Why is this drug prescribed?

Anafranil capsules contain the active ingredient clomipramine, which is a type of drug called a tricyclic antidepressant. This type of drug acts on nerve cells in the brain. Clomipramine is also available without a brand name, ie as the generic drug. In the brain there are numerous different chemical compounds called neurotransmitters. These act as chemical messengers between the nerve cells. Serotonin and noradrenaline are neurotransmitters and they have various functions that we know of. When serotonin and noradrenaline are released from nerve cells in the brain they act to lighten mood. When they are reabsorbed into the nerve cells, they no longer have an effect on mood. It is thought that when depression occurs, there may be a decreased amount of serotonin and noradrenaline released from nerve cells in the brain. Clomipramine works by preventing serotonin and noradrenaline from being reabsorbed back into the nerve cells in the brain. This helps prolong the mood lightening effect of any released noradrenaline and serotonin. In this way, clomipramine helps relieve depression. Clomipramine also blocks receptors in other areas of the body, and this can cause side effects such as drowsiness. This means clomipramine may be particularly useful in treating depression in people who are also anxious and agitated. It may take between two to four weeks for the benefits of this drug to appear, so it is very important that you keep taking it, even if it doesn't seem to make much difference at first. If you feel your depression has got worse, or if you have any distressing thoughts or feelings in these first few weeks, then you should talk to your doctor. Clomipramine may also be used in the treatment of obsessive disorders such as obsessive-compulsive disorder and phobia disorders. It is not fully understood how clomipramine works in these conditions but it is thought to be related to the increased effect of serotonin and noradrenaline in the brain. The first few days of clomipramine therapy for these disorders may involve an increase in anxiety and panic, however, this generally gets better within the first two weeks of treatment. In addition, clomipramine may be used to treat cataplexy associated with narcolepsy. Clomipramine is thought to be of use in this condition by increasing the stimulating effect of the chemical noradrenaline in the brain.

Treatments

* Depressive illness * Phobic or obsessional disorders * Sudden muscle weakness, associated with a disorder in which there are repeated attacks of extreme sleepiness.

What side effects can this drug cause?

* Drowsiness * Dry mouth * Sweating * Gut disturbances such as constipation, nausea, vomiting * Blurred vision * Difficulty in passing urine * Changes in appetite * Headache * Dizziness * Confusion * Sleep disturbances * Anxiety * Hot flushes * Involuntary muscle movements such as tremors or twitching * Weight gain * Sexual problems * Taste disturbance * Sensation of ringing or other noise in the ears * Drop in blood pressure when going from lying or sitting to sitting or standing, causing dizziness and lightheadedness * Abnormal heart beats * Convulsions