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Anafranil |
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What is Anafranil and why is it prescribed? Anafranil is used to treat people who suffer from obsessions and compulsions. Serious, even fatal, reactions have been known to occur when drugs such as Anafranil are taken along with drugs known as MAO inhibitors. Drugs in this category include the antidepressants Nardil and Parnate. Never take Anafranil with one of these drugs. How should you take Anafranil? Follow your doctors directions for taking Anafranil. Take Anafranil with meals, at first, to avoid stomach upset. After your regular dosage has been established, you can take 1 dose at bedtime to avoid sleepiness during the day. Always take it exactly as prescribed. This medicine may cause dry mouth. Hard candy, chewing gum, or bits of ice may relieve this problem. If you miss a dose and you take 1 dose at bedtime, consult your doctor. Do not take the missed dose in the morning. If you take 2 or more doses a day, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the one you missed and go back to your regular schedule. Do not take two doses at the same time. Store Anafranil at room temperature in a tightly closed container, away from moisture. Are there any Anafranil side effects? Anafranil side effects cannot be anticipated. If any develop or change in intensity, inform your doctor as soon as possible. The most significant risk is that of seizures (convulsions). Headache, fatigue, and nausea can be a problem. Men are likely to experience problems with sexual function. Unwanted weight gain is a potential problem for many people who take Anafranil, although a small number actually lose weight. More common Anafranil side effects may include abdominal pain, abnormal dreaming, abnormal tearing, abnormal milk secretion, agitation, allergy, anxiety, appetite loss, back pain, chest pain, confusion, constipation, coughing, depression, diarrhea, dizziness, dry mouth, extreme sleepiness, failure to ejaculate, fast heartbeat, fatigue, fever, flushing, fluttery heartbeat, frequent urination, gas, headache, hot flushes, impotence, inability to concentrate, increased appetite, increased sweating, indigestion, inflamed lining of nose or sinuses, itching, joint pain, light-headedness on standing up, memory problems, menstrual pain and disorders, middle ear infection (children), migraine, muscle pain or tension, nausea, nervousness, pain, rash, red or purple areas on the skin, ringing in the ears, sex-drive changes, sleeplessness, sleep disturbances, sore throat, speech disturbances, taste changes, tingling or pins and needles, tooth disorder, tremor, twitching, urinary problems, urinary tract infection, vision problems, vomiting, weight gain, weight loss (children), and yawning. Less common Anafranil side effects may include abnormal skin odor (children), acne, aggression (children), eye allergy (children), anemia (children), bad breath (children), belching (children), breast enlargement, breast pain, chills, conjunctivitis, difficult or labored breathing (children), difficulty swallowing, difficulty or pain in urinating, dilated pupils, dry skin, emotional instability, eye twitching (children), fainting (children), hearing disorder (children), hives, irritability, lack of menstruation, loss of sense of identity, mouth inflammation (children), muscle weakness, nosebleed, panic, paralysis (children), skin inflammation, sore throat (children), stomach and intestinal problems, swelling due to fluid retention, thirst, unequal size of pupils of the eye (children), vaginal inflammation, weakness (children), wheezing, and white or yellow vaginal discharge. What are the possible food and drug interactions when taking Anafranil? If Anafranil is taken with certain other drugs, the effects of either could be increased, decreased, or altered. Be sure to inform your doctor of all the prescription and over the counter medications you are taking. Avoid alcoholic beverages while taking Anafranil. It is especially important to check with your doctor before combining Anafranil with Barbiturates (such as phenobarbital), Certain blood pressure drugs (such as Ismelin and Catapres-TTS), Cimetidine (Tagamet), Digoxin (Lanoxin), Drugs that ease spasms (such as Donnatal, Cogentin, and Bentyl), Flecainide (Tambocor), Methylphenidate (Ritalin), Major tranquilizers (such as Haldol and Thorazine), MAO inhibitors (such as Nardil and Parnate), Phenytoin (Dilantin), Propafenone (Rythmol), Quinidine (Quinidex), Serotonin-boosting drugs (such as the antidepressants Luvox, Paxil, Prozac and Zoloft), Thyroid medications (such as Synthroid), Tranquilizers (such as Xanax and Valium), or Warfarin (Coumadin). Are there any special warnings about Anafranil? If you have narrow-angle glaucoma or are having difficulty urinating, Anafranil could make these conditions worse. Use Anafranil with caution if your kidney function is not normal. If you have a tumor of the adrenal gland, this medication could cause your blood pressure to rise suddenly and dangerously. Because Anafranil poses a possible risk of seizures, and because it may impair mental or physical ability to perform complicated tasks, your doctor will probably warn you to take special precautions if you need to drive a car, operate complicated machinery, or take part in activities such as swimming or climbing, in which suddenly losing consciousness could be dangerous. Note that your risk of seizures is increased: If you have ever had a seizure, If you have a history of brain damage or alcoholism, or If you are taking another medication that might predispose you to seizures. An overdose of Anafranil can be fatal. Do not be surprised if your doctor prescribes only a small quantity of Anafranil at a time. This is standard procedure to minimize the risk of overdose. Anafranil may cause your skin to become more sensitive to sunlight. Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight. Before having any kind of surgery involving the use of general anesthesia, tell your doctor or dentist that you are taking Anafranil. You may be advised to discontinue the drug temporarily. When it is time to stop taking Anafranil, do not stop abruptly. Your doctor will have you taper off gradually to avoid withdrawal symptoms such as dizziness, fever, general feeling of illness, headache, high fever, irritability or worsening emotional or mental problems, nausea, sleep problems, and vomiting. |
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Information on this website is provided for educational purposes and should not replace discussions with your doctor. |
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