imipraminoxide imipraminoxide imipraminoxide (brand names imiprex, elepsin), or imipramine n-oxide, is a tricyclic antidepressant (tca) that was introduced in europe in the 1960s for the treatment of depression. imipraminoxideclinical datatrade namesimiprex, elepsinroutes ofadministrationoralatc coden06aa03 (who) legal statuslegal status in general: ℞ (prescription only) pharmacokinetic dataelimination half-lifeintravenous: 1.8 hoursidentifiers iupac name 3-(5,6-dihydrobenzobenzazepin- 11-yl)- n,n-dimethyl- propan- 1-amine n-oxide cas number6829-98-7pubchem cid65589chemspider59031unii8mks280xjwkeggd07334chemblchembl1614644comptox dashboard (epa)dtxsid40218445 echa infocard100.027.188 chemical and physical dataformulac19h24n2omolar mass296.414 g·mol−1 imipraminoxide is both an analogue and a metabolite of imipramine, and has similar effects. however, in clinical trials, imipraminoxide was found to have a faster onset of action, slightly higher efficacy, and fewer and less marked side effects, including diminished orthostatic hypotension and anticholinergic effects like dry mouth, sweating, dizziness, and fatigue. imipraminoxide's pharmacology has not been well elucidated, but based on its very close relationship with imipramine, it likely acts as a serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor and serotonin, adrenenaline, histamine, and muscarinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist, though with weaker antiadrenergic and anticholinergic actions. imipraminoxide has been said to be a prodrug of imipramine.