Imipramine User Reviews & Ratings

• con...
• January 24, 2010

Imipramine for Depression "I suffered from depression on and off till I was 33. My doctor prescribed a couple of medicines without success. Tried Tofranil because my mother took it in the late 1950s. Noticed a gradual improvement over 1 to 4 months with the full effect over a period of about 12 months. Medicine did not work at 100 mg, so went up to 250 mg, then 200 mg. Some small price side effects include dry mouth (gum, Tic Tac remedy). The medicine makes you sleepy about 2 hours after ingestion. Get ready for a good night's sleep, increased appetite, and feeling more relaxed than ever before. I remember the first sign of the Tofranil working was when I went outside one day and the sun seemed so bright, and I was happier to be alive. That was 25 years ago."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 20, 2012

Imipramine for Panic Disorder "Tofranil is the medicine to take for Panic Disorder. I was diagnosed with Panic Disorder recently, and I was a complete mess. Depressed, suicidal, anxious, the works. My primary care doctor gave me Xanax. The Xanax helped, but only for short spurts. It also made me more depressed. I was taking up to 3 mg per day, and barely functioning. I got in to see a psychiatrist, and he is older and more experienced. He immediately knew I had Panic Disorder, and started me on Tofranil. Tofranil absolutely stopped the panic attacks cold. I have been able to cut the Xanax way back, and feel, dare I say, normal. Tofranil is an old medicine, so many doctors don't or won't try it. Newer is not always better."

• Anonymous
• November 15, 2011

Imipramine for Panic Disorder "I had my first panic attacks immediately following the birth of my first son 18 years ago when I was 28 years old. The panic attacks were horrific and occurred randomly. I was prescribed a few different medications that weren't successful, but when I was prescribed Imipramine, I felt I had my life back. I doubt that I could have continued to be a primary school teacher without Imipramine. It has really been a miracle medication to me. When doctors hear that I take Imipramine, they usually comment that it is a really old drug that has been around since the 60's. Then they ask if I'd like to try one of the newer drugs. No way! I feel perfect on Imipramine. I can't say enough great things about it."

• Sna...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 13, 2019

For Depression "Male, 70 years old as of 2019. Started taking imipramine in 1995 for anxiety and depression. Been a lifesaver of a medication. Started at 100mg at bedtime but slowly reduced to my present dose of 50mg at bedtime, and have been taking this dose for 17 years. Had tried SSRIs prior to the imipramine and had terrible reactions, so the doctor gave me the tried and true imipramine. It saved my life."

• Blo...
• January 8, 2020

For Depression "I was on Imipramine for 20 years for severe depression. This medicine turned my life around. I was a new and happy person. Then, 5 months ago, I couldn't get my Imipramine from Walgreens. I can't find out why I can't get my prescription of Imipramine anymore. My psychiatrist has tried several other antidepressants, which had awful side effects and made things worse. Is there anyone on this site who has had the same issue of not being able to get Imipramine? I am desperate for some help in getting this medicine. Thank you."

• Anonymous
• September 17, 2009

Imipramine for Panic Disorder "I had suffered with panic attacks since I was around 14 years old. There came a time when I had shock treatments because back in the 60s, not much was known about these kinds of illnesses. Later on, I became completely housebound for 8 years. I heard about Tofranil and decided to try it. Within 3 weeks, I was able to not only get out of my house but go about 3 blocks away. It takes time, but if it had not been for Tofranil combined with Xanax, I would still be homebound. It works, no two ways about it. When nothing else did. The only side effects were sleepiness until it gets into your system (2 weeks for me) and dry mouth. But for me, that was nothing to getting my life back."

• Air...
• March 9, 2015

For Panic Disorder "I am currently active duty in the military and suffer from severe panic attacks and depression. I've been put on several different medications including Klonopin, Xanax, Ativan, and others. All helped a little but only for an hour or so, so I was taking them constantly. Imipramine has given me my sanity back. The first day taking it I saw an immediate change. I did not have a panic attack for the first time in an entire year and my mood seemed to improve a little. I strongly believe this medication should be tried first before attempting to try Ativan or any other benzodiazepines."

• ehh...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 5, 2014

For Depression "I switched from Prozac to Imipramine after reading extensively about how successful it was before the advent of SSRIs. I have had ZERO side effects and no drowsiness on 100mg of Imipramine, while Prozac made me manic and absolutely ruined my gastrointestinal tract. I have been very happy with this medicine, best one I have taken so far for Major Depression. It is also cheap."

