The main pharmacological effect is inhibition and containment of reuptake materials of norepinephrine and serotonin neurotransmitter. Anafranil is a tricyclic antidepressant, its therapeutic effects are well known and it is an alpha- adrenolytic, as well as anticholinergic, anti-allergic and anti-serotonergic agent. Its basis is represented by Clomipramine. It works by restoring the balance of certain natural substances (serotonin, in particular) in the brain. The drug is used to treat symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) such as repetitive actions, repetitive thoughts or feelings.
To feel the clinical improvement is possible in 2 to 3 weeks after starting the course. It has excellent effect on depressive conditions, minimizing the main indications - psychomotor, sluggishness, repressed emotions, psychasthenia. In pain syndromes of chronic form which can be caused by medical conditions due to the action of the drug is facilitated by the transmission of a nerve impulse so the pain is reduced.
Pharmacokinetic properties include immediate drug absorption from the gastrointestinal tract so that the overall bioavailability will be invariably about 50%. The liver is formed with the active biotransformation of N-desmethyl-clomipramine.
In what kind of disease treatmentAnafranilis helpful?
Depression of various origin (androgenic / reactive / neurotic disorders / organic / secretive / involutionally-hallucinogenic pathology);
Depression status on the background of schizophrenia and psychopathy;
Senile melancholy;
Somatic chronic diseases;
OCD syndrome;
Anxiety and panic attacks;
Cataplexy;
Narcolepsy.
In children:
OCD;
Children's urinary incontinence at night.
It can be prescribed only to patients who have reached the age of five and at the correct assessment by specialist of ratio of possible complications and risks with potential benefits. Alternative therapy can be appointed and selected only the attending physician. Clinical studies of laboratory-accurate results on the safety and efficacy of adolescents and children are not received.
What should I tell my health care provider before I takeGeneric Anafranil?
Sensitivity to the components and the main active ingredient;
Intolerance of medicines of group of tricyclic antidepressants;
Concurrent consumption of drugs with MAO-inhibitors / selective inhibitors of group A (permissible only 2 weeks);
Myocardial infarction;
Chronic Long QT syndrome;
Pregnancy;
Childhood.
Use it with extreme caution in elderly patients. It requires general control of state.
How should I take Anafranil?
Taking of this medication should be administered orally with or without food. To reduce side effects such as stomach upset take it in small doses, carried out in several stages during the day with meals. Then you can slowly increase the amount of received drug as your body get used to it. After achieving comfortable dosage it can be taken as a whole once a day usually at night to prevent daytime sleepiness.
Dosage information
For the treatment of phobias, OCD and depression the drug should be taken to three times 25 mg. The amount of the drug taken regularly can be increased to 100-150 mg. Once the patient's condition improved he is transferred to the maintenance therapy - 50-100 mg of the drug per day.
As a rule, the daily dose does not exceed 250 milligrams for adults and 200 milligrams for children and adolescents. Do not take more or less medication or more often than prescribed by a specialist. You will not improve your condition faster but your risk of side effects (seizures) may be increased.
What may interact with Anafranil?
Estrogen, Cimetidine and methylphenidate increased plasma concentrations of Clomipramine. In combination with the drug Ephedrine and Ethanol their efficiency is increased but also is increased the number and frequency of occurrence of side reactions.
The drug is able to enhance the effects of antiparkinsonian agents.
Phenothiazines at simultaneous reception increase the load on the central nervous system, bowel and bladder, increase the risk of seizures.
Hormonal contraceptives increase the probability of depression.
Furazolidone and Levodopa in combination with Anafranil can significantly increase blood pressure.
What should I watch for while taking Anafranil?
Avoid eating a grapefruit and grapefruit juice which can increase the amount of drug in the blood. Stop taking Anafranil should be performed gradually, two to three weeks or longer.
Studies about its using during pregnancy are limited. Obtained data in the course of clinical and laboratory tests indicate an association of tricyclic antidepressants and frequently occurring interruptions in the normal development of the fetus. It is recommended to refrain from taking Generic Anafranil in this period. The exception may be emergency episodes when the predicted result prevails over possible potential risk for the child.
Medicine saturation of components is very high in human milk. Therefore, do not take it in lactation period.
It is proved that this group of antidepressants reduces the seizure threshold and from this we can conclude that epileptic drug application should be done with extreme caution. Parallel antipsychotic agents in brain injury of different etymology require additional anticonvulsants appointments as it is widely known connection even minor biodozes of drug and the occurrence of convulsions.
Existing aneurysm can trigger a sudden increase in intraocular pressure and diseases of the prostate provoke urinary retention. With the rejection of the drug listed ailments disappear after a couple of days. For the avoidance of serotonin toxicity do not increase dose because Clomipramine concentration in the blood should not exceed the average.
What side effects may I notice from Generic Anafranil?
During the treatment it is possible the development of adverse effects in the activity of the nervous system: drowsiness, severe fatigue, increased appetite, anxiety, confusion, hallucinations and more. In addition, may suffer activities of cardiovascular, digestive, endocrine and other systems. Also, may arise deviations of hematopoiesis functions, sensitivity problems and so on.
In case of overdose often develop symptoms same as in the cases of receiving high doses of other types of tricyclic antidepressants. The main complications of this are in violation of cardiac activity and the formation of neurological disorders of varying severity. When this happens with children the situation is particularly dangerous and threatening death. In any case it needs the help of professionals who will be able to appoint and carry out the right treatment.
Where can I keep Anafranil?
A place where you can keep the Anafranil drug should be dark, dry, away from the reach of children at 25 degrees temperature.
