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From: stevew@iscuva.ISCS.COM (Steve Walton)
Newsgroups: sci.med,sci.psychology
Subject: Re: Medication for Obsessive-Compulsive disorders?
Message-ID: <1299@iscuva.ISCS.COM>
Date: 4 Apr 88 18:14:02 GMT
References: <2425@saturn.ucsc.edu> <3909@bloom-beacon.MIT.EDU> <1684@uhccux.UUCP> <1710@uhccux.UUCP> <1105@sbcs.sunysb.edu>
Organization: ISC Systems Corporation, Spokane, WA
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Summary: Side-Effects of Tricyclic Anti-Depressants


I have been taking Imipramine for over six months. Its effects have been
extremely beneficial. I have experienced most of the more common
side-effects (cotton-mouth, low tolerance of heat and sunlight, low
tolerance of caffeine and chocolate, as well as the uncomfortable
side-effects of palpitations and some problems, as Mel Brooks said in "High
Anxiety", with the wee-wee.

Luckily for me (or unluckily, some might say) my father is a psychiatrist,
and prescribes tricyclics frequently. So, when my own physician was
unavailable, or obscure in his reply, I would call my father with questions.
The prescribed duration of anti-depressant medication is usually 6-9 months
*after* the medication has shown a theraputic effect. Other than weaning the
patient off of the medication rather than stopping abruptly, there is no
cause for concern about lasting side effects. I will be sure to let you know
in the next 2-3 months, when I come off of Imipramine, how well that advice
holds up. By the way, tricyclic anti-depressants are usually used to treat
depression, in my case a bout with Epstein-Barr, and/or panic disorders, as
well as "obsessive-compulsive behavior".

Imipramine does not work for everyone. In my case, it has restored me to a
normal life from almost complete debilitation.

later,

Steve Walton