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clomipramine

(27 posts) (12 voices)

Started 2 years ago by aishah
Latest reply from Ratwomble
This topic is Not a support question

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aishah
Member

Hi everyone, I am feeling very low at the moment. I started taking clomipramine six weeks ago but am suffering from a lot of side effects : nausea, trembling, tiredness. Before I first started taking it I had anxiety quite bad, but within a few days of taking it my anxiety levels went off the scale and the intrusive thoughts flooded me. I felt very unwell and frightened
as I wasn't expecting it. I spoke to the phsyciatrist who prescribed it for me and he said it couldn't be the new medication that worsened my OCD, I am not convinced!

I have persevered with it for six weeks now and don't feel it is the right medication for me. I take citalopram 60mg daily also. Has anyone else on the forum taken clomipramine before, if so, how long did you have to wait for it to start working?
Also if anyone has experienced a worsening of OCD after taking new medications?

Thankyou

Regards
Bridget

Sat Jan 9 2010 15:58:21 #
Unregistered

Hi Bridget
I will not be popular with the medical profession for saying this but to the best of my knowledge clomipromine is prescribed for OCD because it is the cheapest drug available which has been shown to have positive results. It has been on the market for a very long time. I used to work for a company which analysed GP prescriptions and produced statistics for the drug companies and I have a copy of MIMS dated 1974 which is the medical index which GP's use and clomipramine was being prescibed then - so it has been prescribed for at least 35 years. I have another copy of MIMS dated 2000, the cost of Seroxat in 2000 was £17.76 for 30 20mg tabs, Clomipramine £5.40 for 84 25mg tabs.
I was prescribed clomipramine in the early 90's for my OCD and I developed an allergic all over body skin rash. I had to come off it and was put onto Seroxat instead which I found extremely beneficial and have been on it ever since. This does not mean Seroxat will be the best medication for you because we are all different.
I am not qualified to give you any advice as my only experience is as a patient but six weeks sounds to me plenty long enough to find out if a medication is working or not. Clomipramine is a tricyclic anti-depressant and in theory it should not worsen your OCD. Citalopram and Seroxat are SSRIs.
This is what my April 2000 MIMS says about SSRIs - "Compared with the tricyclic compounds they are better tolerated, are less sedative, produce less antimuscarinic side effects and less cardiotoxic".
Hope this helps, Joyce

Sat Jan 9 2010 19:49:50 #
Unregistered

Hi again Bridget
Just had a look on the internet for clomipramine and it has been prescribed since the '60's. I have copied this information:

"Side effects of clomipramine can be transient and mild to severe and life threatening. Common ones include dizziness, especially when changing positions from sitting to standing, drowsiness, weight gain, reduced libido, stomach discomfort and heartburn, dry mouth, and feelings of anxiety or inner restlessness (akathisia). A very rare, but unharmful side effect includes having orgasms while yawning, which appears to affect under 10% of the people who take this medication. Additionally, signs of allergy like sudden rash and difficulty breathing, though rare, are medically urgent symptoms".

Sounds like the symptoms you describe.
Unfortunately I got the skin rash not the yawning effect.
Joyce

Sun Jan 10 2010 11:31:42 #
Unregistered

Dear Bridget, I agree with Joyce, although for some Clomipramine does still offer the greatest relief of symptoms. SRIs and SSRIs can all cause increased anxiety for a few. You will know better than your doctor how the drug is affecting you. Doctors have told me side-effects from drugs could not be due to the medication. Pharmaceutical companies agreed with me and side-effects stopped once I discontinued the medication.

If you do want to come off Anafranil, do so with the guidance of your doctor. My husband threw my capsules away because of the side-effects and I became very ill because of stopping suddenly.

I went back on the drug, but after fourteen years of dizziness and other side-effects, and little relief from obsessions, I came off it gradually.

Love, Tricia.

P.S. Some medication can take twelve weeks before benefit is noticed. I have a friend who was about to stop her Prozac, but after three months it began to really help her.