• CCa...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 9, 2020

For Depression "I have been battling the combination of anxiety and depression for close to 2 years. The first two medications I took (Paxil and Effexor) were horrible. Basically, they made the symptoms worse, and Effexor gave me insomnia. I was then given Remeron, which worked for 2 months, then stopped working. Kept upping the dose, and it just numbed me out and made anxiety worse. Finally, they put me on Imipramine because my dad has taken it for 35 years and had no problems. It took a little while to work. About 10 weeks for me and that was a gradual increase in dose to 300 mg. That's the level my dad takes, so I do the same. It worked for me. Anyone who reads this review, I hope it works for you as well."

• Ric...
• September 14, 2020

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome "After 30 years of IBS and having taken many prescribed medications, including nortriptyline, Dicetel, Pristiq, all of which are supposed to be helpful for IBS, nothing worked for me. I also took herbal supplements and Metamucil and tried different diets, including the FODMAP diet. I tried high fiber, low fiber, no fiber, and everything in between. I tried eliminating dairy and wheat from my diet. Nothing worked very well at all. I also tried Align and other probiotics, etc. Finally, I have found something that works for me after 30 years. And it is the prescription antidepressant medication called imipramine. At a very low dosage of 25 mg at bedtime, along with one heaping teaspoon of Metamucil in the afternoon, after 30 years of suffering with severe IBS, my symptoms are gone. Be aware that it took about 10 days before I was symptom-free. This post isn’t about me. I am posting this in the hope that it can help someone else who is suffering."

• Cha...
• March 27, 2017

For Panic Disorder "This medication saved my life! I've only been taking it for almost 2 weeks, but I was thrilled at the fast response I had to it! I've literally tried almost every other antidepressant without much success for over 20 years - for my debilitating panic disorder/GAD/depression. Thank you to the Dr. who started me on this recently while I was hospitalized for a suicide attempt. I can now leave my home without any fear or anxiety, my panic attacks/panic are literally gone! I feel like a new person! The only side effects I've had so far are dry mouth, dry eyes, and a bit of tachycardia. It also helps me sleep for once, I take it at bedtime. I was titrated up to the 100mg dose once at bedtime. I cannot emphasize enough how happy I am to have this!"

• Flo...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 26, 2019

For Depression "When I was 50 years old, my depression was very acute, and I needed hospital care, and the NHS provided imipramine at 200 mg a day. I am now 74 years old and have not had an acute episode in all that time."

• Sky...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 11, 2018

For Depression "I was severely depressed for a year and literally never left my bed. At 35 years old, I was a professional woman working full-time with 2 children (whom I was bringing up with the help of a full-time nanny while I was at work and unwell - she was an angel). I was terrified the sun would never shine again. Then my GP hospitalized me, and I was introduced to imipramine at 200 mg a day in two split doses. Initially, it totally knocked me out - no other side effects, though, then the dose was reduced to 150 mg a day, then 75 mg a day. I began to feel 'me' again - fit, bothered about my appearance, wanting to socialize, really optimistic about the future, and confident that I could cope. I returned home on 75 mg a day and, after a week, took the children, 10 and 8, on holiday for 3 weeks abroad! Felt a little scary, but we had great family bonding time, and I was back at work within two months and off the imipramine! For me, it saved my life, and the children will always have a mother!"

• Sex...
• April 22, 2016

For Panic Disorder "I began having panic and anxiety attacks when I was 25. I suffered with them for about 10 years, and a new doctor put me on imipramine. I've had only one or two anxiety attacks since, and it's been years. I'm now 72, and I haven't noticed any bad reactions to the medication."

• Jo2...
• June 27, 2010

Imipramine for Panic Disorder "I have suffered with Panic Attacks all my life but went undiagnosed until 1989. I am now 58, and trust me when I tell you that there is no cure. In my initial diagnosis, I was started on Tofranil as an inpatient. After my discharge from the hospital, I went 5 entire years without having a panic attack. When they resumed, I had to be re-hospitalized, and it was there I was put on Klonopin, which I have essentially been off for a year. I am having constant panic attacks. My daughter does not want me to resume Klonopin as when on it I slept all the time. I did this search to see if Tofranil is still being used for panic disorder, and I see that it is. I plan to have my psychiatrist put me back on it as it really worked."

