Anafranil is an antidepressant drug used to treat symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder. It belongs to a class of drugs called tricyclic antidepressants, and works by altering chemicals in the brain.

Always follow your doctor’s instructions and use Anafranil exactly as prescribed.

• Take with food.
• Anafranil may take up to 4 weeks to show symptom improvement. Use as directed and don’t discontinue suddenly or without your doctor’s guidance.
• Store away from moisture and heat.

Do not use Anafranil if you’ve taken an MAOI in the past 14 days.

Young people may have thoughts of suicide when first taking Anafranil or other antidepressants. Your mood should be monitored closely and any worrying symptoms should be reported to your doctor immediately.

Taking some other drugs with Anafranil can cause a dangerous condition called serotonin syndrome. Inform your doctor of all other drugs you take, especially stimulants, opioids, herbal products, and drugs used to treat depression, mental illness, migraines, Parkinson’s, infections, nausea and vomiting.

Avoid drinking alcohol while on this drug.

Before taking Anafranil, inform your doctor if you have any of the following:

• Liver, kidney, or heart disease
• Mental illness including bipolar disorder and schizophrenia
• Alcoholism
• Seizures or head injury
• Low blood pressure
• Glaucoma
• Thyroid or adrenal gland disorders
• Urinary issues
• If you’ve taken an SSRI antidepressant in the past 5 weeks

Common side effects of Anafranil include:

• Nausea, upset stomach, constipation, loss of appetite
• Anxiety, restlessness
• Dizziness, drowsiness
• Insomnia
• Dry mouth
• Sweating, numbness, tingling
• Vision changes
• Weight changes
• Decreased sex drive or erectile dysfunction
• Trouble with memory or concentration

Contact your doctor if you experience these more serious side effects:

• Seizures
• Pain or difficulty urinating
• Confusion, fear, thoughts of suicide or self harm
• Tremors, rapid heart rate
• Blurred vision, tunnel vision, eye pain, halos
• Symptoms of serotonin syndrome – agitation, hallucinations, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle stiffness, twitching, fever, sweating, shivering, fast heart rate

Why are so many drugs unsafe to take at the same time as Anafranil?

When Anafranil is taken together with some other drugs, an excessive amount of serotonin can accumulate in the body. This causes serotonin syndrome, which is dangerous if left untreated. Watch out for symptoms like agitation, rapid heart rate, muscle stiffness or twitching, sweating, shivering, fever, hallucinations.