Imipramine Alternatives

If you experience side effects while taking imipramine, or if imipramine does not improve your symptoms, alternatives to the drug may be considered. Some examples of common drug alternatives to imipramine include other tricyclic antidepressants, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, and monoamine oxidase inhibitors. Besides antidepressants, imipramine alternatives can also include psychotherapy, electroconvulsive therapy, and natural therapies.

Imipramine (Tofranil, Tofranil PM)

Imipramine Alternatives: An Overview

Imipramine hydrochloride (Tofranil^®) and imipramine pamoate (Tofranil PM^®) are prescription medicines used for the treatment of depression (also known as major depression or clinical depression). Imipramine is part of a group of antidepressant medications called tricyclic antidepressants. For many people, imipramine is effective at treating depression symptoms. The drug is also generally well-tolerated. However, as with all medicines, it is possible that side effects will occur during treatment with imipramine or that the medicine may not adequately control a person's symptoms. Fortunately, there are several alternatives to imipramine for depression treatment, including:

Therapy
Other depression medications (also known as antidepressants)
Electroconvulsive therapy
Alternative (natural) therapies.

(This article describes alternatives to imipramine for the treatment of depression. Imipramine hydrochloride is also used to treat bedwetting in children. For information about alternative treatments for this condition, see Bedwetting.)

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