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Imipramine (for Nocturnal Enuresis)

Medication Information Leaflet

What is this medication for?

It is a tricyclic antidepressant to treat a condition called nocturnal enuresis (bed-wetting at night). It helps the bladder muscle to relax, while causing the smooth muscles at the bladder neck to contract, therefore increasing the ability to hold urine in the bladder.

It can also be used to treat symptoms of depression (low mood).

This medication may also be used for other conditions. Check with your healthcare professional if you are unsure why you are given this medication.

How should I take or use this medication?

Do not stop taking your medication without checking with your healthcare professional.
You may take this medication with or without food.
It is taken once daily, preferably one hour before bedtime

What should I do if I forget to take or use this medication?

If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. Then take your next dose at the usual time. Do not take two doses to make up for the missed dose.

What precautions should I take when taking or using this medication?

Inform your healthcare professional if:

You are allergic to this medication or any of the other ingredients of this medication
You are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding
You are taking any other medications, including supplements, traditional medications and herbal remedies.
You have heart, liver or kidney problems
You have diabetes as it may affect blood glucose control
You have a history of seizures (fits) as part of your medical condition
You have glaucoma
You are taking other mood medications
You have sudden changes in mood
You have new or increasing thoughts of harming yourself

IMPORTANT:

In some cases, particularly in young people below the age of 25 years, this medication may cause the following changes to a person’s mental condition, especially in the first few weeks of treatment or during dose changes:

New or worsening thoughts of harming yourself or ending your life
Worsening agitation, restlessness, violent behaviour, or
Other changes in mood or behaviour

Please inform your doctor as soon as possible, or for your family or caregiver to inform your doctor if you are unable to seek treatment on your own.

Do not stop taking this medication on your own without discussing with your doctor.

It is important to note that your doctor has prescribed this medication as he/ she feels you will benefit more from taking this medication over the possible risks that it may cause, which have a low chance of occurring, and most people take this medication without any of such problems.

What are some common side effects of this medication?

Nausea

Take the medication after food, eat small but frequent meals. Avoid fatty or spicy food.

Drowsiness

Avoid driving or taking part in activities requiring you to focus.

Dizziness

Get up slowly from a sitting or lying position

Dry mouth

Suck ice chips or sugar free candy or drink frequent sips of water

Constipation

Drink more water, eat more high-fibre food

Dry Eyes

Apply lubricant eye drops if necessary

Skin sensitive to sunlight

Wear long-sleeved clothing, sunglasses and apply sunblock to protect yourself from the sun.

What are some rare but serious side-effects that I need to seek medical advice immediately?

The symptoms of a drug allergy include one or more of the following:

Swollen face/eyes/lips/tongue
Difficulty in breathing
Itchy skin rashes over your whole body

Very rarely (affect less than 1% of patients) this medication may cause:

Fast or irregular heartbeat
Confusion
Hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not there)
Stiffness of arms or legs
Problems in urinating
Blurred vision
Seizures (fits)
Yellow skin or eyes, pain in your upper stomach or dark-coloured urine

If you experience any of these symptoms, you should stop your medication and see your healthcare professional immediately.

What food or medication should I avoid when I take or use this medication?

Avoid drinking alcohol as it may increase drowsiness.

How should I store this medication?

Store in a cool and dry place, away from direct sunlight. Keep this medication away from children.

How do I throw away this medication safely?

Pack this medication into a black trash bag and seal it tightly before throwing into the rubbish chute or bin.

Disclaimer

If you take more than the recommended dose, please seek medical advice immediately. The information provided on this page does not replace information from your healthcare professional. Please consult your healthcare professional for more information.

This article is jointly developed by members of the National Medication Information workgroup. The workgroup consists of cluster partners (National Healthcare Group, National University Health System and SingHealth), community pharmacies (Guardian, Unity and Watsons) and Pharmaceutical Society of Singapore. The content does not reflect drug availability and supply information in pharmacies and healthcare institutions. You are advised to check with the respective institutions for such information.

Last updated on April 2022

This article was last reviewed on Saturday, June 04, 2022