Trycyclic Antidepressants

Q: Does anyone know what trycyclic antidepressant has the least side effects and is most sedating for sleep?

A:that's really a YMMV question. I know Tofranil is highly recommended for panic (can't think of the generic name...imipramine, maybe?); I also know it's chemically close to Thorazine & caused a nasty allergic reaction in me, plus I basically felt like a zombie, but couldn't sleep well. The one I had the most success with was Sinequan...the only side effect that bothered me was a bit of weight gain, but I know it's one of the most sedating tricyclics, and it helped me get into a regular sleep pattern with minimal side effects. Although our reactions to meds are unpredictably individual it is safe to say that *amiltryptiline* is the most sedating TC

A: OTOH, imipramine and possibly

desipramine (less anticholinergic side effects) seem to be more helpful with PAD as a rule. imipramine is not chemically or structurally similar to thorazine-the two most sedating tca's are amitryptiline and doxepin-and allthough ymmv as per your individualistic response the doxepin has less anticholinergic activity then ami-so statistically has fewer troublesome side effects imipramine has less sedating qualities then either beforementioned and roughly equivalent anticholinergic activity as doxepin For me, certainly amytriptyline was more sedating, but desipramine had the fewest side effects (and trimipramine or Surmontil wasn't too bad either for side effects).