trimipramine

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Pronunciation: trye MI pra meen

Brand: Surmontil

What is the most important information I should know about trimipramine?

You should not use this medicine if you have recently had a heart attack.

Do not use trimipramine if you have used an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days, such as isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, or tranylcypromine.

Some young people have thoughts about suicide when first taking an antidepressant. Stay alert to changes in your mood or symptoms. Report any new or worsening symptoms to your doctor.

What is trimipramine?

Trimipramine is a tricyclic antidepressant. Trimipramine affects chemicals in the brain that may be unbalanced in people with depression.

Trimipramine is used to treat symptoms of depression.

Trimipramine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking trimipramine?

You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to trimipramine, or if:

  • you have recently had a heart attack; or
  • you are allergic to antidepressants such as amitriptyline, amoxapine, clomipramine, desipramine, doxepin, imipramine, nortriptyline, or protriptyline.

Do not use trimipramine if you have used an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur. MAO inhibitors include isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, tranylcypromine, and others.

To make sure trimipramine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

  • bipolar disorder (manic-depression) or schizophrenia;
  • a history of mental illness or psychosis;
  • liver disease;
  • heart disease;
  • overactive thyroid;
  • a history of heart attack, stroke, or seizures;
  • diabetes (trimipramine may raise or lower blood sugar);
  • narrow-angle glaucoma; or
  • problems with urination.

Some young people have thoughts about suicide when first taking an antidepressant. Your doctor should check your progress at regular visits. Your family or other caregivers should also be alert to changes in your mood or symptoms.

It is not known whether trimipramine will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medicine.

It is not known whether trimipramine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Trimipramine is not approved for use by anyone younger than 18 years old.

How should I take trimipramine?

Follow all directions on your prescription label. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results. Do not use this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.

It may take up to 4 weeks before your symptoms improve. Keep using the medication as directed and tell your doctor if your symptoms do not improve.

If you need surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are using trimipramine. You may need to stop using the medicine for a short time.

Do not stop using trimipramine suddenly, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Ask your doctor how to safely stop using trimipramine.

Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.

Read all patient information, medication guides, and instruction sheets provided to you. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. An overdose of trimipramine can be fatal.

Overdose symptoms may include extreme drowsiness, vomiting, dilated pupils, stiff muscles, fever, feeling cold, or fainting.

What should I avoid while taking trimipramine?

Drinking alcohol with this medicine can cause side effects.

This medication may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.

Avoid exposure to sunlight or tanning beds. Trimipramine can make you sunburn more easily. Wear protective clothing and use sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) when you are outdoors.

What are the possible side effects of trimipramine?

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Report any new or worsening symptoms to your doctor, such as: mood or behavior changes, anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, or if you feel impulsive, irritable, agitated, hostile, aggressive, restless, hyperactive (mentally or physically), more depressed, or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

  • blurred vision, tunnel vision, eye pain or swelling, or seeing halos around lights;
  • a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;
  • new or worsening chest pain, pounding heartbeats or fluttering in your chest;
  • confusion, unusual thoughts or behavior;
  • a seizure (convulsions);
  • painful or difficult urination;
  • easy bruising, unusual bleeding;
  • sudden weakness or ill feeling, fever, chills, sore throat;
  • restless muscle movements in your eyes, tongue, jaw, or neck; or
  • high levels of serotonin in the body --agitation, hallucinations, fever, fast heart rate, overactive reflexes, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of coordination, fainting.

Older adults may be more likely to have side effects from this medicine.

Common side effects may include:

  • blurred vision;
  • sleep problems (insomnia);
  • drowsiness, dizziness;
  • numbness or tingling in your hands or feet;
  • problems with balance or coordination;
  • dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite;
  • breast swelling (in men or women); or
  • changes in weight.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect trimipramine?

Taking this medicine with other drugs that make you sleepy can worsen this effect. Ask your doctor before taking trimipramine with a sleeping pill, narcotic pain medicine, muscle relaxer, or medicine for anxiety, depression, or seizures.

Tell your doctor if you have used an "SSRI" antidepressant in the past 5 weeks, such as citalopram, escitalopram, fluoxetine (Prozac), fluvoxamine, paroxetine, sertraline (Zoloft), trazodone, or vilazodone.

You must wait at least 5 weeks after stopping fluoxetine (Prozac) before you can take trimipramine.

Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any you start or stop using, especially:

  • any other antidepressant, or medicine to treat anxiety or mental illness;
  • cimetidine;
  • fentanyl, tramadol;
  • St. John's wort;
  • cold medicine that contains a decongestant (such as phenylephrine or pseudoephedrine);
  • heart rhythm medicine such as flecainide, propafenone, quinidine, and others; or
  • migraine headache medicine such as sumatriptan or rizatriptan, and others.

This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with trimipramine, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about trimipramine.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

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