Anafranil - What is it?
Anafranil, active ingredient clomipramine hydrochloride, is often prescribed to treat OCD in children, teens and adults.
Who manufactures it?
Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals is the maker of Anafranil. There are generic forms of this medication that are made by many companies.
How it works
Anafranil is part of the class of drugs called tricyclic antidepressants. It isn't totally clear how it works, but it is known that it affects many brain chemicals such as norepinephrine and serotonin. It is speculated that this drug keeps the chemicals in the brain for a longer amount of time, which helps to ease OCD symptoms.
Although this medication contains the same chemical structure to classify it as a tricyclic antidepressant, it has been shown to act much in the way SSRIs do. These medications are a newer type of antidepressants and many actually consider Anafranil to fall under the class of SSRI medications.
Potential Side Effects
As is the case with all medications, there is the potential for certain side effects while taking Anafranil. Not everyone that takes this medication will notice side effects, as it is generally well tolerated. If you do notice side effects, they are usually minor and require little to no treatment. The risks of side effects that are more serious are not as common.
What if I Miss a dose?
If you miss a dose of your Anafranil, you should take the dose you missed when you remember. If you ordinarily take your dosage at night, you should skip the missed dose as it may make you drowsy. If it is almost time for you to take your next dose, you should skip the one you missed and get back to your prescribed schedule. You should never take two doses at one time.
