Generic Tofranil i.e. Imipramine is in a group of drugs called tricyclic antidepressants. Generic Tofranil i.e. Imipramine affects chemicals in the brain that may become unbalanced. Imipramine is used to treat symptoms of depression. However, before taking Imipramine i.e. Tofranil medication, ask your pharmacist or doctor for a copy of the manufacturer’s information for the patient and read it carefully. Talk to your doctor about all the possible risks of taking Tofranil medication. However, Tofranil may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide. Hence, for more information, consult your doctor and your medical pharmacist.

Follow the directions given by the doctor exactly for the usage of the Tofranil i.e. Imipramine medication and also read the prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand.

The dose of Imipramine is tailored to the patients needs. Sometimes physicians will start with low doses such as 25mg three times a day to reduce the risk of excessive sedation doses then will be increased slowly. Other physicians prefer to give Imipramine once daily in which case it is generally given at bedtime to take advantage of its sedating properties. Elderly persons and patients with advanced liver disease may need lower doses since they may eliminate Imipramine less well from the body. Mood elevation occurs only in depressed individuals and not in individuals without depression. It may take 2-3 weeks of therapy before effects are seen.

For the treatment of enuresis children 6 years or older usually are started on 10-25 mg at bedtime. If this dose is not effective after 1 week the dose may be increased by 25 mg/day. For the treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder ADHD children ages 6-12 years old usually are started on 10-30 mg/day.

If you notice any of the symptoms, which seem severe or persistent to you, please contact your doctor immediately. However, your doctor may need to monitor you carefully for side effects and alter the doses if necessary.

The most commonly encountered side effects associated with Imipramine include: fast heart rate, blurred vision, difficulty in urinating, dry mouth, constipation, weight gain or loss and low blood pressure when standing. Rashes, hives, seizures and hepatitis are rare side effects. Imipramine also can cause elevated pressure in the eyes of some patients with glaucoma. Overdose with Imipramine can cause life-threatening abnormal heart rhythms or seizures.

Following prolonged therapy in high doses abrupt discontinuation of TCAs including Imipramine could lead to certain cholinergic symptoms such as nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. Therefore many experts recommend gradually reducing the dose of drug if the drug is to be discontinued.

Inform your doctor if you experience any of these side effects or some new side effects occur which appear too bothersome to you.

Inform your doctor if you are allergic to the formulation of this medication or any other medication in any other form and also inform your doctor about any other medication you may be taking in any other form, as they may affect the way your medicine works.

Imipramine interacts with other medications and drugs that slow the brains processes such as alcohol, barbiturates benzodiazepines e.g. lorazepam i.e. Ativan, diazepam i.e. Valium, temazepam i.e. Restoril, oxazepam i.e. Serax, clonazepam i.e. Klonopin, zolpidem i.e. Ambien and narcotics. Reserpine given to patients taking TCAs can cause agitation and anxiety. Imipramine and other TCAs should not be used with monoamine oxidase inhibiting drugs for example isocarboxazid i.e. Marplan, phenelzine i.e. Nardil, tranylcypromine i.e. Parnate and procarbazine i.e. Matulane since high fever, convulsions and even death can occur.

Concurrent use of Cimetidine i.e. Tagamet can increase Imipramine blood levels by reducing elimination of Imipramine from the body and possibly lead to Imipramine- related side effects. Other drugs which share this effect include propafenone i.e. Rythmol, flecainide i.e. Tonocard, quinidine i.e. Quinidex and Quinaglute and fluoxetine i.e. Prozac.

Moreover, Tofranil i.e. Imipramine may also interact with some kind of foods, varied medications, herbal products, nutritional supplements, vitamins, other OTC medicines, some vaccinations etc. Acquire more information about the interactions of the Tofranil medication from your doctor and the medical pharmacists.

In case of overdose call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222.
If the suffering patient has collapsed or is not breathing call local emergency services at 911. Canadian residents should call their local poison control center directly.

