Tofranil

What is it?

A TCAD antidepressant, available as sugar-coated, brown tablets containing 25mg of imipramine hydrochloride, all marked GEIGY. Also, TOFRANIL SYRUP, containing 25mg of imipramine hydrochloride per 5ml.

Medical Uses

Depression, night-time bedwetting in children.

Dosage

Adults, 25mg up to 3 times each day at first, then increasing to 150 to 200mg each day by 7th day of treatment. The maintenance dose is in the order of 50 to 100mg each day. If patient is hospitalised, the dose may be 100mg 3 times each day with a maintenance of 100mg daily. Elderly patients should start with 10mg each day, then increasing to 30 to 50mg daily. Children, bedwetting only, using syrup, aged over 11 years, 10 to 15ml; aged 8 to 11 years, 5 to 10ml; aged 6 to 7 years, 5ml. All doses taken at bedtime for 3 months maximum period then drug is gradually stopped.

Special Care

Patients with psychoses or suicidal tendencies, elderly persons, pregnant and nursing mothers, people with cardiac disorders, epilepsy, hyperthyroidism, urine retention, closed angle glaucoma, liver disease, tumours of adrenal gland, diabetes

Avoid Use

Children, patients with recent heart attack, heart arrhythmias, heart block, porphyria (rare blood disorder).

Possible Drug and Food Interactions

Alcohol, barbiturate drugs, local anaesthetics (containing adrenaline or noradrenaline), antihypertensive and sympathomimetic drugs, anticholinergic drugs, cimetidine, oestrogens.

Known Side Effects

Anticholinergic effects including urine retention, dry mouth, constipation, blurred vision, rapid heartbeat, palpitations, nervousness, insomnia, sweating, dizziness, fatigue, weight changes, jaundice, blood changes, allergic skin rashes, changes in libido, breast enlargement and impotence.