Opipremol

Opipramol is an anxiolytic and sedative drug with a low addiction potential that is commonly prescribed to treat anxiety. Nevertheless, when taking Opipramol, side effects can occur that are not insignificant. The active ingredient opipramol is similar in chemical structure to the group of tricyclic  antidepressants . However, it primarily has an anxiolytic and calming effect. Therefore, opipramol is usually prescribed as an anxiolytic drug and is rarely used in  depression  . The drug is commonly known under the name Insidon®. There are numerous generic drugs from different manufacturers. These are usually simply called Opipramol, followed by the manufacturer’s name.

Effect of Opipramol

Opipramol has an anxiolytic, calming and slightly mood-enhancing effect. It is therefore well suited for the therapy of anxiety disorders, in particular generalized anxiety disorder, which is characterized by free-floating, undirected fears, fears and worries.

Opipramol is also approved for the treatment of somatoform disorders. Patients with a somatoform disorder suffer from physical complaints for which no physical cause can be found, even after a thorough medical examination. These complaints often have a psychological cause.

Opipramol: related to antidepressants

Although opipramol is chemically close to antidepressants, other drugs are preferred for the treatment of depression. Drugs with a good antidepressant effect and high tolerability are, for example  , citalopram , escitalopram,  mirtazapine ,  sertraline  and some others. These antidepressants are also often used in the treatment of anxiety disorders. In addition, benzodiazepines, such as diazepam or  lorazepam , are prescribed for short-term treatment of anxiety.

The advantage of opipramol over benzodiazepines is that there is no risk of dependence with opipramol. The disadvantage of opipramol, however, lies in the longer latency of action: while the calming and anxiolytic effect of benzodiazepines usually sets in immediately, this effect occurs with opipramol after a delay. In addition, side effects are more common with opipramol.

Side Effects of Opipramol

The side effects that occur may differ from person to person. While some people experience no unpleasant side effects, others suffer more from side effects. Typical side effects of Opipramol can be the following symptoms.

• fatigue
• dry mouth
• dizziness
• drowsiness
• Allergic skin reactions
• Confusional states in elderly patients
• weight gain
• Blood count changes (rare)

Overall, the side effects of opipramol are more varied than with other anxiolytic substances such as benzodiazepines. One advantage, however, is the lower risk of dependency. Discontinuing opipramol is usually not a problem either. Nevertheless, it should be tapered off in a controlled manner. Occasionally, after stopping opipramol, the original symptoms can reappear. Despite the undesirable side effects, opipramol is a valuable active ingredient for many patients and is often prescribed.

Dosage and instructions for use

The dosage of Opipramol is discussed individually with the attending physician. Depending on the severity of the disease, the dose can vary between 50 and 300 mg per day, spread over one to three intakes. Like most psychotropic drugs, opipramol does not mix well with alcohol. It increases its effectiveness. Therefore, alcohol should be avoided after taking opipramol. Undesirable interactions can also occur when other sleeping pills and tranquilizers are taken at the same time.

As with all medicines, it is also the case for opipramol to study the package leaflet carefully before taking it and, if in doubt, to contact a doctor or pharmacist. When treating anxiety disorders, accompanying psychotherapy should always be considered in order to achieve a long-term improvement in the anxiety symptoms.