Sun Jan 10 2010 14:51:05 #
aishah
Member

Hi Joyce and Tricia. Thanks for your replies.Today has been the worst day for having intrusive thoughts and worried thoughts, waking me up at 5.30 am. I tried to ignore them but could't and was so distressed by lunchtime that I asked a friend to take me to A & E as I couldn't cope and was very frightened.
We sat and had tea and I took some valium and I calmed down enough to cope again. I don't want to take the tablets tonight as I feel that they have worsened my OCD but as you said Tricia< I shouldn't stop them suddenly. I have my CBT appt in the morning and will try to get to see my pyschiatrist asap. I have been waiting for a referral to go through to my CMHT for the last ten days but they are saying they hav't received it yet. This is annoying, they discharge me when things are going ok, then you have to wait to be referred when in a crisis.

Thanks again for your replies and I hope you are both ok.

Best Wishes
Bridget

Sun Jan 10 2010 19:15:09 #
Unregistered

Dear Bridget

I am so sorry you are feeling so very ill. As Joyce and Tricia said you must not come off your pills without help from your doctor as you need to cut down very gradually. Hopefully your doctor will be able to put you on another kind of medication which helps more. Anafranil never worked on me - but citalopram has been quite useful. But it took 2 months to take effect and had bad side effects for the first three weeks. If I had taken half a pill aday for the first two weeks I probably would not have experienced these side effects.

I do think you should see your doctor straight away and tell him/her how bad you are feeling. Please keep on coming back to us.

We are here for you as always.

My thoughts are with you

Anne x

Sun Jan 10 2010 19:33:05 #
Truddles
Member

Dear Bridget,

My they've got you on quite a cocktail of drugs. If you're feeling that bad you need to see someone tomorrow about your medication. You shouldn't have to take valium to counteract the effects of medication. Do you take valium regularly or only when you need it?

Get them to chase up the rerefferal tell them that you are in crisis and need help now and not tomorrow. If necessary get your CBT therapist to help, tell the therapist just how ill you feel and that you can't cope, tell them about today. Write bullet point notes to take with you so that you don't forget.

Don't forget that we are all here for you and will do our best to support you through this crisis.

Thinking of you.

Trudy

Sun Jan 10 2010 19:46:22 #
aishah
Member

Hi Anne and Trudy, Thanks for your replies.I have only been taking valium if my anxiety is really bad, but the last few days I have been very panicky so have been taking them more than usual.

I will chase up my referral tomorrow. I am feeling calmer this evening so should be ok until the morning. I hope you are both OK and thanks for your support.

Best Wishes
Bridget x

Sun Jan 10 2010 19:55:02 #
vmb
Member

Hey aishah pretty good advice from the others...its difficult if medication aint working. Did you say you were taking two different tabs..sometimes mixing medication can cause different reactions to the body. I dont really know about medication, but I was on Proxitine (Seroxat) for a few years and felt that the medication did not help with my intrusive thoughts either.

I felt better when I got myself off them. I asked my dr advice and they said do it slowely. I cut mine down by quatre for about a month then another quatre 4 few weeks to a month and so on. I felt better off meds,but everyone is different its what works for u.
Sometimes medication can cause rushed thoughts which aint good for obsessive thinkers.

Dont worry you'l get through this period ur anxiety levels are probably higher now cus the intrusive thoughts have expanded and its knocked you for six. Try not to avoid daily activities to get your well being up to scratch again and remember its not you who thinking this way its the ocd...its not real...be strong and good luck

Sun Jan 10 2010 21:29:50 #
aishah
Member

Hi vmb, thanks for your support. I'm doing my best to plod on as usual it's just that somedays it's harder than others as I am sure you know only too well..

I am convinced the change in medication has triggered this latest episode and I wish I never bothered to make the change.

But up and onwards as they say
Best Wishes to you
Bridget

Mon Jan 11 2010 12:48:54 #
Unregistered

Dear Bridget, I hope you can see someone to discuss this as soon as possible.

