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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by bearfan on May 16, 2010, at 14:36:15
I'm currently taking Tofranil PM (Imipramine), and its really bothering my bladder and prostate and I may discontinue soon. Is Desipramine (the metabolite of Imipramine) really worth trying and have less side effects? From what I know, it has slightly less side effects, but some say not as effective as its parent drug.
Posted by ed_uk2010 on May 16, 2010, at 15:02:59
In reply to Anyone using or experience with Desipramine?, posted by bearfan on May 16, 2010, at 14:36:15
> I'm currently taking Tofranil PM (Imipramine), and its really bothering my bladder and prostate and I may discontinue soon. Is Desipramine (the metabolite of Imipramine) really worth trying and have less side effects? From what I know, it has slightly less side effects, but some say not as effective as its parent drug.
I think it is certainly worth trying a different tricyclic. Desipramine is one possibility, there's also nortriptyline and various others. You may have to try a few differe TCAs to find out which one suits you best.
Posted by polarbear206 on May 16, 2010, at 15:30:10
In reply to Anyone using or experience with Desipramine?, posted by bearfan on May 16, 2010, at 14:36:15
> I'm currently taking Tofranil PM (Imipramine), and its really bothering my bladder and prostate and I may discontinue soon. Is Desipramine (the metabolite of Imipramine) really worth trying and have less side effects? From what I know, it has slightly less side effects, but some say not as effective as its parent drug.
One with less anticholinergic properties should help your problem. Imiprimine is a first line treatment for nocturnal enurisis in children.
Posted by bearfan on May 16, 2010, at 16:20:14
In reply to Re: Anyone using or experience with Desipramine?, posted by polarbear206 on May 16, 2010, at 15:30:10
I've read up that Desipramine is more noradrengic vs Sertononin than its parent Drug Impramine. Does this mean it may be less effective and controlling anxiety/ panic or roughly the same effect?
Posted by ed_uk2010 on May 16, 2010, at 16:42:07
In reply to Re: Anyone using or experience with Desipramine?, posted by bearfan on May 16, 2010, at 16:20:14
>Does this mean it may be less effective and controlling anxiety/ panic or roughly the same effect?
Imipramine is known to be effective for panic disorder. Desipramine hasn't received much study for anxiety.
Clomipramine is often one of the most effective TCAs for anxiety disorders. Have you tried it?
Posted by linkadge on May 16, 2010, at 17:12:53
In reply to Re: Anyone using or experience with Desipramine?, posted by ed_uk2010 on May 16, 2010, at 16:42:07
Can you use the cholinergic agonist betachol (spelling)? If the anticholinergic side effects are the main issue.
Linkadge
Posted by Phillipa on May 16, 2010, at 17:15:46
In reply to Re: Anyone using or experience with Desipramine?, posted by bearfan on May 16, 2010, at 16:20:14
I found pamelor very sedating even at 10mg. Phillipa
Posted by bearfan on May 16, 2010, at 18:38:06
In reply to Re: Anyone using or experience with Desipramine? » bearfan, posted by Phillipa on May 16, 2010, at 17:15:46
Desipramine is not but Pamelor. Your thinking of Nortriptyline
Posted by bearfan on May 17, 2010, at 0:49:37
In reply to Re: Anyone using or experience with Desipramine?, posted by ed_uk2010 on May 16, 2010, at 16:42:07
I didn't like the clompramine, it was just too sedating and really didn't have much of a libido.
Posted by ed_uk2010 on May 17, 2010, at 13:42:05
In reply to Re: Anyone using or experience with Desipramine?, posted by bearfan on May 17, 2010, at 0:49:37
> I didn't like the clomipramine, it was just too sedating and really didn't have much of a libido.
OK. I think you should try either nortriptyline or desipramine. Nortriptyline often causes drowsiness at first, although it's not normally sedating after the first couple of weeks. Desipramine doesn't generally cause drowsiness.
Posted by bearfan on May 17, 2010, at 15:20:10
In reply to Re: Anyone using or experience with Desipramine?, posted by ed_uk2010 on May 17, 2010, at 13:42:05
Any differences in efficacy with Desipramine? Is it essential the same as Tofranil with slighly less antichlorigenic side effects?
Posted by ed_uk2010 on May 17, 2010, at 15:24:20
In reply to Re: Anyone using or experience with Desipramine?, posted by bearfan on May 17, 2010, at 15:20:10
> Any differences in efficacy with Desipramine? Is it essential the same as Tofranil with slighly less antichlorigenic side effects?
Desipramine is relatively selective as an NE reuptake inhibitor. Imipramine isn't selective at all, it hits loads of receptors.
In the treatment of severe depression, both drugs can be effective. I imagine that imipramine might be marginally more effective but often less tolerable. Only imipramine has been shown to be effective for anxiety/panic, desipramine hasn't received much study in this area.
Posted by linkadge on May 17, 2010, at 19:37:15
In reply to Re: Anyone using or experience with Desipramine?, posted by ed_uk2010 on May 17, 2010, at 15:24:20
Amitriptyline (for me) was definately more effective than nortriptyline. Nortriptyline was much more tollerabe though (was at 50mg with no problem). 50mg of amitriptyline would put me out for a few days.
Amitriptyline was more emotionally uplifting. Nortriptyline just left me still feeling very empty.
Linkadge
Posted by softheprairie on May 18, 2010, at 1:28:42
In reply to Anyone using or experience with Desipramine?, posted by bearfan on May 16, 2010, at 14:36:15
Oh, oh, *raises hand* my subject that so few people IRL have in common with me -- desipramine. Yes, I am on it and love it -- you can look up my previous posts about it in the archives here; I kinda feel like I am repeating my same info whenever I venture back to this board. Well, I guess I can say again. It has been great for my depression when a bunch of other AD trials haven't. I am on 300 mg a day of it. However, to be fair, I guess I may be kinda unusual. And, even though I love it, it does still have bad side effects and risks. I think it may even be worse than imipramine in the urinary and prostate problems (I am female/don't have those probs). Also, I think it may even worsen anxiety, at least for me. I do take other things with it, and two of those help the anxiety, perphenazine (old-timey antipsychotic) and Bystolic/nebivolol (beta blocker). The beta blocker was added by my family doctor specifically to deal with the fast heartbeat the desipramine causes me, and as a bonus helps the heart palpitations, & anxiety that the desipramine brings me. The other part of my cocktail is Cytomel. I am so glad for my desipramine.
> I'm currently taking Tofranil PM (Imipramine), and its really bothering my bladder and prostate and I may discontinue soon. Is Desipramine (the metabolite of Imipramine) really worth trying and have less side effects? From what I know, it has slightly less side effects, but some say not as effective as its parent drug.
This is the end of the thread.
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