Apo-Clomipramine

Clomipramine 10mg Tablets

Pack of 100 x 10mg Tablets

What Apo-Clomipramine is used for and how it works

Your Apo-Clomipramine tablets contain clomipramine hydrochloride. They belongs to a group of medicines known as tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs).

Apo-Clomipramine is used to treat depression. Depression is thought to be caused by a chemical imbalance in parts of the brain. This affects your whole body and can cause emotional and physical symptoms such as feeling low in spirit, loss of interest in activities, being unable to enjoy life, poor appetite or overeating, disturbed sleep, often waking up early, loss of sex drive, lack of energy and feeling guilty over nothing. Apo-Clomipramine works by correcting this chemical imbalance and may help relieve the symptoms of depression.

Apo-Clomipramine is also used to treat obsessive-compulsive syndromes, phobias, panic attacks, muscle weakness in people with a sleep disorder called narcolepsy, and chronic painful conditions.

Your physician may, however, prescribe Apo-Clomipramine for another reason. Ask your physician if you have any questions about why Apo-Clomipramine has been prescribed for you.

Apo-Clomipramine is not recommended for use in children 12 years of age and under. Apo-Clomipramine is not recommended for use in adolescents (13-18 years of age) for the treatment of depression, unless under the supervision of a specialist.

When you must not take Apo-Clomipramine

Do not take Apo-Clomipramine if:

• You are allergic to clomipramine, other tricyclic antidepressants or any other ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet
• You are taking another medicine for depression called a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) or have been taking a MAOI within the last 14 days. Ask your physician or pharmacist if you are unsure as to whether or not you are taking a MAOI
• You have recently had a heart attack.

Symptoms of an allergic reaction may include shortness of breath, wheezing or difficulty breathing; swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body; rash, itching or hives on the skin.

Before you take Apo-Clomipramine

Tell your physician if:

• You have had an allergic reaction to any medicine that you have taken previously to treat your current condition
• You have heart or liver problems
• You have difficulty passing urine
• You have epilepsy, fits or convulsions (or a condition such as alcoholism, brain damage or a recent head injury which might make fits more likely to occur)
• You are pregnant, plan to become pregnant or are breastfeeding
• You suffer from an overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism) or are receiving thyroid medication
• You suffer from raised pressure in the eye (glaucoma)
• You suffer from chronic constipation
• You suffer from phaeochromocytoma or neuroblastoma (rare tumours of the adrenal gland)
• You suffer from low or high blood pressure
• You have suicidal thoughts or have attempted suicide in the past
• You suffer from mania (mood of excitement, over-activity and uninhibited behaviour) or bipolar disorder
• You have allergies to any other medicines, foods, preservatives or dyes.

Taking other medicines with Apo-Clomipramine

If you are taking any other medicines, including any you get without a prescription from a pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop, tell your physician or pharmacist.

Medicines that may interfere with Apo-Clomipramine include:

• Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (e.g. moclobemide, phenelzine, tranylcypromine)
• Other antidepressants (e.g. SSRIs and tricyclic antidepressants)
• Adrenergic Neurone Blockers (e.g. guanethidine, betanidine, reserpine, clonidine)
• Sympathomimetics, such as nasal decongestants (used for colds or hay fever)
• CNS Depressants (e.g. barbiturates, benzodiazepines)
• Anticholinergic Agents (e.g. phenothiazine, antiparkinsonian agents, antihistamines)
• Quinidine
• Liver-Enzyme Inducers (e.g. barbiturates, carbamazepine, phenytoin, nicotine)
• Neuroleptics
• Anticoagulants (e.g. warfarin)
• Cimetidine (used to treat ulcers and other stomach complaints)
• Methylphenidate
• Oestrogens (e.g. oral contraceptive pill or hormone replacement therapy).

These medicines may be affected by Apo-Clomipramine or may affect how well Apo-Clomipramine works. You may need different amounts of your medicines or you may need to take different medicines.

Your physician or pharmacist has more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while taking Apo-Clomipramine.

How to take Apo-Clomipramine properly

Your physician will tell you how much Apo-Clomipramine you need to take each day. It is important that you take Apo-Clomipramine as directed by your physician. Do not take more than the recommended dose.

It may take up to 4 weeks before any response to Apo-Clomipramine is noticeable.

For Depression, Obsessive-Compulsive Syndromes and Phobias: Treatment is usually started with 25mg of clomipramine 2 or 3 times daily. If necessary, your physician may increase the dose up to a maximum of 250mg a day. The usual maintenance dose is 50 to 100mg per day.

For Panic Attacks, Agoraphobia: Treatment is usually started with a dose of 10mg daily. If necessary, your physician may increase the dose up to a maximum of 150mg a day. The usual maintenance dose is 25 to 100mg per day.

For Muscle Weakness Accompanying Narcolepsy: The dose is usually 25 to 75mg daily.

For Chronic Painful Conditions: The daily dose varies (10 to 150mg) depending on your condition.

If you are elderly, you may be started on a dose of 10mg daily. Your physician may increase your dose over a period of about ten days, to 30-50mg daily.

Your physician may tell you to take different doses to these. If so, follow their instructions.

The tablet(s) should be swallowed whole with a glass of water.

How long to take Apo-Clomipramine

For depression, the treatment is usually continued for at least six months to prevent potential recurrence. You may not feel better immediately as most antidepressants take time to work. Do not stop taking Apo-Clomipramine even if you begin to feel better, unless your physician tells you to do so. Make sure you do not run out of tablets.

While you are taking Apo-Clomipramine

Tell all physicians, dentists and pharmacists who are treating you that you are taking Apo-Clomipramine.

Tell your physician or pharmacist that you are taking Apo-Clomipramine before you start any new medicine.

Tell your physician if you develop a skin rash or hives, or you become pregnant while taking Apo-Clomipramine.

If you are going to have surgery, tell the surgeon or anaesthetist that you are taking Apo-Clomipramine.

If you are going to have any blood tests, tell your physician that you are taking Apo-Clomipramine.

Keep all appointments you and your physician have scheduled so that your progress can be followed.

Tell your physician if you notice any of the following, especially if they are severe, abrupt in onset, or were not part of your presenting symptoms: anxiety, agitation, panic attacks, insomnia (difficulty sleeping), irritability, hostility (aggressiveness), impulsivity, akathisia (restlessness or difficulty sitting still), hypomania, mania (mood of excitement, over-activity and uninhibited behaviour), worsening of depression.

Tell your physician immediately if you have any distressing thoughts (thought of suicide or self-harm) or experiences during this initial period or at any other time.

Do not take Apo-Clomipramine to treat any other complaints unless your physician tells you to.

Do not stop taking Apo-Clomipramine or lower the dose without first checking with your physician.

Do not give this medicine to anyone else, even if their symptoms seem similar to yours.

Apo-Clomipramine may cause drowsiness in some people. Be careful when driving, operating machinery or performing jobs that need you to be alert, until you are certain that Apo-Clomipramine does not affect your performance.

Your physician may suggest avoiding alcohol while you are being treated for depression.

Side effects of Apo-Clomipramine

Tell your pharmacist or physician as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking Apo-Clomipramine.

All medicines can have some unwanted effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical treatment if you get some of the side effects.

Tell your physician or pharmacist if you notice any of the following and they worry you:

• Stomach or bowel problems (e.g. nausea, diarrhoea, constipation)
• Drowsiness
• Dry mouth or taste change
• Increased sweating
• Increased appetite
• Shakiness or tremor
• Changes in your sex drive
• Dizziness
• Tiredness
• Headache
• Weakness
• Impaired concentration or thought processes
• Trouble sleeping
• Vision problems
• Irregular heart beats, also called palpitations.

These are the more common side effects of Apo-Clomipramine.

Tell your physician immediately if you:

• Develop a rash or hives while taking Apo-Clomipramine.

This side effect is rare but serious. You may need urgent medical attention.

See your physician if you experience any of the following when you stop Apo-Clomipramine treatment:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Abdominal pain
• Diarrhoea
• Insomnia (difficulty sleeping)
• Headache
• Nervousness
• Anxiety

The list of side effects mentioned above is not complete. If you should suffer from any of these side effects or any other undesired effect please tell your physician or pharmacist. Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects. You may not experience any of them.

Apo-Clomipramine Ingredients

Apo-Clomipramine tablets contain 10mg of the active ingredient, clomipramine hydrochloride. Apo-Clomipramine tablets also contain lactose, maize starch, povidone, sodium starch glycollate, magnesium stearate, contents of an organic film coat (isopropyl alcohol, chloroform, diethyl phthalate, hypromellose, opaspray white) and carnauba wax.

Delivery Time: 7-14 Days