Yeah imipramine was the first antidepressant ever discovered and can have some heavy side effects. It might be a wise choice for someone with chronic severe treatment resistant depression as a try when nothing has worked. It is effective.

In your case I would really question his choice of prescribing one at all and that one in particular. Maybe he figures it is more fast acting and taking it a month or two while the thyroid levels get balanced can help you get over a hump.

I know my niece went through a really bad patch when they were getting her thyroid levels right. She was taking the med everyday after being diagnosed and was in Hawaii on an internship when she got severely depressed. They got the levels worked out and she has been fine since. She did tell me she would never judge someone with depression again after going through that. She had absolutely no control over it and here she was away from home and doctor in Hawaii.