Trimipramine is a medication prescribed to alleviate symptoms of depression. While taking it, patients may notice a feeling of well-being and an elevated mood. It is a tricyclic antidepressant that helps restore mental balance. The medicine can increase key chemicals in the brain by affecting the central nervous system (CNS).
A typical daily dose of trimipramine for adults is 75 milligrams (mg) total, divided into one to three separate doses. The doctor will rarely prescribe a total dose higher than 200 mg. Elderly patients and teenagers may start with a 50 mg daily dose, to be increased if needed. It is recommended that patients taking a single dose do so in the evening, because this medicine may increase sleepiness. Trimipramine treatment may require up to four weeks before patients will notice an improvement in their depression.
Some side effects may occur with the use of trimipramine, which should be reported to the doctor if they are persistent or become troublesome. Patients may experience nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, accompanied by stomach pain. Fatigue or weakness may occur, or patients may notice anxiety or excitement. Other side effects can include nightmares, changes in weight, and difficulty urinating. Changes in sex drive, ringing in the ears, and blurred vision have also been reported.
Patients should get immediate medical help for more serious side effects, which can include seizures, hallucinations, and a shuffling walk. Difficult or slow speech, uncontrollable shaking, and a rapid or irregular heartbeat are also possible. Problems breathing or swallowing, jaundice, and flu-like symptoms, such as a fever or sore throat may occur. Some patients have reported chest pain, a rash, and muscle spasms.
Tricyclic antidepressants like trimipramine have been linked to suicidal thoughts or actions in a small number of patients under the age of 24. Some possible signs of this side effect can include aggressive behavior, panic attacks, and insomnia. Patients may also suffer from frenzied excitement, impulsive behavior, and worsening depression. Parents and caregivers of patients taking this drug should be alert to these signs and should call the doctor immediately if they observe any of them.
Trimipramine is not intended for use by a woman who is pregnant or nursing. Patients who have schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or heart disease should not use it. Other conditions that may preclude the use of this antidepressant include kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, or diabetes, because the drug may influence blood sugar levels. Patients should disclose all other medicines and supplements they take to avoid an interaction. Trimipramine may interact with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), decongestants, and medicines for motion sickness.