Re: Imipramine, have I made the right choice?
Originally Posted by
Dazzlar13
I read imipramine was good for panic attacks and asked if I could switch From sertaline.
Imipramine was the 'gold standard' panic disorder med until the SSRIs came along. It didn't go out of favour because the SSRIs were more effective, they are often less so, but because the newer meds were perceived to be safer in overdose. Turns out that isn't true for all of them, although sertraline is one that is.
Now I have seen that imipramine isn't sedating and can cause insomnia
Which is also generally true of the SSRIs and SNRIs. Indeed, insomnia is their most common side-effect, though some do have a paradoxical response.
If insomnia becomes an ongoing issue ask your GP to prescribe a small dose of mirtazapine, say half a 15mg tablet. Mirtazapine is an AD which at low doses functions mostly as a very sedating antihistamine. It becomes progressively less sedating at higher doses. Imho, it is a better bet than benzodiazepines and the 'Z' class hypnotics for sleep as tolerance to their sedation tends to build quickly.
So now I'm worried I should have asked for something different but I have only been in the imipramine 4 days and have been switching meds every six months or so before I decided to quit ssris. Should I just wait it out and see? As if the panic attacks and anxiety are what was causing my insomnia (I think it is the root cause) if I treat the root cause the insomnia may disappear?
There is a very good chance imipramine will work for you, but as with all ADs, there are no guarantees. All you can do is give it a shot and keep fingers crossed.
Fwiw, imipramine was the first AD I was prescribed for PD and it was very effective although I had to take a lot of it to get an optimal response, but that has been the case with most ADs I've taken. I was on 300-350mg for 7-8 years, with a few breaks during that time.
__________________
The opinions expressed above are based on my observations and, where applicable, interpretation of cited data and are general in nature. Consult your physician before acting on anything stated.