atropine vs imipramine

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Side-by-side comparison of atropine and imipramine. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

minor Known Drug Interaction

In occasional susceptible patients or in those receiving anticholinergic drugs (including antiparkinsonism agents) in addition, the atropine-like effects may become more pronounced (e.g., paralytic ileus).

Drug Class
atropine Anticholinergic
imipramine Tricyclic Antidepressant (TCA)
Type
atropine Prescription
imipramine Prescription
Summary
atropine

Atropine is a medicine that can temporarily block severe effects on your body. It can treat certain types of poisoning and help with a very slow heart rate.

imipramine

Imipramine (Tofranil) is a medicine used to treat depression and bedwetting in children. It helps improve mood and reduce bedwetting episodes.

What It Treats
atropine

Atropine is used to treat severe or life-threatening muscarinic effects. This includes reducing saliva production, acting as an antivagal agent, and treating poisoning from organophosphorus or certain mushrooms. It can also treat a very slow heart rate that can lead to cardiac arrest.

imipramine

This medicine can help relieve the symptoms of depression. It may work better for some types of depression than others. Imipramine can also be used to help reduce bedwetting in children 6 years and older, but only after a doctor has ruled out other possible causes.

How It Works
atropine

Atropine works by blocking the effects of a chemical called acetylcholine in your body. This helps to reduce saliva, relax your airways, and increase your heart rate. It counteracts the effects of certain poisons by blocking their action on your body.

imipramine

Imipramine is a tricyclic antidepressant. It works by increasing the levels of certain natural chemicals in the brain that help regulate mood. For bedwetting, it's thought to affect bladder control.

Common Side Effects
atropine
  • Dry mouth
  • Blurred vision
  • Sensitivity to light
  • Fast heart rate
imipramine
  • Dry mouth
  • Blurred vision
  • Constipation
  • Drowsiness
  • Dizziness
FAERS Reports
atropine
  • Diarrhoea 535
  • Hypotension 485
  • Nausea 458
  • Death 445
  • Dyspnoea 394
imipramine
  • Dizziness 35
  • Fatigue 30
  • Hypertension 29
  • Anxiety 28
  • Depression 28
Serious Warnings
atropine

If you have coronary artery disease, the total dose of atropine should be limited to avoid a fast heart rate. Atropine may cause acute glaucoma, pyloric obstruction, complete urinary retention, or thick bronchial secretions.

imipramine

Antidepressants may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior in children, teenagers, and young adults. Your doctor will monitor you closely for worsening depression, suicidal thoughts, or unusual changes in behavior. Families and caregivers should also watch for these changes.

Pregnancy
atropine

If you are pregnant and have a life-threatening condition, you should still receive atropine if needed. Small amounts of atropine can pass into breast milk. To minimize exposure to the baby, you may pump and discard your milk for 24 hours after using atropine before breastfeeding again.

imipramine

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. This medicine may not be safe for you or your baby. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

How to Read This atropine vs imipramine Comparison

atropine is classified in the Anticholinergic drug class, while imipramine sits within the Tricyclic Antidepressant (TCA) class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.

Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, atropine has 2,317 submissions while imipramine has 150. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to both drugs have similar drying effects on the body, which can lead to more severe side effects like severe constipation or a blocked bowel.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.

A table cannot represent individual circumstances. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This registry does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions for atropine or imipramine.

Registry boundary: This comparison displays source-record fields and does not provide individualized medical direction.