Imipramine Sexual Side Effects

Some people may experience side effects during treatment with imipramine. Sexual side effects are among these possible imipramine side effects. In previous clinical studies, imipramine was shown to cause impotence and changes in sex drive. If you develop any imipramine sexual side effects, let your healthcare provider know. He or she may prescribe an erectile dysfunction medication, adjust your imipramine dosage, or recommend a different drug for depression.

Imipramine (Tofranil, Tofranil PM)

Imipramine Sexual Side Effects: An Overview

Imipramine hydrochloride (Tofranil^®) and imipramine pamoate (Tofranil PM^®) are prescription medications that are part of a group of medications called tricyclic antidepressants. As with all medicines, imipramine has possible side effects. Some of these side effects can affect a person's sexual well-being. In the case of imipramine, there are a few sexual side effects that have been reported.

Specific Sexual Side Effects With Imipramine

In clinical studies using imipramine to treat depression, the following sexual side effects were reported:

Changes in sex drive (libido), including an increased sex drive or decreased sex drive.
Impotence. Impotence is usually defined as a total inability to achieve erection, an inconsistent ability to do so, or a tendency to sustain only brief erections. Ultimately, impotence is the repeated inability to get or keep an erection firm enough for sexual intercourse. Impotence is also known as erectile dysfunction (or ED for short).

The exact percentages of people who experienced these side effects were not reported.

Imipramine, Sexual Side Effects, and Suggestions

It is impossible for your healthcare provider to know beforehand whether you will develop any sexual side effects while taking imipramine.

Also, if a person does develop sexual side effects, it is difficult to know whether these problems are caused by another condition or imipramine itself.

However, if you develop any sexual side effects while taking imipramine, make sure to talk with your healthcare provider. There is treatment that he or she may be able to recommend, such as an erectile dysfunction medication. Depending on how severe your imipramine sexual side effects are, he or she may also recommend that you adjust your imipramine dosage or try another medication for depression.