Do not allow any other person to use your medication without getting doctor’s prescription themselves and also avoid using this medicine for other health conditions on your own. Keep the medicine away from the children and pets.

Also inform your doctor, if you are pregnant or are breast feeding. If you conceive during the course, inform your doctor immediately. Do not share your medicines with anyone, even if they have the same symptoms, for it may harm them. Do not begin, increase, decrease, or stop using this medicine on your own. In short discuss your complete medical history with your doctor, before taking the medicine.

Remember, it is very important to keep regular appointments with your doctor to study the way your body is responding to the course. And if you are going to have a surgery, tell your health care professional that you are using Tofranil medication.

Carry with you at all times an ID card mentioning your name, the medicine you are taking, the dosage, the name of the person and your health care professional they should call in case of an emergency. Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory and keep regular checks ups.

Also avoid alcohol and alcohol containing beverages whilst on a course with this medication.

And in case, if you wish to use the medicine in children, please contact your pediatrician for sure before its use.

If you missed the Tofranil i.e. Imipramine medication dose, do take the medicine immediately provided that there is ample of time in between the next dose. However, if it is almost time for the next dose skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Never double your doses to cope up with the missed. And in case, if you miss your one or two consecutive doses consult to your doctor or physician for guidance and continue further.

Generic Tofranil is used in the treatment of elevate the mood of patients with depression. Imipramine also causes sedation. Therefore it is useful in depressed patients with insomnia, restlessness and nervousness.

However, it may also be used to treat some other medical conditions which may be determined by your doctor accordingly and consult a pediatrician for the use of this medication in children.

The generic Tofranil i.e. Imipramine medication may be prescribed for other uses also and hence ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information about the Tofranil i.e. Imipramine medication.

Store generic Tofranil i.e. Imipramine, at room temperature in between 15-30°C and 59-86°F, in a cool and dry place. Keep the medicine in the container, it came in and always keep it tightly closed. Check Expiry date without fail. Keep all medicines away from women, newborns, children and pets. Do not freeze in any case. Also, keep it away from heat, dampness and direct light. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down. When the medicine is not in use or outdated it should be discarded. Take help of your pharmacist in disposing this medicine properly. In any case, do not store the Tofranil medication in the bathroom.

Following precautions must be taken during consuming generic Tofranil i.e. Imipramine:

1. Inform your doctor if you have or have ever had: kidney disease, lung disease, liver disease, heart disease, diabetes, low or high blood pressure, asthma, heart attack, seizures, kidney disease, serious injury/infection or any other severe disease etc. Also inform, if you drink alcoholic beverages or are a tobacco smoker etc.

2. Also acknowledge your doctor if you need to undergo any kind of surgery, including dental surgery or need an x-ray procedure that uses contrast agents. So, inform your doctors immediately about it, so that the doctor can decide whether to continue taking Tofranil medication or stop it during the surgery.

3. Let the doctor also know, if you are in-taking or are planning to take any prescribed or non prescribed medicines, health supplements or any other OTC medications, vitamins etc.

4. Do not use the Tofranil i.e. Imipramine medication, if you have any kind of allergy to it or to any ingredients of it and tell your doctor or pharmacist about the allergy and get treated accordingly.

5. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breast feeding before taking Tofranil medication. Hence also, inform your doctor immediately when you plan to conceive, or become pregnant during the course.

6. Do not share the drug with others unless they are prescribed by the doctor themselves. And if your symptoms of side effects do not improve in few weeks or if they become worse and bothersome, check these conditions immediately with your doctor.

7. Please, use the Tofranil medicine in the prescribed amount and do not overdose it or use it for the longer period of time. Do not discontinue on your own and consult your doctor before doing so to avoid further problems.

8. Regularly, keep your appointments with your doctor and keep an eye on the progress or side effects that has been noticed during the complete course.

9. Also, avoid smoking and consuming alcohol and alcohol containing beverages during the complete course to achieve good results.

10. For more information, contact your doctor and your pharmacists and also discuss the risks and benefits of the generic Tofranil.

11. Remember: It is important that your doctor check your progress at regular intervals.