desipramine vs duloxetine
Side-by-side comparison of desipramine and duloxetine. 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
When duloxetine was administered (at a dose of 60 mg twice daily) in conjunction with a single 50 mg dose of desipramine, a CYP2D6 substrate, the AUC of desipramine increased 3-fold [see Warnings and Precautions (5.12) ].
Recommendation: Your doctor may need to lower your dose of desipramine and monitor your response to the medication closely.
Norpramin
Cymbalta
Desipramine is a medicine used to treat depression. It belongs to a class of drugs called tricyclic antidepressants.
Duloxetine is a medicine that can help treat depression and anxiety. It can also help with certain types of pain.
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.
Duloxetine can treat major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder in adults and children (7 years and older). It can also treat diabetic nerve pain, fibromyalgia, and chronic muscle or bone pain in adults. In children, it can treat fibromyalgia (13 years and older).
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.
Duloxetine is a type of drug called an SNRI. It works by increasing the levels of serotonin and norepinephrine in your brain. These chemicals can help improve mood and reduce pain.
- • Drowsiness
- • Dizziness
- • Dry mouth
- • Constipation
- • Blurred vision
- • Nausea
- • Dry mouth
- • Sleepiness
- • Constipation
- • Decreased appetite
- Tiredness 119
- Death by suicide 116
- Feeling sick to your stomach 77
- Head pain 70
- Gaining weight 68
- Tiredness 4,788
- Feeling sick to your stomach 4,783
- Aches or soreness 3,698
- Head pain 3,653
- Loose stools 3,262
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.
Antidepressants may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in children, teenagers, and young adults. Watch closely for worsening depression or suicidal thoughts. Tell your doctor right away if you notice any changes in mood or behavior.
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.
Using duloxetine in the last month of pregnancy may cause problems in the newborn. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking duloxetine during pregnancy. Women who stop taking antidepressants during pregnancy are more likely to experience a relapse of depression.
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How to Read This desipramine vs duloxetine Comparison
desipramine is classified in the Tricyclic Antidepressant (TCA) drug class, while duloxetine sits within the Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor (SNRI) 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, desipramine has 450 submissions while duloxetine has 20,184. 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 duloxetine slows down the body's ability to process desipramine. this can cause desipramine levels to increase by about three times the normal amount.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between desipramine and duloxetine - always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.