What does clomipramine mean?
Clomipramine is a prescription medication belonging to the class of drugs known as tricyclic antidepressants, named for their characteristic three-ring molecular structure. Introduced in the 1960s under the brand name Anafranil, it works primarily by increasing the activity of serotonin, a neurotransmitter involved in mood regulation. Although clomipramine can be prescribed for depression, panic disorder, and certain chronic pain conditions, it is best known as one of the most effective treatments available for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), where its efficacy remains a benchmark that newer medications are compared against. Like most tricyclics, it carries a greater burden of side effects than modern selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, including drowsiness, dry mouth, and weight gain, so it is typically reserved for cases where first-line treatments have not helped. The name appears almost entirely within medical literature, pharmacy labels, and clinical discussion rather than everyday speech.
nounA tricyclic antidepressant drug of the imipramine family, used chiefly in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression, and panic disorder.
- The tricyclic antidepressant medication clomipramine (brand name Anafranil), used to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression, panic disorder, and certain other conditions.
"After other treatments failed, the psychiatrist prescribed clomipramine for her severe OCD."
"The patient's intrusive thoughts diminished significantly after eight weeks on clomipramine."
"Veterinarians sometimes prescribe clomipramine to dogs for separation anxiety."
Rarely pluralized except when referring to different formulations or doses of the drug.
"The study compared several formulations of clomipramines across dosages."
Despite being developed in the 1960s, clomipramine remains so effective against obsessive-compulsive disorder that newer SSRIs are still measured against it.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of clomipramine
The name clomipramine was coined in the 1960s from standard pharmaceutical nomenclature: 'clom-' reflects the presence of a chlorine atom in the molecule, while '-pramine' derives from propylamine, a chemical group shared across the imipramine family of tricyclic antidepressants. It thus belongs to a family of related names including imipramine, desipramine, and trimipramine, all built on the same dibenzazepine chemical skeleton first explored by Swiss researchers at Geigy in the 1950s.
How clomipramine is actually used
Clomipramine is a prescription medication known almost exclusively in medical and pharmaceutical contexts; it is not used figuratively or colloquially. In clinical writing it often appears by its generic name, while patients may know it by the brand name Anafranil.
Easily confused with clomipramine
Imipramine is the parent tricyclic antidepressant from which clomipramine is chemically derived; clomipramine has an added chlorine atom and is more potent against OCD.
Clozapine is an atypical antipsychotic used mainly for schizophrenia, whereas clomipramine is a tricyclic antidepressant; the two share a 'clo-' spelling but belong to different drug classes.