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Tricyclic Antidepressants
There are chemicals in your brain that may be out of balance if you have anxiety
or depression. Tricyclic antidepressants work by normalizing the amount of
chemicals in your brain.
These
drugs were first used for treating depression, but some are also effective in
blocking panic attacks. Some tricyclics may also reduce symptoms of
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and some are effective for OCD. Tricyclics
generally take three to six weeks to take effect. Some individuals feel their
most annoying side effect is weight gain. Other side effects can include
drowsiness, dry mouth, dizziness and impaired sexual function.
Tofranil
(imipramine) is the tricyclic most commonly used for panic disorder. When
imipramine is prescribed, the patient usually starts with small daily doses that
are increased every few days until an effective dosage is reached. The drug is
introduced slowly to help lessen side effects like dry mouth, constipation and
blurred vision.
Side
effects usually fade after the patient has been on the medication a few weeks.
It usually takes several weeks for imipramine to have a beneficial effect on
panic disorder. Most patients treated with imipramine may be panic-free within a
few weeks or months. Treatment generally lasts from 6 to 12 months. Treatment
for a shorter period of time is possible, but there is a chance that panic
attacks will come back when the medication is stopped. When patients stop taking
this medication, they must be careful to gradually decrease the dose over a
period of several weeks. Drugs in the class
Amitriptyline Injection (Elavil Injection, Vanatrip Injection)
Doxepin (Adapin, Sinequan)
Amitriptyline (Elavil, Endep, Vanatrip)
Amoxapine (Asendin)
Protriptyline (Vivactil)
Nortriptyline Oral Solution (Aventyl Oral Solution)
Desipramine (Norpramin)
Imipramine (Tofranil)
Nortriptyline (Aventyl, Pamelor)
Clomipramine (Anafranil) | 