• LUC...
• November 15, 2009

Imipramine for Interstitial Cystitis "For 3 years, I have been battling bladder cancer. My bladder has shrunk, the pain has been great, and the need to urinate is every 15 minutes or so. I have had 9 biopsies, some malignant, and more recently, 3 in a row benign. I have interstitial cystitis and started using Tofranil 5 months ago. Over the course of those 5 months, Tofranil has gradually eliminated the pain and lengthened the time to urinate to once per hour. To me, it is a miracle drug, and I continue to take it with no side effects whatsoever."

• lin...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 10, 2018

For Depression "This was the first and best drug used to treat my severe depression. Before I took it, I did not have enough energy to look for work, nor could I hold up the newspaper to read it. I had been nauseous and eating little, and I could not sleep beyond 3 hours. I had been very achy and exhausted, and in a state of fatigue for greater than 6 months. After a month of imipramine, I regained my appetite, was no longer achy, and I could sleep through the night. I got better, returned to work, and was able to slowly wean off it after 18 months."

• BKa...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 6, 2020

For Panic Disorder "This drug imipramine has changed my life. I have tried a dozen different SSRIs, and nothing has helped my panic disorder and depression as much as imipramine. No noticeable side effects for me, either."

• Pri...
• September 14, 2016

For Pain "Taking at a very low dose to help me sleep, as I have fibromyalgia related to arthritis. I tried two other drugs before this one, and both gave me extremely bad nightmares. I have found that I don't get nightmares with this one. Within an hour of taking, I am solid asleep virtually all night. I don't get foggy the next day. I really haven't had any side effects except for a slightly dry mouth, but I am on 10 mg."

• XXX...
• January 2, 2010

Imipramine for Night Terrors "I had panic attacks (Night Terrors) for over a year or more and had lost hope for medication to help. Since the first night of taking Tofranil, I slept normally without the 3-4 am wake-up (night terror) and have been free of them for 12 years without changing my medication. I am so thankful to have finally found an inexpensive medicine that actually worked from the first dose."

• ANO...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 6, 2025

For Panic Disorder "I had my first panic attack at 18. I suffered with agoraphobia for 20 years. I have been on imipramine for 40 years and have a wonderful, full life, panic-free. I will never go off of it. I actually refer to it as Saint imipramine. Good luck, it's a great medicine."

• tru...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 7, 2015

For Pain "I was prescribed this medication for chronic widespread muscle pain (fibromyalgia) and neuropathic pain, and allodynia all over, plus vulvodynia. It does take the edge off, and the pain is not as intense as it used to be, but still continuing sadly. It did take away my sleep paralysis episodes and sleep hallucinations, amazing for sleep too. It's a great drug, it's the only one I can tolerate. I tried amitriptyline and all the SSRIs, but the side effects have been horrendous and had a devastating effect on my functioning. The only effects imipramine has on me are some dizziness and drowsiness during the day, fast heart rate, and mild loss of libido, but other than these, I feel it's very useful with pain and sleep. The first few days expect nausea and somnolence."

• Pat...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 15, 2024

Imipramine for Depression "When I was in my middle to late 30s (1960s), I encountered severe depression. Anxiety, sadness, loss of appetite, shakes, sitting and staring into space, anxiety, the whole 12 yards. Went on for a year until Tofranil was prescribed. 81 hours to the minute, I broke out. Cannot express the feeling of returning to calmness and myself again."

• Ash...
• December 22, 2011

For Panic Disorder "I started at 25 mg and slowly made my way up to 125 mg. It's really not doing much. It has blocked my panic attacks but doesn't seem to do much for everyday anxiety. This is week 5, and I'm thinking of trying a new medication. The side effects aren't as bad. I didn't have any appetite changes and no sexual side effects (sex drive improved). The only side effect I had was a dry mouth after >100 mg dosages - it is pretty annoying but it's not that bad. Another side effect is random episodes of being tired - (again, this side effect wasn't that bad). The only really bad thing I have to say about it is that it didn't really work for my generalized anxiety disorder. It does block panic attacks, though! I highly recommend it for bad panic attack sufferers."

• ang...
• December 18, 2015

For Depression "I was prescribed this med for depression, which is also effective at bedtime for sleep and fibromyalgia pain. The pain improved significantly, and I felt more rested the next day. A dry mouth is the main side effect that is noticeable. This drug is very helpful."