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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by john berk on June 21, 2005, at 18:11:53
hi! i have been on prozac for 4 years, only 20mgs. at the moment, but i am totally fed up with sexual side-effects and emotional blunting/apathy and would like to try something much more cost effective and less sexually debilitating. i know tofranil, [impramine] is an old standard drug, and may not be as effective for my moderate ocd, but i really feel a need to try something outside the ssri class.
has anyone had luck with this drug for depression? are the side effects more tolerable?
any feedback would be greatly appreciated, thanks....john berk
Posted by linkadge on June 21, 2005, at 19:10:48
In reply to anyone using tofranil?, posted by john berk on June 21, 2005, at 18:11:53
My mother found it a good drug. I would like to give it a whirl, at some time.
Linkadge
Posted by john berk on June 21, 2005, at 19:18:19
In reply to Re: anyone using tofranil?, posted by linkadge on June 21, 2005, at 19:10:48
thanks for your reply. i have a friend who would also like to try it soon, he is maxed out on prozac, and is getting little relief.
i'm really glad your mom found it useful, if i try it, i will update you linkadge! thanks again...john berk
Posted by 4WD on June 21, 2005, at 23:43:08
In reply to anyone using tofranil?, posted by john berk on June 21, 2005, at 18:11:53
> hi! i have been on prozac for 4 years, only 20mgs. at the moment, but i am totally fed up with sexual side-effects and emotional blunting/apathy and would like to try something much more cost effective and less sexually debilitating. i know tofranil, [impramine] is an old standard drug, and may not be as effective for my moderate ocd, but i really feel a need to try something outside the ssri class.
> has anyone had luck with this drug for depression? are the side effects more tolerable?
> any feedback would be greatly appreciated, thanks....john berkHi.
Imipramine was the first AD that I took that I could tolerate and that worked. It worked great. It was like the world was in color instead of being gray like it had been. I was on it about a year then was taken off it. I got depressed again. I tried desipramine, but the side effects were worse so I went back to imipramine. This time it didn't work quite as well but it was still effective. The side effects were a bit problematic. Very dry mouth, nasal congestion, some anorgasmia, and some insomnia which might not have been from the imipramine - I was having insomnia anyway. Also some postural hypotension. All in all, it was a good drug for me for a couple of years. I only went off it because they came out with Prozac and my doc put me on that to lessen side effects. Don't let the side effect thing scare you though. I am extremely sensitive to side effects and unable to take a lot of meds because of that. I'd say go for it. Let us know how it works.
Marsha
Posted by Sarah T. on June 22, 2005, at 0:20:58
In reply to anyone using tofranil?, posted by john berk on June 21, 2005, at 18:11:53
I took it years ago. It is one of the better TCA's, often referred to as the "gold standard" against which many other drugs were compared. I do think it helped my mood, but it was terrible for my memory, which is usually pretty good. Imipramine/Tofranil also gave me "speech blockage." I knew what I wanted to say, and I'd try to say it, but the words wouldn't come out, or they'd get chopped off, mid-sentence. I suspect George Bush is on anti-depressants. Perhaps that is one reason he has so much difficulty with public speaking.
Posted by darkhorse on June 22, 2005, at 6:07:22
In reply to Re: anyone using tofranil? » john berk, posted by 4WD on June 21, 2005, at 23:43:08
> > hi! i have been on prozac for 4 years, only 20mgs. at the moment, but i am totally fed up with sexual side-effects and emotional blunting/apathy and would like to try something much more cost effective and less sexually debilitating. i know tofranil, [impramine] is an old standard drug, and may not be as effective for my moderate ocd, but i really feel a need to try something outside the ssri class.
> > has anyone had luck with this drug for depression? are the side effects more tolerable?
> > any feedback would be greatly appreciated, thanks....john berk
>
> Hi.
>
> Imipramine was the first AD that I took that I could tolerate and that worked. It worked great. It was like the world was in color instead of being gray like it had been. I was on it about a year then was taken off it. I got depressed again. I tried desipramine, but the side effects were worse so I went back to imipramine. This time it didn't work quite as well but it was still effective. The side effects were a bit problematic. Very dry mouth, nasal congestion, some anorgasmia, and some insomnia which might not have been from the imipramine - I was having insomnia anyway. Also some postural hypotension. All in all, it was a good drug for me for a couple of years. I only went off it because they came out with Prozac and my doc put me on that to lessen side effects. Don't let the side effect thing scare you though. I am extremely sensitive to side effects and unable to take a lot of meds because of that. I'd say go for it. Let us know how it works.
>
> MarshaHi,
My story is very much like Marsha.It was my first ever AD and really it saved me from severe depression/obsession,and nothing worked better.
I was also switched to Prozac,and although it was good I felt it was not enough and from here I started to combine with lots of other AD's,benzos etc.
I know that if I get another severe depression I will go back to Tofranil.
I agree that you have to start slowly (e.g. 25mg a day) and increase as long as the side effects are bearable.Yes they are not nice but believe me they tend to vanish with time and within one month no side effects (except maybe a little dry mouth).
Do not go more than 75mg and wait a few weeks because this is usually enough for any problem except severe depression.
Tofranil does not have those ever lasting SSRIs problems : apathy and sexual and weight gain (in the long term)
The only side effect that may last is a bit of increase of appetite.Some people find it a bit sedating enough to help witth sleep,so try it first before bed.However some find it a bit alerting. in this case you may switch the dose to the morninig.
Tofranil has potent 5ht and NE proporties and is the most balanced out of all AD's and therefore it reduced my anxiety,ruminations, obsessions and at the same time gave me some motivation and concentration.
I hope the best for you!
Dark Horse.
Posted by john berk on June 22, 2005, at 14:34:57
In reply to Re: anyone using tofranil?, posted by darkhorse on June 22, 2005, at 6:07:22
thank you marsha, sarah t. and darkhorse for your great responses. [sarah, i have to agree with your g. bush theory, lol]. now i can go to my pdoc with excellent information and some personal expeirences. i don't see her to mid-july, but i am definetly going to ask/tell her of my plans to switch to tofranil!! [she's a big prozac fan].
i will post with an update, thanks again....john berk
Posted by linkadge on June 22, 2005, at 17:18:52
In reply to Re: anyone using tofranil?, posted by john berk on June 22, 2005, at 14:34:57
I think that imipramine and aricept would a good combination. I know at the old age home I worked for a while, everbody was on imipramine and aricept, and they were all happy yet surprisingly spry.
Linkadge
Posted by Sarah T. on June 22, 2005, at 23:41:21
In reply to Re: anyone using tofranil?, posted by john berk on June 22, 2005, at 14:34:57
I didn't gain much weight on Imipramine/Tofranil. The only "TCA" I gained a lot of weight on was Ludiomil/Maprotiline, which is actually a "tetracyclic," not a tricyclic. Although I didn't gain much, if any, weight on Tofranil, I did have a puffier appearance than I did without it. My cheeks and eyelids were usually puffy due to edema, I believe. I looked a little bit like a chipmunk about to go into hibernation. Fortunately, that jowly look disappeared when I got off the drug.
This is the end of the thread.
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