Anafranil for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder User Reviews

• Opt
• November 27, 2019

"The best medication so far for OCD is Anafranil. It's completely cured my OCD. Remember OCD is just a medical problem due to unbalanced chemicals in your brain. It's not you, it's your brain sending you false messages. Don't believe the obsessive thoughts, they may feel real but they are fake!"

• Hope
• January 28, 2021

"I had anxiety and intrusive obsessive thoughts so bad that I had insomnia for 3 years. I was an absolute mess, lost 50 lbs, and could barely function. I ended up hospitalized for a week and put on Anafranil 50mg at night. It took about two weeks, but I started to see a light at the end of a very dark tunnel! I had already tried almost everything on the market, and Anafranil finally helped! Today marks 7 years that I have been on this medication. I feel great, and it saved my life!"

• Vicki...
• May 5, 2014

"I have suffered resistant depression/anxiety on and off for 30 years, and now I have obsessive-compulsive disorder and intrusive thoughts. I started on Anafranil 15 days ago, and my OCD/intrusive thoughts have almost gone. I'm on only 100 mg per day, and I'm starting to get my life back. The medicine hasn't reached its full effect yet, so at this early stage, I'm happy to recommend this medication. I hope this helps anyone that reads this. Thank you."

• medte...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 28, 2018

"If you're compulsively looking for evidence for why or why you shouldn't take this medication, stop right now and leave this website! Seriously. Been there many times. Anafranil is a promising drug for the majority of people with OCD and it's worth a shot. I gave it a solid 10 weeks and decided it wasn't the med for me (too many side effects such as fatigue etc and did not feel like myself on it). Feeling a little better w/o it so far (knock on wood), but that doesn't mean it won't work for you. The only way is to know is to try it, and it won't hurt you. Listen to your doctors, but always listen to your body first. If something feels off, don't ignore it. Your doctors want the best for you, but only you can truly know what's working and what isn't. Now, that said, take a leap of faith and stop researching. My personal experience with this drug should mean nothing to you."

• Shann...
• January 17, 2015

"I take this medication for obsessive-compulsive disorder and anxiety. This medication has been the saving grace of my life! The only side effects I have experienced are insomnia when I first started it or upped a dose, but it goes away within a few days. And dry mouth. But I feel so much better freed of my obsessional thoughts I don't care! I take 150 mg a day and have been on it for 5 years. No other medicine has ever been so effective for this long, and believe me, I have taken everything you can name!"

• Redgr...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 29, 2018

"Anafranil has completely cured me of my OCD. I suffered from terrible intrusive thoughts since I was a child; however, I was not correctly diagnosed until adulthood. I have been on 6 25mg tablets a day, and it has completely changed my life for the better. Before Anafranil, I was fearful to leave my house because I was scared of having awful thoughts about the people I loved. I have taken Anafranil for three years, and I am so well I forget I have OCD. I can think of the thoughts that terrified me so much before and not feel anything. I can acknowledge that they are irrational thoughts and move on. I have had minimal side effects and in fact lost 45kgs while on the tablets (I was previously on Lexapro, which added 35kg). Different medication affects people differently, but I can honestly say that I am finally living the life I always wanted to live, and it’s all because of Anafranil."

• hapi
• February 9, 2014

"I have suffered from obsessive thoughts for 26 years. I have tried different medications over the years. I was on Paxil for 10 years, but I never ever felt totally well, and I slowly stopped taking it and became very ill. I started taking clomipramine again seven years ago. Again, it saved my life, and I have been able to have a successful career. I take 250 mg a day. I hate the side effect of weight gain, but I will never sacrifice my mental health to lose weight."

• Dev...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 13, 2020

"Clomipramine is the best medication for OCD. I have tried paroxetine, fluoxetine etc but none of them works as much as the clomipramine works. I took it high dosages 75mg per day..now my OCD has gone. It would be also very helpful if you consult with a therapist..my doctors give me sleeping medicine first those doctors are fraud !!!!According to my experience just take the dosage regularly at a certain amount, you will be cured quickly! Good Luck "

• Anonymous
• December 16, 2012

"This has been a miracle for me. I suffer from extreme OCD that had left me at times in a state of paralysis and constant fear. This medicine gave me back my life. It will not get rid of all of the OCD for you, but it will make it 90 percent manageable. The doctor who gave it to me was old school. None of the SSRIs worked for me. They were like sugar tablets. This one does. Highly recommend you speak to your physician about it as an option."

