desipramine vs norepinephrine

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Side-by-side comparison of desipramine 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
desipramine Tricyclic Antidepressant (TCA)
norepinephrine Vasopressor (Alpha-1 Agonist)
Type
desipramine Prescription
norepinephrine Prescription
Summary
desipramine

Desipramine is a medicine used to treat depression. It belongs to a class of drugs called tricyclic antidepressants.

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
desipramine

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.

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
desipramine

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.

norepinephrine

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

Common Side Effects
desipramine
  • Drowsiness
  • Dizziness
  • Dry mouth
  • Constipation
  • Blurred vision
norepinephrine
  • High blood pressure
  • Slow heart rate
  • Anxiety
  • Headache
  • Trouble breathing
FAERS Reports
desipramine
  • Fatigue 119
  • Completed Suicide 116
  • Nausea 77
  • Headache 70
  • Weight Increased 68
norepinephrine
  • Hypotension 1,011
  • Acute Kidney Injury 747
  • Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome 652
  • Toxicity To Various Agents 624
  • Condition Aggravated 560
Serious Warnings
desipramine

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.

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
desipramine

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.

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 desipramine vs norepinephrine Comparison

desipramine 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, desipramine has 450 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 desipramine makes the effects of norepinephrine stronger and last longer, which can lead to very high 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 desipramine or norepinephrine.

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