Posted by TamaraJ on March 13, 2005, at 20:07:06
In reply to Re: Kara, my turn. How you are doing? » TamaraJ, posted by KaraS on March 12, 2005, at 22:58:24
You were right about imipramine metabolizing to desimipramine. Here's an extract that talks about it.
"In such instances, imipramine is the generally preferred TATCA for several reasons. First, it is one of the least expensive antidepressants in terms of acquisition cost (Table 7.10). Second, imipramine is converted in the body to the secondary amine TCA (SATCA), desipramine.188 In the usual patient on imipramine, 50% of the total circulating TCA level will be desipramine. That percentage can be as high as 90% in rapid demethylators. This conversion is an advantage because desipramine has the best tolerability profile of all of the SATCAs due to its selective action on the norepinephrine uptake pump (Figure 6.1). The tolerability profile of desipramine is generally comparable to most newer antidepressants"
I also had a look at some of the reference links I had found when I was prescribed Anafranil, including a lengthy drug monograph listing, among other things, drug interactions. Here's the link to that website.
http://www.rxmed.com/b.main/b2.pharmaceutical/b2.1.monographs/CPS-%20Monographs/CPS-%20%28General%20Monographs-%20A%29/ANAFRANIL.html
Here's another link with information on TCAs and drug interactions for information:
http://www.holisticonline.com/Remedies/Depression/dep_interactions-TCA.htmTake care,
Tamara
poster:TamaraJ
thread:456548
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20050305/msgs/470627.html