Just to add that although many doctors did prescribe Clomipramine as the first choice for OCD, because of cost, I don’t think that happens so much now. I believe I read that SSRIs should now be tried first because they have less side-effects than the older Clomipramine. However, there was a time when this medication was almost regarded as a wonder drug for OCD and people in America were trying to find ways to get hold of it (it wasn’t licensed in the States, as it was in Britain and Canada). A friend of mine in America was desperate to try it in the 70s. When she managed to find a doctor to prescribe it, a few years later, she was bitterly disappointed.

Like with everything OCD-related, what works well for one might do nothing for another. I have two friends who have been prescribed Clomipramine when SSRIs failed to help. For some it still is the drug of choice.

It really doesn’t sound as if it is for you, Bridget. I just didn’t want to think I had put anyone off the drug and although it’s cheap it can be the best medication for some.

Love, Tricia.

Mon Jan 11 2010 13:28:04 #
aishah
Member

Hi Tricia, thanks for that. I've still not got an appt to see psychiatrist to discuss medication. I am taking it with a heavy heart but until I see my G.P. tomorrow I will carry on.

I wish I hadn't bothered changing meds as I have had the most horrible 6 weeks since taking it. I will consider taking Olanzapine again, it is good for anxiety but makes you put on a lot of weight. I'll let you know how it goes.
I hope you are ok.

Bridgetx

Mon Jan 11 2010 16:42:04 #
Truddles
Member

Hi Bridget,

I'm so pleased that you've managed to get an appointment with your GP, perhaps the GP can get you an early appt with the psychiatrist.

If you do have to go back on Olanzapine, try changing to a low GI diet. It will give you more energy and should help to control the weight. It's not a 'diet' it's a healthy eating plan and is quite easy to follow without making too many changes to what you eat.

Trudyx

Mon Jan 11 2010 17:24:03 #
aishah
Member

Hi everyone, thanks for your replies. I saw my G.P. today and she discovered that the referral which should have been made two weeks ago hadn't actually been done. The G.P. hand wrote a letter there and then and faxed it over to CMHT. I phoned them later and spoke to the lovely pyschiatrist I will be seeing but he said it probably won't be until next week as he is only at my local CMHT on a Tuesday.

I feel so low today and negative, I can't seem to shake out of it.

Best Wishes

Bridget

Tue Jan 12 2010 17:34:34 #
Unregistered

Hi Bridget

Sorry you are feeling low and negative today. Keep PMing and posting and we will do our best to cheer you up. It is wonderful that you have a nice psychiatrist who really understands OCD. Keep yourself occupied and the week will pass quickly.

Love
Anne

Tue Jan 12 2010 18:19:40 #
Anon
Member

Hiya, i just thought i would share an experience of mine as it may be of some reassurance to you. Firstly though i empathise enormously with you feeling down. I get that so often and i hate it. But try to focus on things that have made you happy in the past and stick with those things. Secondly, i started taking prozac around 3 months ago and the first fe weeks to a month were literally HORRENDOUS for me. My ocd and anxiety went through the roof and i was practically trembling from such extreme anxiety. HOWEVER........my anxiety levels dramatically reduced since then (despite not really cutting my compulsions off) and i feel a fair bit better. I think im just trying to tell you what you may or may not already know.....that there most certainly is light at the end of the tunnel. dont despair it will work out for you i guarantee
Anon

Wed Jan 13 2010 7:50:20 #
aishah
Member

Hi Anon, thanks for your reply. Yes its been hell for last few weeks but I am feeling a bit better today. The intrusive thoughts have definately been around but I havn't responded to them as I usually do. Usually my anxiety levels go through the roof and I feel panicky. Yesterday I didn't stop crying and couldn't cope but thank goodness I am coping better today. I'm glad that your medication is helping you at the mom.
I know there is light at the end of the tunnel but the tunnel feels too long sometimes.

Thanks

Bridget

Wed Jan 13 2010 17:12:20 #
Charles Greenwood
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Tue Jul 20 2010 2:16:37 #
ac
Member

Hi.
I changed to Clomipramine from Citalopram as I felt that, while the Citalopram helped a bit with my depression, I was feeling mentally 'foggy' and I thought that it might be more helpful in controlling my OCD.
However, I also found that my anxiety levels and obsessions increased whilst taking this medicine, which eventually resulted in my having to leave my job.
Although I'm not entirely sure that it was the Clomipramine that caused this, I started experincing 'groinal responses' (see http://www.ocdonline.com/articlephillipson7.php - United States) shortly after starting on this medication, which I hadn't experienced previously (although I had been suffering from intrusive thoughts).
Has anyone else experienced or heard of this happening?

Fri Aug 20 2010 22:14:49 #
Truddles
Member

Hi ac,

Welcome to the forum

I can't take medication for my OCD because of my other medical problems. But I do know of others that say that some of the medication for OCD has actually made things worse.

We all react differently to medication and what works for one doesn't necessarily work for someone else. It's really a question of trying medications until you find one that works for you. Also sometimes when you start medication things do get worse before they eventually improve.

Have you been offered Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for your OCD? As this is the treatment of choice for OCD.

Fri Aug 20 2010 22:40:35 #
aishah
Member

Hi ac,

Sorry you are going through it at the moment. I was prescribed Clomipramine at the end of last year, I must say it didn't agree with me at all, I had most of the side effects, severe nausea, constipation, dizziness, loss of appetite, stomach discomfort, dry mouth to name but a few.

Its difficult to be sure that the worsening of my OCD symptoms were down to the Clomipramine though, my psychiatrist believes I was heading for a bad episode of OCD anyway and doesn't agree it was the medication.

Also I was reducing Olanzapine at the same time.
I am now on Escitalopram but still find that whatever I have taken or take now still leaves me with that "foggy" feeling.

I can sympathise that the "groinal responses" must be very unpleasant for you. Have you spoken to your Psychiatrist about this?

I do hope that this medication works out for you but if not there are others to try so don't worry.

Let us know how you are getting on.

Take Care
Bridget

Sat Aug 21 2010 11:38:06 #
swan
Member

Hi it has been suggested that i go on Clomipramine, having looked at the side effects they are horrendous and its balancing o=possible improvements with side effects

Sat Aug 21 2010 13:33:18 #
Unregistered

Dear Teresa, It can be a very effective medication. The side-effects can be worse than those of an SSRI, but I have a friend who has been on the drug for years with minimal side-effects and much benefit. It might be worth trying.

Tricia x

Sat Aug 21 2010 14:39:44 #
swan
Member

One additional difficulty is that it could interact with my epilepsy tablets causing me to have more seizures.
What joy

Sat Aug 21 2010 16:43:08 #
Unregistered

Oh, Teresa, of course. What a nightmare. Tricia x

Sun Aug 22 2010 12:02:18 #
ac
Member

Hi. Just wanted to say thanks for the supportive messages I received in response to my post. I've had CBT in the past for another obsession (I had a fear that I was causing disasters etc by 'willing' them to happen) and I'm currently waiting to start a further course of treatment. However, I'm still a bit worried about mentioning the groinal responses...

Sun Aug 22 2010 14:04:24 #
Biffo
Member

Hi I've been taking clomipramine for many years, to help ease the anxiety my intrusive thoughts caused me. I found it a great help although it take between 4 to 6 weeks to work. I recently came off the drug thinking i was cured, Bad idea the ocd came back big time!!!! So 2 weeks ago I went back on the meds but will have to wait a few more weeks before the kick in and ease my anxiety.

Mon Aug 22 2011 10:26:40 #
Ratwomble
Member

Hi biffo,

I was on chlomipramine for a while but it reacted a bit with another drug I was in si they took me off it. As I recall it worked pretty well.

Good luck

David

Mon Aug 22 2011 22:01:12 #

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