Details

Clomipramine is a tricyclic antidepressant. It affects chemicals in the brain that may become unbalanced. Clomipramine is used to treat symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) such as recurrent thoughts or feelings and repetitive actions. To make sure clomipramine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have liver disease kidney disease bipolar disorder (manic-depression), schizophrenia or other mental illness history of alcoholism history of seizures or head injury heart disease low blood pressure narrow-angle glaucoma overactive thyroid or adrenal gland tumour (pheochromocytoma or neuroblastoma) or urination problems. Do not give clomipramine to anyone younger than 18 years old without the advice of a doctor.

Typical Uses

Clomipramine is used to treat obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). It helps decrease persistent/unwanted thoughts (obsessions), and it helps reduce the urge to perform repeated tasks (compulsions such as hand-washing, counting, checking) that interfere with daily living. It works by restoring the balance of certain natural substances (serotonin, among others) in the brain. Clomipramine may also be used to treat depression, panic attacks, and ongoing pain.

Side Effects

Inform your doctor about any worsening symptoms such as mood or behaviour changes, anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, or if you feel impulsive, irritable, agitated, hostile, aggressive, restless, hyperactive (mentally or physically), more depressed, or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself. Stop using clomipramine if you experience blurred vision, tunnel vision, eye pain or swelling, or seeing halos around lights rapid heart rate, tremors or shaking confusion, extreme fear, thoughts of hurting yourself agitation, hallucinations, fever, overactive reflexes, vomiting, diarrhoea, loss of coordination, fainting painful or difficult urination very stiff (rigid) muscles seizure (convulsions), or tired feeling, weakness, easy bruising or bleeding (nosebleed, bleeding gums), pale skin, feeling light-headed or short of breath.

Drug Interactions

• Clomipramine+5-hydroxytryptophan- Using clomipramine together with 5-hydroxytryptophan can increase the risk of a rare but serious condition called the serotonin syndrome, which may include symptoms such as confusion, hallucination, seizure, extreme changes in blood pressure, increased heart rate, fever, excessive sweating, shivering or shaking, blurred vision, muscle spasm or stiffness, tremor, incoordination, stomach cramp, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea.

• Clomipramine+anagrelide- Using anagrelide together with clomipramine can increase the risk of an irregular heart rhythm that may be serious and potentially life-threatening, although it is a relatively rare side effect. You may be more susceptible if you have a heart condition called congenital long QT syndrome, other cardiac diseases, conduction abnormalities, or electrolyte disturbances.

• Clomipramine+bepridil- Using bepridil together with clomipramine is not recommended. Combining these drugs can increase the risk of an irregular heart rhythm that may be serious. You should seek immediate medical attention if you develop sudden dizziness, light-headedness, fainting, or fast or pounding heartbeats during treatment with bepridil or clomipramine.

• Clomipramine+desvenlafaxine- Using clomipramine together with desvenlafaxine can increase the risk of a rare but serious condition called the serotonin syndrome, which may include symptoms such as confusion, hallucination, seizure, extreme changes in blood pressure, increased heart rate, fever, excessive sweating, shivering or shaking, blurred vision, muscle spasm or stiffness, tremor, incoordinati

Mechanism of action

Clomipramine belongs to the group of medicines called tricyclic antidepressants. It acts by restoring the balance of chemical substances (serotonin) present in the brain.

Pregnancy Category : C