Rheumatoid Arthritis Support

After taking the medicine this drug may cause some side-effects in some patients, particularly with the first few doses.

Allergy: isolated cases of pneumonitis (fever, chills, cough, difficulty with breathing, unusual weight loss, feeling sick, puffy, swollen face, tongue or body) have been reported. These reactions may be severe, causing shortness of breath, swelling, shock and collapse.

Isolated changes in blood cells.

Arrhythmias: irregular heart rhythms.

Weight gain has been reported frequently. Disturbances in sexual function have been reported occasionally. Isolated cases of enlarged mammary glands, production or over-production of breast milk, increased or decreased blood sugar levels and weight loss have been reported. Low levels of salt in the blood have been reported, usually in elderly patients.

Tremor has been reported frequently. Headache, confusion, orthostatic hypotension (resulting in dizziness upon standing), numbness/tingling, agitation, anxiety, restlessness, mood swings, exaggerated behaviour, delusions and hallucinations have been reported occasionally and are more common in the elderly or in patients on high doses. Aggressiveness, weakness, lack of co-ordination, sudden muscle spasms, difficulty speaking have been reported in isolated cases.

Imipramine also enhances the CNS effects of both stimulants and alcohol, and blocks the parasympathomimetic effects of stimulants while enhancing the cortical excitation. This can be dangerous in some cases and result in seizures and coma.

Ringing or buzzing in the ears.

Feeling or being sick and loss of appetite have been reported occasionally. Isolated cases of tongue lesions and inflammation of the mucus membranes in the mouth have been reported. Extreme dry mouth or "cotton mouth" has been reported. Mild to severe constipation has also been reported.

Changes in liver function have been reported occasionally. Hepatitis and jaundice (yellowing of the skin and/or whites of the eyes) have been reported in isolated cases.

Allergic reactions such as an itchy skin rash have been reported occasionally. Isolated cases of swelling, sensitivity to the sun or sun lamps, hair loss, small purple red spots and itching have been reported.

If the medicine is stopped too quickly, there is the possibility the user may suffer from feeling or being sick, stomach pains, diarrhea, headache, sleeplessness, nervousness, anxiety, irritability and increased sweating.


Adapted from the Wikipedia article Imipramine, under the G. N. U. Free Documentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki