Desipramine (Oral)

Generic name: desipramine [ des-IP-ra-meen ]
Brand name: Norpramin
Drug class: Tricyclic antidepressants

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Jan 3, 2024.

Oral route(Tablet)

Antidepressants increased the risk of suicidal thinking and behavior in children, adolescents, and young adults in short-term studies with major depressive disorder and other psychiatric disorders. Short-term studies did not show an increase in the risk of suicidality with antidepressants compared with placebo in adults beyond age 24, and there was a reduction in risk with antidepressants compared with placebo in adults aged 65 or older. Risk in children, adolescents, and young adults must be balanced with the clinical need. Monitor patients closely for clinical worsening, suicidality, or unusual changes in behavior. Families and caregivers should be advised of the need for close observation and communication with the prescriber. Desipramine hydrochloride is not approved for use in pediatric patients .

Uses for desipramine

Desipramine is used to treat depression. It works by increasing the activity of a chemical called norepinephrine in the brain. This medicine is a tricyclic antidepressant.

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.

Before using desipramine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of desipramine in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of desipramine in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have confusion, falling episodes, and age-related kidney problems, which may require an adjustment in the dose for patients receiving desipramine.

Breast Feeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Interactions with Medicines

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

Bepridil
Bromopride
Cisapride
Dronedarone
Furazolidone
Grepafloxacin
Iproniazid
Isocarboxazid
Levoketoconazole
Levomethadyl
Linezolid
Mesoridazine
Methylene Blue
Metoclopramide
Moclobemide
Pargyline
Phenelzine
Pimozide
Piperaquine
Potassium Citrate
Procarbazine
Ranolazine
Rasagiline
Safinamide
Selegiline
Sparfloxacin
Terfenadine
Thioridazine
Tranylcypromine
Ziprasidone

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

Abiraterone Acetate
Acecainide
Aceclofenac
Acemetacin
Adagrasib
Albuterol
Alfentanil
Alfuzosin
Almotriptan
Amantadine
Amiodarone
Amisulpride
Amitriptyline
Amoxapine
Amphetamine
Amtolmetin Guacil
Anagrelide
Apomorphine
Aprindine
Aripiprazole
Aripiprazole Lauroxil
Arsenic Trioxide
Asenapine
Aspirin
Astemizole
Atazanavir
Azimilide
Azithromycin
Benzhydrocodone
Benzphetamine
Bretylium
Bromfenac
Bufexamac
Buprenorphine
Bupropion
Buserelin
Butorphanol
Carisoprodol
Celecoxib
Ceritinib
Chloral Hydrate
Chloroquine
Chlorpromazine
Choline Salicylate
Ciprofloxacin
Citalopram
Clarithromycin
Clofazimine
Clomipramine
Clonidine
Clonixin
Clothiapine
Clozapine
Cobicistat
Codeine
Crizotinib
Cyclobenzaprine
Dabrafenib
Darifenacin
Darunavir
Dasatinib
Degarelix
Delamanid
Deslorelin
Desmopressin
Desvenlafaxine
Deutetrabenazine
Dexibuprofen
Dexketoprofen
Dexmedetomidine
Dextroamphetamine
Dextromethorphan
Diclofenac
Diflunisal
Dihydrocodeine
Dipyrone
Disopyramide
Dofetilide
Dolasetron
Domperidone
Donepezil
Doxorubicin
Doxorubicin Hydrochloride Liposome
Droperidol
Droxicam
Duloxetine
Efavirenz
Encorafenib
Enflurane
Entacapone
Entrectinib
Epinephrine
Erythromycin
Escitalopram
Etodolac
Etofenamate
Etoricoxib
Etrasimod
Fedratinib
Felbinac
Fenfluramine
Fenoprofen
Fentanyl
Fepradinol
Feprazone
Fexinidazole
Fingolimod
Flecainide
Floctafenine
Fluconazole
Flufenamic Acid
Fluoxetine
Flurbiprofen
Fluvoxamine
Formoterol
Foscarnet
Fostemsavir
Frovatriptan
Gatifloxacin
Gemifloxacin
Gepirone
Givosiran
Glasdegib
Glucagon
Glycopyrrolate
Glycopyrronium Tosylate
Gonadorelin
Goserelin
Granisetron
Halofantrine
Haloperidol
Halothane
Histrelin
Hydrocodone
Hydromorphone
Hydroxyamphetamine
Hydroxychloroquine
Hydroxytryptophan
Hydroxyzine
Ibuprofen
Ibutilide
Iloperidone
Imipramine
Indomethacin
Inotuzumab Ozogamicin
Iobenguane I 123
Iobenguane I 131
Isoflurane
Isradipine
Ivabradine
Ivosidenib
Ketoconazole
Ketoprofen
Ketorolac
Lapatinib
Lasmiditan
Lefamulin
Lenvatinib
Leuprolide
Levalbuterol
Levofloxacin
Levomilnacipran
Levorphanol
Lidoflazine
Lisdexamfetamine
Lithium
Lofexidine
Lopinavir
Lorcainide
Lorcaserin
Lornoxicam
Loxapine
Loxoprofen
Lumefantrine
Lumiracoxib
Macimorelin
Meclofenamate
Mefenamic Acid
Mefloquine
Meloxicam
Meperidine
Metaxalone
Methacholine
Methadone
Methamphetamine
Methylphenidate
Metronidazole
Mifepristone
Milnacipran
Mirtazapine
Mobocertinib
Moricizine
Morniflumate
Morphine
Morphine Sulfate Liposome
Moxifloxacin
Nabumetone
Nafarelin
Nalbuphine
Naproxen
Naratriptan
Nefopam
Nepafenac
Niflumic Acid
Nilotinib
Nimesulide
Nimesulide Beta Cyclodextrin
Norepinephrine
Norfloxacin
Nortriptyline
Octreotide
Ofloxacin
Olanzapine
Ondansetron
Osilodrostat
Osimertinib
Oxaliplatin
Oxaprozin
Oxycodone
Oxymetazoline
Oxymorphone
Oxyphenbutazone
Ozanimod
Pacritinib
Paliperidone
Palonosetron
Panobinostat
Parecoxib
Paroxetine
Pasireotide
Pazopanib
Peginterferon Alfa-2b
Pentamidine
Pentazocine
Phenylbutazone
Piketoprofen
Pimavanserin
Piroxicam
Pitolisant
Ponesimod
Posaconazole
Pranoprofen
Procainamide
Prochlorperazine
Proglumetacin
Promethazine
Propafenone
Propyphenazone
Proquazone
Protriptyline
Quetiapine
Quinidine
Quinine
Quizartinib
Relugolix
Remifentanil
Revefenacin
Ribociclib
Risperidone
Rofecoxib
Salicylic Acid
Salsalate
Scopolamine
Secretin Human
Selpercatinib
Sematilide
Sertindole
Sertraline
Sevoflurane
Siponimod
Sodium Phosphate
Sodium Phosphate, Dibasic
Sodium Phosphate, Monobasic
Sodium Salicylate
Solifenacin
Sorafenib
Sotalol
Spiramycin
Sufentanil
Sulfamethoxazole
Sulindac
Sulpiride
Sultopride
Sumatriptan
Sunitinib
Tacrolimus
Tapentadol
Tedisamil
Tegafur
Telavancin
Telithromycin
Tenoxicam
Tetrabenazine
Tiaprofenic Acid
Tiotropium
Tocilizumab
Tolfenamic Acid
Tolmetin
Toremifene
Tramadol
Trazodone
Triclabendazole
Trifluoperazine
Trimethoprim
Trimipramine
Triptorelin
Valdecoxib
Vandetanib
Vardenafil
Vemurafenib
Venlafaxine
Vilanterol
Vilazodone
Vinflunine
Voclosporin
Voriconazole
Vortioxetine
Zolmitriptan
Zotepine
Zuclopenthixol

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

Acenocoumarol
Arbutamine
Atomoxetine
Bethanidine
Carbamazepine
Cimetidine
Cinacalcet
Clonazepam
Dicumarol
Mibefradil
Mirabegron
Phenprocoumon
Ritonavir
S-Adenosylmethionine

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Proper use of desipramine

Take this medicine only as directed by your doctor to benefit your condition as much as possible. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered.

This medicine should come with a Medication Guide. Read and follow the instructions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.

Tell your doctor if you are also using other medicine to treat depression, such as amitriptyline, citalopram, fluoxetine, nortriptyline, paroxetine, or sertraline. You must wait at least 5 weeks after you stop using fluoxetine before you can start using desipramine.

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

For oral dosage form (tablets):
- For depression:
  - Adults—100 to 200 milligrams (mg) once a day or in divided doses during the day. Your doctor may adjust your dose if needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 300 mg per day.
  - Older adults and teenagers—25 to 100 mg once a day or in divided doses during the day. Your doctor may adjust your dose if needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 150 mg per day.
  - Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

Precautions while using desipramine

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to allow your doctor to see if the medicine is working properly and to decide if you should continue to take it. Blood tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

For some teenagers and young adults, this medicine can increase thoughts of suicide. Tell your doctor right away if you start to feel more depressed and have thoughts about hurting yourself. Report any unusual thoughts or behaviors that trouble you, especially if they are new or are getting worse quickly. Make sure the doctor knows if you have trouble sleeping, get upset easily, have a big increase in energy, or start to act reckless. Tell the doctor if you have sudden or strong feelings, such as feeling nervous, angry, restless, violent, or scared. Let the doctor know if you or anyone in your family has bipolar disorder (manic-depressive) or has tried to commit suicide.

Do not take desipramine with a monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor (eg, isocarboxazid [Marplan®], phenelzine [Nardil®], selegiline [Eldepryl®], tranylcypromine [Parnate®]). Do not start taking desipramine during the 2 weeks after you stop a MAO inhibitor and wait 2 weeks after stopping desipramine before you start taking a MAO inhibitor. If you take them together or do not wait 2 weeks, you may develop confusion, agitation, restlessness, stomach or intestinal symptoms, a sudden high body temperature, an extremely high blood pressure, or severe convulsions.

Desipramine may cause a serious condition called serotonin syndrome if taken together with some medicines. Do not use desipramine with buspirone (Buspar®), fentanyl (Abstral®, Duragesic®), linezolid (Zyvox®), lithium (Eskalith®, Lithobid®), methylene blue, tryptophan, St. John's wort, or some pain or migraine medicines (eg, sumatriptan, tramadol, Frova®, Maxalt®, Relpax®, Zomig®). Check with your doctor first before taking any other medicines with desipramine.

Do not stop taking this medicine without first checking with your doctor. Your doctor may want you to reduce gradually the amount you are using before stopping completely. This may help prevent a possible worsening of your condition and reduce the possibility of withdrawal symptoms such as headache, nausea, or a general feeling of discomfort or illness.

This medicine will add to the effects of alcohol and other central nervous system (CNS) depressants (medicines that cause drowsiness). Some examples of CNS depressants are antihistamines or medicine for hay fever, other allergies or colds, sedatives, tranquilizers, or sleeping medicines, prescription pain medicine or narcotics, medicine for seizures or barbiturates, muscle relaxants, or anesthetics, including some dental anesthetics. Check with your doctor before taking any of the above while you are using this medicine.

This medicine may raise or lower your blood sugar. If you are diabetic and notice a change in the results of your blood or urine sugar tests, check with your doctor.

Before having any kind of surgery, tell the medical doctor in charge that you are using this medicine. Taking desipramine together with medicines used during surgery may increase the risk of side effects.

Check with your doctor immediately if you have vision changes, such as blurred vision, difficulty reading, or eye pain, during or after treatment. This could be a sign of a serious eye problem.

This medicine may cause some people to become drowsy or less alert than they are normally. Make sure you know how you react to this medicine before you drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are drowsy or not alert.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal (eg, St. John's wort) or vitamin supplements.

Side Effects of desipramine

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

Incidence not known

Abdominal or stomach pain
anxiety
black, tarry stools
blurred or double vision
burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings
chest pain or discomfort
confusion about identity, place, and time
convulsions
cough or hoarseness
dark urine
dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
dry mouth
fainting
fast, irregular, pounding, or racing heartbeat or pulse
inability to move the arms, legs, or facial muscles
inability to speak
irritability
light-colored stools
lightheadedness
loss of appetite
loss of bladder control
muscle spasms or jerking of all extremities
nausea
nightmares
pain or discomfort in the arms, jaw, back, or neck
painful or difficult urination
pinpoint red or purple spots on the skin
pounding in the ears
rash
restlessness
seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there
shakiness and unsteady walk
slow speech
sore throat and fever
sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth
stiffness of the limbs
sudden loss of consciousness
sweating
swelling
swollen glands
talking, feeling, and acting with excitement
trouble sleeping
twisting body movements
unsteadiness, trembling, or problems with muscle control or coordination
unusual bleeding or bruising
unusual tiredness or weakness
vomiting
yellow eyes and skin

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

Incidence not known