Imipramine
“This page provides important general information for pet owners whose animals have been prescribed Imipramine during a consultation by Dr Noor. Imipramine for pets in Perth.”
Imipramine for pets
(im-ip-ra-meen)
Description:
This medicine is in a group often used for mood in people, and it can also be used to help change certain behaviors in animals.
Other Names for this Medication:
- Tofranil®
Common Dosage Forms:
- For animals: there is no standard veterinary-made product listed.
- For people:
- tablets come as 10 mg, 25 mg, and 50 mg.
- Capsules come as 100 mg, 125 mg, and 150 mg.
- A pharmacy may be able to make a custom form of this medicine.
Key Information
- You can give imipramine either with food or without food. If your pet throws up or seems unwell when the dose is given on an empty stomach, try the next dose with a meal or a small snack. If the vomiting does not stop, contact your veterinarian.
- It may take days or even weeks before you can tell whether the medicine is helping.
- The side effects seen most often are drowsiness, a dry mouth, and constipation. Make sure your pet can always reach clean, fresh water.
- Uncommon side effects can be dangerous. These include unusual bleeding or a fever, seizures (fits), or a heartbeat that is very fast or not steady. If any of these happen, contact your veterinarian right away.
- Taking too much can be extremely dangerous. Store imipramine where pets and children cannot get to it.
- Tell your veterinarian if your pet has worn a flea or tick collar at any time in the last 2 weeks. Do not put one of these collars on your pet while they are taking this medicine unless your veterinarian says it is okay.
How is this medication useful?
- Imipramine is used in dogs and cats for urine leaking, cataplexy (a sudden, short-lasting loss of muscle strength), and behavior-related problems.
- In horses, it has been tried for narcolepsy and cataplexy, and it has also been tried in breeding males for problems with ejaculation.
- This medicine has sometimes been added to other pain medicines to help with cancer pain in animals.
What should I tell my veterinarian to see if this medication can be safely given?
Many different factors can change how this medicine works for your pet. Talk with your veterinarian about the points below so you can make treatment choices together.
- Other medicines can affect imipramine. Tell your veterinarian and pharmacist about everything your pet receives, including vitamins, supplements, and herbal products. Also share how much you give and when you give each one.
- Some chemicals in flea and tick collars can react with imipramine. Tell your veterinarian if your pet has worn one within the last 2 weeks. Do not use a collar while your pet is taking this medicine unless your veterinarian approves it.
- Tell your veterinarian about any health problems your pet has now, or has had before.
- If your pet has been treated for the same problem in the past, tell your veterinarian whether that earlier treatment helped or did not help.
- If your pet is pregnant or nursing, discuss the possible risks of using this medicine.
- Tell your veterinarian and pharmacist about any past bad reactions to medicines, including allergy-type reactions, poor appetite, diarrhea, itching, or hair loss.
How long until I will know if this medication is working, and how long will the effects of this medication last?
- You usually need to give several doses before any change can be noticed. The strongest overall effect may not show up until the medicine has been given regularly for several weeks.
- Even if you do not see clear improvement, your veterinarian may still need to do additional tests to check whether the medicine is working in the right way.
- This medicine has a medium-length effect, which means it may continue to act for a few days. The helpful effects may last longer if your pet’s kidneys and/or liver are not working as well.
When should this medication not be used or be used very carefully?
No medicine is completely safe for every patient. Your veterinarian will talk with you about any special concerns for your pet.
This drug SHOULD NOT be used in:
- If your pet is allergic to imipramine or to other medicines in the same family (for example, clomipramine or amitriptyline).
- If it is being used together with a monoamine oxidase inhibitor, or if that type of medicine was used within the 14 days before or after imipramine. Examples include selegiline and amitraz.
This drug should be used WITH CAUTION in:
- If your pet has any of the issues listed below, talk with your veterinarian about the possible benefits compared with the possible risks.
- If your pet is pregnant or nursing. Imipramine has caused birth defects and has caused side effects in nursing young.
- If your pet has a seizure condition (such as epilepsy), diabetes, adrenal tumors, glaucoma, KCS (dry eye syndrome), or disease of the liver, thyroid, or serious heart disease.
- If your pet has trouble passing urine or passing stool.
