clomipramine vs norepinephrine

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Side-by-side comparison of clomipramine and norepinephrine. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

minor Known Drug Interaction

7.2 Tricyclic Antidepressants Co-administration of norepinephrine bitartrate with tricyclic antidepressants (including amitriptyline, nortriptyline, protriptyline, clomipramine, desipramine, imipramine) can cause severe, prolonged hypertension.

Drug Class
clomipramine Tricyclic Antidepressant (TCA)
norepinephrine Vasopressor (Alpha-1 Agonist)
Type
clomipramine Prescription
norepinephrine Prescription
Summary
clomipramine

Clomipramine (Anafranil) is a medicine used to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). It helps reduce unwanted thoughts and repetitive behaviors.

norepinephrine

Norepinephrine injection raises blood pressure in adults with very low blood pressure. It belongs to a class of drugs called vasopressors.

What It Treats
clomipramine

Clomipramine treats obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). OCD causes upsetting thoughts or images that keep coming back. It also causes the need to repeat actions over and over. Clomipramine can help control these symptoms.

norepinephrine

This medicine treats severe, sudden low blood pressure in adults. Low blood pressure can happen due to serious conditions. Norepinephrine helps to restore blood pressure to help blood flow to vital organs.

How It Works
clomipramine

Clomipramine is a type of antidepressant. It works by increasing the amount of certain chemicals in the brain. These chemicals help regulate mood and reduce OCD symptoms.

norepinephrine

Norepinephrine works by tightening blood vessels. This increases blood pressure. It helps to improve blood flow to your organs.

Common Side Effects
clomipramine
  • Dry mouth
  • Constipation
  • Nausea
  • Upset stomach
  • Sleepiness
norepinephrine
  • High blood pressure
  • Slow heart rate
  • Anxiety
  • Headache
  • Trouble breathing
FAERS Reports
clomipramine
  • Drug Interaction 225
  • Somnolence 203
  • Fall 202
  • Tremor 185
  • Nausea 173
norepinephrine
  • Hypotension 1,011
  • Acute Kidney Injury 747
  • Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome 652
  • Toxicity To Various Agents 624
  • Condition Aggravated 560
Serious Warnings
clomipramine

Antidepressants may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or actions in children, teens, and young adults. Watch closely for worsening mood or unusual behavior. Clomipramine is only approved for OCD in children.

norepinephrine

Norepinephrine can cause tissue damage if it leaks out of the vein. The medicine can also cause very low blood pressure if stopped suddenly. It may also cause irregular heartbeats, especially if you have heart problems. Allergic reactions are possible due to the sulfite ingredient.

Pregnancy
clomipramine

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Clomipramine may harm your unborn baby. It can also pass into breast milk, so talk to your doctor about breastfeeding.

norepinephrine

This medicine may be used during pregnancy if needed. Low blood pressure during pregnancy can be dangerous for both mother and baby. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

How to Read This clomipramine vs norepinephrine Comparison

clomipramine is classified in the Tricyclic Antidepressant (TCA) drug class, while norepinephrine sits within the Vasopressor (Alpha-1 Agonist) class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.

Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, clomipramine has 988 submissions while norepinephrine has 3,594. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to clomipramine interferes with how the body handles norepinephrine, leading to a severe and long-lasting increase in blood pressure.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.

A table cannot represent individual circumstances. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This registry does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions for clomipramine or norepinephrine.

Registry boundary: This comparison displays source-record fields and does not provide individualized medical direction.