What Clomipramine is used for:

• Clomipramine is used to treat depression (especially if you also need to be sedated), obsessions and phobias (irrational fears).


• It is also used along with other medications to treat cataplexy.

Do not use Clomipramine :

• Are allergic to clomipramine or any of the other ingredients of this medicine


• Have ever had a rash or other allergic reaction to any other antidepressants


• Have had a heart attack within the last 3 months


• Have problems with your heart beat


• Have any serious liver disease


• Have a mental health condition called mania


• Have glaucoma (increased eye pressure)


• Have difficulty in passing urine


• Are taking, or within the last 3 weeks have taken medicines for depression called monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI)


• Are taking medicines called selective, reversible monoamine oxidase-A (MAO-A) inhibitors such as moclobemide

Warnings and precautions:

• Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Clomipramine if you:


• Have ever had suicidal thoughts


• Suffer from epilepsy (fits)


• Have had a head injury or have suffered brain damage


• Are going to have electric shock therapy (ECT)


• Have other problems with your heart


• Have been told you have a low level of potassium in your blood (hypokalemia)


• Have kidney disease


• Suffer from schizophrenia or other mental health conditions


• Have a blood disorder


• Have an overactive thyroid gland


• Have had severe constipation for a long time


• Have a tumor (cancer) of the adrenal gland (such as phaeochromocytoma or neuroblastoma)


• Liver disease


• Have low blood pressure


• Wear contact lenses


• Are elderly

Possible side effects:

• Stop using the product and seek immediate medical attention if you develop throat tightness or swelling of the eyes, face, lips or tongue, feel faint, or have difficulty breathing.


• Stop using the product if you develop hives or itching of the face or body.

Other medicines and Clomipramine:

• Clomipramine interacts with a large number of other medicines.


• Make sure your doctor or pharmacist knows if you are taking any of the following:


• Medicines for depression, particularly maois


• Diuretics


• Anesthetics


• Antihistamines


• Medicines for other mental health conditions such as schizophrenia or manic depression


• Medicines for high blood pressure e.g.Guanethidine, betanidine, reserpine, clonidine or alpha


• Methyldopa or norepinephrine


• Norepinephrine (noradrenaline)


• Medicines to treat heart disorders


• Beta-blockers


• Anticoagulants


• Aspirin and similar pain killing non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (nsaids)


• Medicines for Parkinson's Disease


• Nicotine


• Anticonvulsants


• Decongestants


• Cimetidine


• Methylphenidate


• Rifampicin


• Quinine


• Strong painkillers such as tramadol, nefopam, morphine or morphine related substances


• Drugs of abuse including Ecstasy


• Atropine or similar medicines


• Medicines containing estrogens


• Medicines called protease inhibitors, used to treat Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)


• Terbinafine


• Colestipol, cholestyramine


• John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum)


• Disulfiram


• Altretamine


• Baclofen


• Pentamidine


• Levacetylmethadol

How to use Clomipramine:

The recommended dose is:

• For depression a starting dose of 10 mg which can be increased to find a dose that works for you.


• This is normally 30 - 150 mg daily or up to a maximum of 250 mg daily for severe conditions.


• For obsessions and phobias, a starting dose of 25 mg which can be increased to 100 - 150 mg daily.


• For cataplexy a starting dose of 10 mg which can be increased to a maximum of 75 mg daily.

How to store Clomipramine :

• Store Clomipramine capsules below 25°C in a dry place.


• Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.


• Do not use this medicine after the expiry date, which is stated on the pack or bottle.


• The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.


• Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste.