desipramine vs doxepin
PlainMeds reviewed this comparison against our methodology in August 2026. It places FDA and CMS record fields side by side, without recommending either medication.
Side-by-side comparison of desipramine and doxepin. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
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Desipramine is a medicine used to treat depression. It belongs to a class of drugs called tricyclic antidepressants.
Doxepin is a medicine that can help you stay asleep. It belongs to a class of drugs called tricyclic antidepressants.
Desipramine is used to treat depression. Depression can cause feelings of sadness, loss of interest, and trouble functioning in daily life. This medicine can help improve your mood and overall well-being.
Doxepin is used to treat insomnia, which means you have trouble staying asleep. It can help you sleep better if you have problems with waking up during the night. This medicine has been tested for up to 3 months.
Desipramine works by affecting certain chemicals in the brain. It helps to increase the levels of norepinephrine. This can improve mood and reduce symptoms of depression.
Doxepin works by affecting certain natural chemicals in the brain that help regulate sleep. It helps to keep you asleep throughout the night. It is a low dose formulation of a tricyclic antidepressant.
- • Drowsiness
- • Dizziness
- • Dry mouth
- • Constipation
- • Blurred vision
- • Feeling sleepy or drowsy
- • Feeling sick to your stomach
- • Upper respiratory tract infection (like a cold)
- Fatigue 119
- Completed Suicide 116
- Nausea 77
- Headache 70
- Weight Increased 68
- Toxicity To Various Agents 801
- Completed Suicide 613
- Fatigue 599
- Nausea 557
- Pain 527
Antidepressants may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or actions in children, teens, and young adults. Watch for worsening depression, unusual behavior, or thoughts of suicide. Desipramine is not approved for use in children.
After taking doxepin, some people have done things like driving a car while not fully awake. You might not remember doing it. This can be dangerous, so tell your doctor right away if this happens. Doxepin may also worsen depression or cause suicidal thoughts. Tell your doctor if you notice any new or worsening symptoms of depression.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Desipramine may affect your baby. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking this medicine while pregnant or breastfeeding.
Taking doxepin late in pregnancy may cause problems for the newborn baby, like trouble breathing or feeding. Breastfeeding is not recommended while taking this medicine.
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How to Read This desipramine vs doxepin Comparison
desipramine is classified in the Tricyclic Antidepressant (TCA) drug class, while doxepin sits within the Tricyclic Antidepressant (TCA) class. Because both drugs share the same classification, they are often considered interchangeable in theory, but clinical outcomes rarely track that cleanly. 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, desipramine has 450 submissions while doxepin has 3,097. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. No direct interaction between these two drugs is listed in our FDA-derived dataset, though co-prescription still warrants pharmacist review. 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 desipramine or doxepin.
Registry boundary: This comparison displays source-record fields and does not provide individualized medical direction.