Two medicines, side by side
Clomipramine vs desipramine
Clomipramine has no indication this site maps; desipramine for depression. Their labels share no use, so they are not alternatives to each other. Drugs@FDA records approvals of clomipramine since 1989 and of desipramine since 1964. Pharmacies paid $0.189 per clomipramine 25 mg capsule and $0.276 per desipramine 75 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like.
Check it at the source: the clomipramine FDA label on DailyMed (effective November 26, 2024); the desipramine FDA label on DailyMed (effective July 9, 2025).
Highlights of the clomipramine record
Clomipramine (Anafranil) · label of November 26, 2024
Suicidality and Antidepressant Drugs Antidepressants increased the risk compared to placebo of suicidal thinking and behavior (suicidality) in children, adolescents, and young adults in short-term studies of major depressive disorder (MDD) and other psychiatric disorders. Anyone considering the use of clomipramine hydrochloride or any other antidepressant in a child, adolescent, or young adult must balance this risk with the clinical need.
Used for
From the label: indicationsClomipramine Hydrochloride Capsules USP are indicated for the treatment of obsessions and compulsions in patients with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). The obsessions or compulsions must cause marked distress, be time-consuming, or significantly interfere with social or occupational functioning, in order to meet the DSM-III-R (circa 1989) diagnosis of OCD. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- December 29, 1989
- Generic labelers
- 16 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.189 per capsule
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 7
Highlights of the desipramine record
Desipramine (Norpramin) · label of July 9, 2025
Suicidality and Antidepressant Drugs Antidepressants increased the risk compared to placebo of suicidal thinking and behavior (suicidality) in children, adolescents, and young adults in short-term studies of major depressive disorder (MDD) and other psychiatric disorders. Anyone considering the use of desipramine hydrochloride tablets or any other antidepressant in a child, adolescent, or young adult must balance this risk with the clinical need.
Used for
From the label: indicationsDesipramine hydrochloride tablets, USP are indicated for the treatment of depression.
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- November 20, 1964
- Generic labelers
- 9 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.276 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 6
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Clomipramine label of November 26, 2024, Desipramine label of July 9, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do clomipramine and desipramine differ on the record?
Both are in FDA's class tricyclic antidepressants.
Both labels carry a boxed warning; the records quote them.
Generics: clomipramine since 1996; desipramine since 1987 (Drugs@FDA).
| Clomipramine | Desipramine | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | n/a | Depression |
| Pharmacologic class | Tricyclic Antidepressant | Tricyclic Antidepressant |
| How it works (label) | n/a | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | After a 150 mg dose, the half-life of CMI ranges from 19 hours to 37 hours (mean, 32 hr) and that of DMI ranges from 54 hours to 77 hours (mean, 69 hr). | n/a |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | December 29, 1989 | November 20, 1964 |
| First generic approved | March 29, 1996 | June 5, 1987 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 16 labelers | 9 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.189 per capsule (Clomipramine 25 mg capsule) | $0.276 per tablet (Desipramine 75 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -29% | -16% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | Yes |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 7 | 6 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 4,505 | 274 |
| DEA schedule | none | none |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What do the labels say about using others of their kind?
Clomipramine label, warningsIf concomitant use of clomipramine hydrochloride capsules with other serotonergic drugs, including triptans, tricyclic antidepressants, fentanyl, lithium, tramadol, buspirone, tryptophan, and St. John’s Wort is clinically warranted, patients should be made aware of a potential increased risk for serotonin syndrome, particularly during treatment initiation and dose increases.
Desipramine label, warningsIf concomitant use of desipramine hydrochloride tablets with other serotonergic drugs including triptans, tricyclic antidepressants, fentanyl, lithium, tramadol, buspirone, tryptophan, and St. John’s Wort is clinically warranted, patients should be made aware of a potential increased risk for serotonin syndrome particularly during treatment initiation and dose increases.
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA
What next?
- Alternatives to clomipramine
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions