Will Clomipramine Give Relief From Obsessive Compulsive Disorder?

Are you distressed because you feel things need to be just a particular way? Do you have unnecessary urges that cause you anxiety? Are you living in constant fear of something, like the idea of germs everywhere? If you observe a pattern in your behaviour that drives you to do things over and over, then, it is a mental disorder. It is called obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). A mental disorder that features a pattern of unwanted and repeated thoughts, feelings, ideas, sensations (obsessions), and behaviours; OCD also drives the patients to do something over and over (compulsions). It is also possible that when you try to ignore or stop your obsession the distress and anxiety increase.

Sometimes the disorder may include only obsessions, and sometimes only compulsions. Most times, it is both together. These obsessions and compulsions interfere with routine work and take up a lot of time. The disorder causes the patient anxiety and distress. It is a life-long disorder, the symptoms may vary from mild to severe. If the symptoms are hampering your daily life and you find yourself in stress over these symptoms, it is time to consult your doctor. The doctor can recommend therapy and medicines like Clomipramine for treatment.

What is Clomipramine?

A tricyclic antidepressant, Clomipramine is beneficial to increase the levels of serotonin. Serotonin is an important multifaceted neurotransmitter, that helps to modulate and regulate moods. Good levels of serotonin help treat depression.

How to take Clomipramine?

It is advised to take Clomipramine exactly as instructed by the doctor. Always make sure you take the correct dose as prescribed. Initially, the doctor may start with a lower dose and eventually depending on the response may increase the dose if required. The doctor may start with multiple doses to be taken in a day and gradually bring down the medicine to a single dose. Never stop taking clomipramine without consulting your doctor, as it may lead to withdrawal syndrome, like mood changes, irritability, agitation, etc. It is also possible it will the drug some time to show its actionability.

Dosage:

For oral dosage form (capsules):

For obsessive-compulsive disorder:

· In adults, the initial dose is 25 milligrams (mg) once a day advised to be taken at bedtime. The dose is altered depending on the need and level of toleration. Higher doses are evenly divided to be taken during the day. However, the maximum dose is usually not more than 250 mg per day.

· In children, 10 years of age and older the initial dose is 25 milligrams (mg) once a day at bedtime. Higher doses are evenly divided to be taken during the day. However, the maximum dose is usually not more than 200 mg per day.

· In children younger than 10 years of age, your doctor decides the dosage and use.

Precautions Before taking Clomipramine

Before starting the clomipramine treatment, discuss all your allergies and medical history with your doctor. It is crucial to make sure that the medicine you take is safe for you and would give the desired results.

 It is advised to inform your doctor if you are allergic to any drug, particularly tricyclic antidepressants.

 Inform the doctor is you were taking Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), to avoid any drug interactions. Drugs interact with one another which could lead to severe side effects.

 Inform your doctor about all the medicines you take the dosage and your routine. Also, inform about any additional supplements or vitamins you may be taking.

Inform your doctor if you consume alcohol.

Tell the doctor if you take tobacco or smoke.

Let your doctor know if you are pregnant.

If you have any kind of cardiac issue.

 In case you feel any problem in your eyes after taking the drug, consult your doctor and get an eye examination. Clomipramine may make you drowsy, so be careful and avoid any activities that need concentration like driving.

How is Clomipramine available?

Clomipramine is available in capsule form. It has to be taken orally by mouth. The available strengths are 25 milligrams (mg), 50 milligrams (mg), and 75 milligrams (mg).

Clomipramine is available in the following brand names

Clonil (Intas Pharmaceuticals Ltd)

Clofranil (Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd)

Clomilent (Talent India)

Ocifril (La Pharmaceuticals)

CLOMIDEP (Triko Pharmaceuticals)

Clom (Orchid Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals Ltd)

Clomistar (Gentech Healthcare Pvt Ltd)

Cloclam (Aurum Life Science Pvt Ltd)

Clomivon (Shine Pharmaceuticals Ltd)

Zenil (Zenith Healthcare Ltd)

Side Effects of Clomipramine

Clomipramine may cause side effects. Although in most cases the benefits outweigh the side effects, it is important to monitor the side effects too. Discuss any adverse reaction you experience with your doctor. Talk about the symptoms that are severe or do not go away.

Common Side effects

 Drowsiness

 Vomiting

 Diarrhoea, constipation

 Nervousness

 Decreased sexual ability

 Decreased memory or concentration

 Headache, nausea, stuffy nose

 Change in appetite or weight

Sometimes alteration in doses or taking the medicine for longer than intended may cause severe problems.

Severe Side Effects of Clomipramine

 Uncontrollable shaking of a part of the body

 Seizures

 Irregular or fast heartbeat

 Difficulty urinating

 Hallucinations

 Difficulty breathing

 Stiffness in Muscle

 Unusual tiredness

 Weakness

 Signs of infection, like fever or sore throat

If you experience any of these symptoms, please seek emergency medical advice and contact your doctor immediately.

How do you know if Clomipramine is the drug for you?

Genes play a massive role in the body's response to drugs. It is due to genes that each individual has a different response to the same drug. Usually, doctors had a trial method to find the most effective medicine and dose for the patient, but today times have changed and with medical advances, it is possible to know which drug exactly suits you. The MEDNAwise pharmacogenetic test from Indus Health Plus is the revolution in personalized medicines. Now your doctors can prescribe drugs as per the adverse effects, toxicity, and efficacy.

With MEDNAwise it is easy for the doctor to know if Clomipramine is the drug for you. The mechanism and response to each drug are different in each individual. MEDNAwise tests your genes and the body’s response to more than 70 drugs across varied medical specialties. So, you exactly know the drugs that give the best results and the ones that have adverse reactions. The top three advantages are finding the correct medicine that is the most effective. To find out the correct dosage and to know the adverse effects of medicines.

MEDNAwise is beneficial to the doctor in selecting the correct dose, initiating the proper treatment, and altering the doses as required. This helps you get the best line of treatment for you and saves you time too! It is a boon and a huge leap in precision medicine. A one-time-only test, the results of the MEDNAwise test can be used multiple times whenever required.

The best part, MEDNAwise is a very relaxed, simple, direct-to-consumer test. It is easy to administer. It is a quick saliva test. You can take it from your house and send the samples for checking. Detailed results are sent to you. Post results, the counsellors give a free consultation on test recommendations. Medical science has progressed to the heights of personalized medicine. It is only fair to take advantage of it for your health. To have a stress-free future and faster treatment, book your MEDNAwise pharmacogenetic test today!