

• Mis...
• June 4, 2015

For Depression "Only been on it about 6 weeks and only up to 30 mg. Moods are a little better so far, but insomnia, hello. I'm lucky to get 3 or 4 hours a night. I don't get how all of you sleep. I used to fall right asleep with my Topamax at night. Now he has me taking my gabapentin, Topamax, and imipramine at bedtime, optional Ativan too, but then I wake up groggy, defeating the purpose of a great mood in the AM. Hmm, maybe my meds don't play nice together at night, lol. I do get the dry mouth, I really hate that, but it has improved my morning moods, which is what we were going for. I do have anxiety, and it doesn't help with a quick onset. I am hopeful for this med as I have tried just about everything out there!"

• ita...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 8, 2019

For Panic Disorder "- First 4 days of imipramine @50mg I would have odd outer body-type experiences just before falling asleep, created more panic. - 2nd and 3rd week I could feel my panic fighting against the medication, I thought it may be starting to work. By the second month I was going to the bathroom only once a week, yes, the constipation is real. I had a full body cold shiver which took up 90% of my day, restless leg while trying to sleep, problems urinating, and my anxiety was back. You would think only on a month and a half I can stop, NO, had to taper off, next, everyone will react differently."

• OnT...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 12, 2022

For ADHD "On my last antidepressant, I was sleeping for 12 hours and still felt tired (hypersomnia). Now I'm on imipramine, I'm sleeping for 6-8 hours and am waking up early. My insomnia has vanished, and I feel well-rested on this drug. I haven't felt so well slept in many years. I felt low the first couple of days, but that soon evened out. Mood-wise, it's definitely improved. No longer uneasy/queasy. I think I'm going to stay on this med. My impulsivity has reduced, and I feel much more level-headed. I drink way more water on imipramine. Appetite-wise, I'm eating slightly less than I used to, which is great because I'm overweight."

• Amy...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 2, 2020

Imipramine for Depression "Tofranil made me painfully constipated, very nervous, irritable. Between doses, I'd get extremely weepy and emotionally distraught. It was the only time in my life that I felt life was too hard. When I started experiencing heart palpitations, I stopped taking it. I have CPTSD and borderline."

• Amy...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 2, 2020

Imipramine for Depression "Tofranil made me painfully constipated, very nervous, irritable. Between doses, I'd get extremely weepy and emotionally distraught. It was the only time in my life that I felt life was too hard. When I started experiencing heart palpitations, I stopped taking it. I have CPTSD and borderline."

• Not...
• December 6, 2016

For Panic Disorder "Very bad side effects on day 6, and I have to stop taking. Nausea all the time. Headaches. Dizziness. Nervousness. Tired constantly. On a very low dose."