Clomipramine

General information

Clomipramine is the imipramine analogue of chlorpromazine. However, while the difference between chlorpromazine and promazine is large, adding a chloride atom to imipramine hardly affects its actions. Most trials have failed to show any superiority of the chlorinated compound over imipramine. The adverse reactions profile is similar [ ], but drowsiness, confusion, and “feeling awful” are commonly reported [ ].

In a controlled comparison between clomipramine and amitriptyline, the former caused adverse reactions more often, especially drowsiness [ ]. The adverse effects in overdose are the same as with other tricyclic antidepressants [ ]; fatal interactions with monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors have been reported [ ].

Besides depression, clomipramine is also widely used in the treatment of phobic and obsessive–compulsive disorders [ ] and in panic disorders [ ].

Organs and systems