• Maciain
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 7, 2013

"I have used Anafranil on and off for 30 years. Each time, it has worked superbly. I stop and then start again about 2 years later, for a period of about 4-6 months. Presently taking 200 mg along with Beta Blockers - the best experience ever: I am happier, more confident, and less anxious than ever in my life. Anafranil side effects are sometimes bad: loss of appetite, sexual dysfunction, and blurred vision tend to hit me badly. Also, can take 2-3 months before they really work. But worth the wait, even though it feels for a while as though it makes you feel worse. Outstanding medicine - a lifesaver!!"

• kelly...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 28, 2019

"Anafranil is AMAZING for OCD. I’ve tried Zoloft, Prozac and Luvox— but they all made me hypomanic because I have bipolar tendencies. Anafranil, however, has not done that, but rather almost cured me of my OCD (in conjunction with CBT)! I have intrusive thoughts maybe 2x a day or less! Before that they were constant (and so were the compulsions). OCD was ruining my life for 10 years and now I’m 24 and I’m feeling great :) I’m on other meds for depression and anxiety and ADD."

• mciain
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 18, 2014

"Anafranil has always worked superbly for my obsessive-compulsive disorder, and I have used this medicine intermittently for 30 years. My mistake has always been to completely stop when I feel well - it always comes back. Although an amazing medicine, the downside is that it takes about 8 weeks for the medicine to work, and before that, I usually feel worse. And the side effects can be a challenge."

• kitka...
• April 25, 2018

"I’ve been suicidal daily for 37 years. Four inpatient visits, two outpatient, 40 yrs of therapy and 30+ ineffective, neurotoxic meds, all past poop-out, 12+ at a time. At 63, dry mouth has destroyed my teeth and ALL need to be pulled. I have terrifying conscious blackouts up to 24 hrs and no short term memory. For decades I searched for every synonym for uncontrollable thoughts and talking, but nothing fit. Until I heard an OCD trait called ”Memory Hoarding.” Hoard means to protect, not collect, thoughts, feelings and experiences I fear losing. I tell someone a ”story” about these. Out loud and alone, from when I wake until I sleep. I retell it to embellish, then again to shorten. I do it in my head when I'm talking to people so I feel disconnected. I started 25mg of Anafranil, the highest rated drug I know, 3 weeks ago. In one week, I stopped feeling suicidal. No panic attacks or rage. I still tell stories, but not out loud, I sometimes can stop a little. Miraculous!"

• cbtod...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 5, 2019

"This medication was a life-saver for me after years and years of very, very horrible social phobia and terrible panic attacks (lasting hours) in relation to having committed the 'unforgivable sin'. My social phobia had begun when I was 15 years old and nothing had helped up until starting Anafranil at 23 years old. Had tried several SSRI's with no help i.e. Lexapro at 60mg daily for years. Anafranil (at a high dose, 12 x 25mg tablets daily) has completely taken my social phobia away as well as my 'unforgivable sin' obsessions. Has been effective for 5 years and is still very effective. Gave me my life back. I use in conjunction with 4mg of Clonazepam and 75mg of Lamitrogine daily."

• Melis...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 31, 2014

"I started taking this medication 2 months ago, starting on 25mg but was too high as the side effects were bad for me so I started on 10mg slowly to 20mg and I think it has made a big difference. I am doing CBT too but the anxiety has decreased significantly. I suffer from intrusive thoughts and this helps it become more manageable and I feel that I'm living again!"

• helps...
• November 11, 2013

"It has worked really well for my severe OCD, depression, anxiety and panic. It stabalizes my mood too. The side effects are awful for me, though. Sexual side effects (like my genitals are numb) and severe constipation are the two side effects that keep me from being on a more therapeutic dose. At 100mg, the side effects are bad. At 50mg I'm OK in terms of side effects, but the benefits are minimal. I will be going up to 75mg and see how that goes. In the past I had been on 150mg and then 200mg. I had never been happier. I think I may have been too happy rather than normal happy, though."

• Eli
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 10, 2019

"This drug gave me my life back. After unsuccessfully being treated by various doses of Escitalopram and Paroxetine for nearly half a year my doctor prescribed Anafranil (Clomipramine is the generic name). What a difference it made! It takes longer to kick in, in my case precisely 4 weeks but it is well worth the long wait."

• Scottyy
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 7, 2013

"Anafranil : Most likely the best medicine for obsessive compulsive disorder, overall. Yet each person has their own body chemistry/energy issues. Most people with OCD need about 100 to 200 mg at night. The key is to GRADUALLY go up in dose. This will give your body TIME to ADJUST to Anafranil. I am now up to 150mg, after 3 months and I am feeling much better. Much less OCD thoughts. Yes, sexual side effects...as with any OCD medicine. I used to take high dose Paxil for 8 years and it just wore out, OCD came back. I think I will try Anafranil 200 or 225 mgs, stay on it for a year, then see how I do as I try to wean down the dose to 50 or so."

• 95...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 15, 2023

"This medicine has been a GAME CHANGER for me. I have struggled with OCD, panic, and anxiety all my life. This is the medicine that finally did the trick. My OCD is probably 95 percent better. It also has helped my panic attacks! Like other reviews state, it took about 4 weeks to work! I use GOOD RX to get it cheap too."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 30, 2015

"This medicine saved my teenager from horrible OCD. 200mg at bedtime, dry mouth is the only side effect. Every once in awhile he will have an episode, but I am able to talk him through it. He tried every med, this was the only one that worked."

• Best...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 20, 2023

"After two failed SSRIs (Lexapro and Zoloft), I'm so happy I tried Anafranil. This is the best medication, and I wish doctors would prescribe this before SSRIs. I had little to no side effects when I first started taking it. I take it at night because it does cause drowsiness. I've been taking it for 3 months but felt the effects after 2 weeks! I have little to no intrusive thoughts from my OCD. There may be some days where my anxiety is not its best, but they're manageable, and I have this medication to thank. Please give this a try! It's an old medication, but it's so worth it, especially if SSRIs are not working for you!"

• Pregn...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 18, 2018

"So I’ve been taking Anafranil for about 8 weeks now. I started at 25 mg and now I’m at 100 mg.. gradually moving up as time goes on. I didn’t have OCD until I got pregnant with my daughter and started having horrible intrusive thoughts that made me depressed. I’ve tried Zoloft, Lexapro, Paxil and now this one. This has worked for the most part but it hasn’t “cured” anything. I still have my days but out of all the medication I’ve tried this has been the best. Thankful overall for this medication. Give it a try and try to remember these kind of meds take time to work. Sending positive energy to you all!"

• Aud
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 21, 2012

"I have/had severe OCD. I have been on citalopram, Zoloft and Prozac. I was started on 150mg Anafranil and within what seemed no time at all my OCD disappeared. Prozac did work for OCD but not on clinical depression. I am now on 200mg. I have had no weight gain (nor did I have on SSRIs). I get a dry mouth sometimes but counteract this with a anti dry mouth toothpaste."

• accn
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 27, 2019

"Have had depression since a young teen and started to have OCD thoughts and compulsions at about 15. Tried several anti depressants which always helped (apart from Prozac) with my mood but never with the OCD. Psychiatrist said that anafranil was basically my last hope and I have been on it now for nearly 2 years. 25mg twice a day. My obsessive thoughts are practically gone and the anxiety around my compulsions is so mild. Never felt sick or sleepy starting on them either. Very hard to find this medication anywhere around where I live in Ireland. Always has to be ordered in advance."

• LynnC...
• June 12, 2017

"I've only been on this medicine for 3 weeks but it's already doing wonders. I still have "the thoughts" but they don't "take root" like they normally do. They come and go throughout the day rather than being ALL I can think about. My Dr is slowly upping my dose to 100mg, and I'm currently on 75mg and already seeing benefits. It takes a few weeks to REALLY start working so if you are on week 1 or 2 give it some time. It's been amazing at helping me fight my compulsions. It makes me really believe OCD is a MEDICAL issue. The morning is still the worst for me, when all my thoughts first hit me, but since I've started this drug, I can make it through the day so, so much easier."