Final answer:
Tricyclic antidepressants like desipramine, imipramine, and clomipramine are used to treat major depression but can have side effects such as weight gain, dizziness, dry mouth, and more severe effects like insomnia, depression, and irreversible prostate enlargement.
Step-by-step explanation:
Common Side Effects of Tricyclic Antidepressants
Tricyclic antidepressants, such as desipramine, imipramine, and clomipramine, are medications used primarily for treating major depression. The structure of tricyclics, characterized by three carbon rings, makes them distinct from other types such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). While effective in treating depression, they can cause side effects that vary between patients and specific medications. Common side effects may include weight gain, fatigue, dizziness, loss of sexual desire, nausea, dry mouth, blurred vision, agitation, insomnia, and constipation. It's important to note that these side effects are more pronounced when the drug is given to non-depressed individuals, leading to feelings of sleepiness, light-headedness, and potentially increased anxiety.
Desipramine, imipramine, and clomipramine can also pose the risk of more severe side effects, though these tend to be less common. Such severe side effects include insomnia, depression, and prostate enlargement, some of which can be severe and irreversible. Due to possible side effects and the potential for fatal overdose, their use has become less common compared to newer treatments like SSRIs, which generally have a milder side effect profile.