- If your pet is a working or service dog (such as a guide dog, search dog, hunting dog, sled dog, or rescue dog). This medicine may cause too much sleepiness and may prevent the dog from doing its job.
- If your pet is very old or very young.
What are the side effects of this medication?
Common but usually not serious side effects include:
You do not need to panic if you notice these, unless they are strong, get worse, or do not go away. If that happens, contact your veterinarian.
- Sleepiness.
- Vomiting or reduced appetite (eating less or not eating).
- Loose stool (diarrhea) or constipation.
- Dry mouth and increased drinking.
- Difficulty urinating.
Side effects that may be serious or indicate a serious problem:
If you notice any of the signs below, contact your veterinarian immediately.
- Seizures (convulsions), extreme overexcitement, or coma.
- A heartbeat that is very fast or not regular.
- Unusual bleeding.
- Ongoing very low energy along with not wanting to eat.
- Cats:
- extra drooling, wobbliness, and a messy or unkept coat (uncommon).
If my animal gets too much of this medication (an overdose), what should I do?
- Too much imipramine can be life-threatening. Possible overdose signs include vomiting, very low energy or depression, poor coordination, weakness (such as stumbling or clumsiness), pupils that look larger than normal, unusual vocal sounds, seizures, a higher body temperature (fever), and heart problems (a heartbeat that is very fast or not regular).
- If you see an overdose happen, or you think it may have happened, contact your veterinarian right away or call an animal poison control service for instructions.
- A consultation fee is charged for these services.
How should this medication be given?
- For this medicine to help, it must be given exactly the way your veterinarian ordered it. Always read the prescription label so you give the correct dose.
- It can be given with food or without food. If your pet vomits or seems sick when it is given on an empty stomach, give the next dose with food or a small treat. If vomiting continues, contact your veterinarian.
- If your pet is using a custom-made liquid form, measure it with care. Your veterinarian or pharmacist can provide special measuring spoons or dosing syringes.
- If giving the medicine is difficult, contact your veterinarian or pharmacist for ways to make dosing easier and less stressful.
- If you want to stop the medicine before the prescription is finished, contact your veterinarian first. There may be an important reason to keep going until it is completed. The dose must be reduced slowly when stopping, or your pet may have unpleasant withdrawal signs such as vomiting, anxiety, or shaking.
What should I do if I miss giving a dose of this medication?
- If you forget a dose, you can give it when you remember and then wait the usual amount of time before the next dose, or you can wait and give it at the next scheduled time.
- Do not give two doses at once and do not give extra doses.
How should I store this medication?
- Keep this medicine in the original prescription container, or in an approved pill organizer, at room temperature and away from direct sunlight.
- If a pharmacy made a custom form for your pet, follow the storage directions and the expiration date provided for that product.
- Store it where children and animals cannot reach it.
Can handling this medication be hazardous to me, my family, or other animals?
- No special handling steps are needed unless you are allergic to this medicine. After touching any medicine, wash your hands.
How should I dispose of this medication if I don’t use it all?
- Do not put this medicine into the toilet and do not pour it into a sink.
- If your area has a medicine take-back program, use that.
- If there is no take-back option, combine the medicine with used coffee grounds or cat litter so it is unpleasant to pets and children and not easy to recognize. Put that mixture into a sealable plastic bag so it will not leak, and place it in the household trash.
- Do not keep extra medicine for later use, and do not give it to anyone else.
What other information is important for this medication?
- When imipramine is used for behavior, it works best when it is also paired with a behavior-change training plan.
- Because this medicine can cause a dry mouth, make sure your pet always has clean, fresh water available.
- Flea and tick collars that contain amitraz (Preventic®) may react with imipramine. Only use collars your veterinarian recommends.
- Older, aged cheeses may cause problems when given with imipramine. Do not give aged cheeses while your pet is taking this medicine.
- This medicine may not be allowed in some animal competitions. Check the rules before entering a competition while your animal is receiving this medicine.
- If you have more questions about this medicine, contact your veterinarian or pharmacist.
“Disclaimer: The information on this page is provided as general educational material only. Every animal’s health situation is unique, and treatment decisions must be based on a full veterinary assessment. Always follow the specific instructions given during your consultation, and contact the prescribing veterinarian if you have any concerns.”