Trimipramine Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Sep 21, 2024.

Applies to trimipramine: oral capsule.

Precautions

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to allow for changes in your dose and to check for any unwanted effects.

Do not take trimipramine with a monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor (eg, isocarboxazid [Marplan®], linezolid (Zyvox®), methylene blue injection, phenelzine [Nardil®], selegiline [Eldepryl®], tranylcypromine [Parnate®]). Do not start taking trimipramine during the 2 weeks after you stop a MAO inhibitor and wait 2 weeks after stopping trimipramine before you start taking a MAO inhibitor. If you take them together or do not wait 2 weeks, you may develop confusion, agitation, restlessness, stomach or intestinal symptoms, a sudden high body temperature, an extremely high blood pressure, or severe convulsions.

Trimipramine may cause a serious condition called serotonin syndrome if taken together with some medicines. Do not use trimipramine with buspirone (Buspar®), fentanyl (Abstral®, Duragesic®), lithium (Eskalith®, Lithobid®), tryptophan, St. John's wort, or some pain or migraine medicines (eg, rizatriptan, sumatriptan, tramadol, Frova®, Imitrex®, Maxalt®, Relpax®, Ultram®, Zomig®). Check with your doctor first before taking any other medicines with trimipramine.

For some children, teenagers, and young adults, this medicine can increase thoughts of suicide. Tell your doctor right away if you start to feel more depressed and have thoughts about hurting yourself. Report any unusual thoughts or behaviors that trouble you, especially if they are new or get worse quickly. Make sure the doctor knows if you have trouble sleeping, get upset easily, have a big increase in energy, or start to act reckless. Also tell the doctor if you have sudden or strong feelings, such as feeling nervous, angry, restless, violent, or scared. Let the doctor know if you or anyone in your family has bipolar disorder (manic-depressive) or has tried to commit suicide.

Do not Stop taking trimipramine without first checking with your doctor. Your doctor may want you to gradually reduce the amount you are using before stopping it completely. This may help prevent a possible worsening of your condition and reduce the possibility of withdrawal symptoms such as headache, nausea, or a general feeling of discomfort or illness.

This medicine may cause some people to become dizzy or drowsy. Make sure you know how you react to this medicine before you drive, use medicines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are drowsy or not alert.

Before having any kind of surgery, tell the medical doctor in charge that you are using this medicine. Taking trimipramine together with medicines used during surgery may increase the risk of side effects.

This medicine may affect blood sugar levels. If you are diabetic and notice a change in the results of your blood or urine sugar tests, check with your doctor.

This medicine will add to the effects of alcohol and other central nervous system (CNS) depressants (medicines that cause drowsiness). Some examples of CNS depressants are antihistamines or medicine for hay fever, allergies, or colds, sedatives, tranquilizers, or sleeping medicine, prescription pain medicine or narcotics, medicine for seizures or barbiturates, muscle relaxants, or anesthetics, including some dental anesthetics. This effect may last for a few days after you Stop taking trimipramine. Check with your doctor before taking any of the above while you are using this medicine.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

Serious side effects of trimipramine

Along with its needed effects, trimipramine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking trimipramine:

Other side effects of trimipramine

Some side effects of trimipramine may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

For healthcare professionals

Applies to trimipramine: compounding powder, oral capsule.

General adverse events

The most commonly reported side effects were tremors, dizziness, headache, dry mouth, constipation, and nausea.^[Ref]

Psychiatric

• Frequency not reported: Agitation, anxiety, confusional states (especially the elderly) with hallucinations, disorientation, delusions, exacerbation of psychosis, hypomania, increased or decreased libido, insomnia, irritability, mania, neonatal agitation, neonatal withdrawal symptoms, nightmares, paranoid delusions, restlessness, suicidal behaviors, suicidal ideation, withdrawal symptoms^[Ref]

Neonatal agitation and withdrawal symptoms occurred in neonates exposed during the third trimester.

Suicidal behaviors and ideation occurred during or early after treatment.^[Ref]

Nervous system

• Frequency not reported: Alterations in electroencephalogram (EEG) patterns, ataxia, convulsions, dizziness, drowsiness, extrapyramidal symptoms, extremity paresthesia, headache, incoordination, mydriasis, numbness, peculiar taste, peripheral neuropathy, seizures, tingling, tremor^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

• Frequency not reported: Abdominal cramps, black tongue, constipation, diarrhea, dry mouth, epigastric distress, nausea, paralytic ileus, parotid swelling, stomatitis, sublingual adenitis, tongue edema, vomiting^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

• Frequency not reported: Arrhythmias, cardiac arrhythmia, flushing, heart block, hypertension, hypotension, myocardial infarction, palpitation, postural hypotension, severe hypotension, stroke, tachycardia^[Ref]

Genitourinary

• Frequency not reported: Breast enlargement, delayed micturition, dilation of the urinary tract, galactorrhea, impotence, interference with sexual function, micturition hesitancy, testicular swelling, urinary frequency, urinary retention^[Ref]

Dermatologic

• Frequency not reported: Alopecia, excessive perspiration/perspiration, face edema, itching, petechia, photosensitization, skin rashes, sweating, urticaria^[Ref]

Hematologic

• Frequency not reported: Agranulocytosis, bone marrow depression, eosinophilia, pathological neutrophil depression, purpura, thrombocytopenia^[Ref]

Other

• Frequency not reported: Fatigue, malaise, tinnitus, weakness^[Ref]

Metabolic

• Frequency not reported: Anorexia, elevation or depression of blood sugar levels, weight gain or loss^[Ref]

Hepatic

• Frequency not reported: Altered liver function, cholestatic jaundice, jaundice (simulating obstructive)^[Ref]

Ocular

• Frequency not reported: Blurred vision, disturbance of accommodation^[Ref]

Endocrine

• Frequency not reported: Gynecomastia, syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) secretion^[Ref]

Respiratory

• Frequency not reported: Neonatal respiratory depression^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

• Frequency not reported: Bone fractures^[Ref]

See also:

Further information

Trimipramine side effects can vary depending on the individual. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Note: Medication side effects may be underreported. If you are experiencing side effects that are not listed, submit a report to the FDA by following this guide.

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