return to Health Line main index

HEALTH LINE

Questions and Answers

Q
I have a 12yr. old son who has been taking Imipramine for approximately 1mo. (50mg daily). He is of slight build and has started to complain of "bad headaches" more and more frequently. He also takes Ritalyn, which we have been reluctant to give him because it too gives him headaches ocassionally. Are the headaches common side effects of Imipramine, and wouldn't the combination of the two possibly cause even more severe headaches ?
A
Headache isn't a notable side-effect of imipramine ... although the dosage of 50mg. is the usual starting dose, it has been used successfully at 30 mg. per day. Perhaps in considering your son's 'slight build', the lower dosage may give the desired antidepressant effect without the accompanying unpleasant side-effect. Check with his physician.

On the other hand, Ritalin (methylphenidate) not infrequently causes headaches ... these may only be temporary or may often be controlled by decreasing the dosage.

Whatever the effect of the combination might be, can't be easily determined without setting up a large scale, properly designed trial ... however, intuitively, one might come to speculate as you have. In consultation with the boy's physician a solution may be found by titrating the dosages such that the desired effects are achieved with decrease in undesirable side-effects to a tolerable level.

Best wishes to you and your son.