AboutDr Alan Galbraith Expertise I can answer most questions on drugs, both medical and "recreational". Answers can be given in either technical or layperson terminology. My main areas of interest are psychiatric, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular drugs.
Experience I have been a university lecturer/head of department for almost thirty years, but am now retired. My research interests were alcohol, smoking and cardiovascular disease.
Organizations Institute of Biology, London.
Publications Principal author of "Fundamentals of Pharmacology" 4th Edition published in November 2003 by Pearson Education, Australia.
Expert: Dr Alan Galbraith Date: 5/11/2008 Subject: using Taking effexor xr & anafranil & rivotril concomitantly
Question Dr. Galbraith: I am from MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA
I suffer from OCD, depression and feel a lot of anxiety.
I am presently taking 300mg of Effexor xr(venlafaxine) and my doctor wants to add anafranil 50mg (CLOMIPRAMINE). Is it safe to combine these two antipressants? I also take a tranquilizer rivotril o.5 in the morning and 2mg at bedtime. I have not yet started to take the 50mg of Anafranil because I am scared to. Please help me.
Thank you, Nelli
Answer Dear Nelli
Even though Anafranil is an older antidepressant it is excellent for OCD and combined with the Effexor makes for excellent treatment of OCD combined with depression. Anafranil also has strong antidepressant properties. However, it also has more adverse effects than Effexor and I have appended the common ones below. You will not suffer from them all but would say the dry mouth is the worst and commonest. This usually resolves after a while as do the others if you do experience them. I am not so happy about the Rivotril which can be addictive and may worsen depression. If you need it for sleep perhaps a more sedating antidepressant is required. Speak to your prescriber about this or only take as needed. There are other less addictive and better sleeping aids that can be taken. The Anafranil may actually help you sleep if you find it makes you drowsy and the dose can be taken before bedtime.
