| Unwanted effects are usually mild and transient, disappearing under continued treatment or with a reduction in the dosage. They do not always correlate with plasma drug levels or dose. It is often difficult to distinguish certain undesirable effects from symptoms of depression such as fatigue, sleep disturbances, agitation, anxiety, constipation, and dry mouth.If severe neurological or psychiatric reactions occur, Anafranil should be withdrawn.Adverse reactions are ranked under heading of frequency, the most frequent first, using the following convention: very common (> 1/10); common (> 1/100, < 1/10); uncommon (> 1/1000, < 1/100); rare (> 1/10,000, < 1/1,000); very rare (< 1/10,000), unknown (frequency cannot be estimated from available data). Table 1 | Blood and lymphatic system disorders | | Very rare
| Leucopenia, agranulocytosis, thrombocytopenia, eosinophilia
| | Cardiac disorders | Common
Uncommon Very rare
| Sinus tachycardia, palpitation, orthostatic hypotension, clinically irrelevant ECG changes (e.g. ST and T changes) in patients of normal cardiac status
Arrhythmias, blood pressure increased
Conduction disorder (e.g. widening of QRS complex, prolonged QT interval, PQ changes, bundle-branch block, torsade de pointes, particularly in patients with hypokalaemia)
| | Ear and labyrinth disorders | | Common
| Tinnitus
| | Endocrine disorders | | Very rare
| SIADH (inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion syndrome)
| | Eye disorders | | Very common
Common
Very rare
| Accommodation disorder, vision blurred
Mydriasis
Glaucoma
| | Gastrointestinal disorders | | Very frequent
Common
| Nausea, dry mouth, constipation
Vomiting, abdominal disorders, diarrhoea
| | General disorders and administration site conditions | | Very common
Very rare
| Fatigue
Oedema (local or generalised), alopecia, hyperpyrexia
| | Hepatobiliary disorders | | Very rare
| Hepatitis with or without jaundice
| | Immune system disorders | | Very rare
| Anaphylactic and anaphylactoid reactions including hypotension
| | Investigations | Very common
Common
Very rare
Unknown
| Weight increased
Transaminases increased
Electroencephalogram abnormal
Blood prolactin increased3 | | Metabolism and nutrition disorders | | Very common
Common
| Increased appetite
Decreased appetite
| | Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders | | Common
Unknown
| Muscular weakness
Rhabdomyolysis (as a complication of neuroleptic malignant syndrome)3 | | Nervous system disorders | Very common
CommonUncommon
Very rare
Unknown
| Dizziness, tremor, headache, myoclonus, somnolence
Speech disorder, paraesthesias, muscle hypertonia, dysgeusia, memory impairment, disturbance in attention
Convulsions, ataxia
Neuroleptic malignant syndrome1Serotonin syndrome, extrapyramidal symptoms (including akathisia and tardive dyskinesia)3 | | Psychiatric disorders | Very common
Common
Uncommon
Unknown
| Restlessness
Confusional state, disorientation, hallucinations (particularly in elderly patients and patients with Parkinson's disease), anxiety, agitation, sleep disorder, mania, hypomania, aggression, depersonalisation, aggravation of depression, insomnia, nightmares, delirium
Activation of psychotic symptoms
Suicidal ideation, suicidal behaviours1 | | Renal and urinary disorders | | Very common
Common
| Micturition disorder
Urinary retention
| | Reproductive system and breast disorders | | Very common
Common
| Libido disorder, erectile dysfunction
Galactorrhoea, breast enlargement
| | Respiratory, thoracic, and mediastinal disorders | | Common
Very rare
| Yawning
Alveolitis allergic (pneumonitis) with or without eosinophilia
| | Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders | | Very common
CommonVery rare
| Hyperhidrosis
Dermatitis allergic (skin rash, urticaria), photosensitivity reaction, pruritus
Purpura
| | Vascular disorders | | Common
| Hot flush
| 1 In post-marketing experience very rarely malignant neuroleptic syndrome has been reported although a causal relationship has not been confirmed.2 Cases of suicidal ideation and suicidal behaviours have been reported during Anafranil therapy or early after treatment discontinuation (see section 4.4).3 These adverse events were reported in patients treated with Anafranil based on post marketing reports.Withdrawal symptoms: The following symptoms commonly occur after abrupt withdrawal or reduction of the dose: nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, insomnia, headache, nervousness and anxiety (see section 4.4 Special warnings and precautions for use).Class effects Epidemiological studies, mainly conducted in patients 50 years of age and older, show an increased risk of bone fractures in patients receiving SSRs and TCAs. The mechanism leading to this risk is unknown.Elderly population Elderly patients are particularly sensitive to anticholinergic, neurological, psychiatric, or cardiovascular effects. Their ability to metabolise and eliminate drugs may be reduced, leading to a risk of elevated plasma concentrations at therapeutic doses. | |