desipramine vs protriptyline
Side-by-side comparison of desipramine and protriptyline Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Norpramin
Vivactil
Desipramine is a medicine used to treat depression. It belongs to a class of drugs called tricyclic antidepressants.
Protriptyline (Vivactil) is a medicine used to treat depression. It can help improve mood and energy levels in adults under close medical supervision.
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.
Protriptyline is used to treat symptoms of mental depression. It is especially helpful for people who are withdrawn and lack energy. Your doctor will monitor you closely while you are taking this medicine.
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.
Protriptyline is a tricyclic antidepressant. It works by affecting certain natural chemicals in the brain. These chemicals help regulate mood.
- • Drowsiness
- • Dizziness
- • Dry mouth
- • Constipation
- • Blurred vision
No common side effects listed.
- Medicine not working 125
- Tiredness 119
- Death by suicide 116
- Feeling sick to your stomach 77
- Head pain 70
- Falling 12
- Problem with how the product was intended to be used 10
- Stopped taking the product 8
- Sleep apnea 8
- Anxiety 7
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. Your doctor will closely monitor you for worsening depression, suicidal thoughts, or unusual changes in behavior. Families and caregivers should also watch for these changes. Protriptyline is not approved for use in children.
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.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. It is not known if protriptyline will harm an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking this medicine during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
Also Compare — Nearby Drugs
Compare desipramine with
Compare protriptyline with
How to Read This desipramine vs protriptyline Comparison
desipramine is classified in the Tricyclic Antidepressant (TCA) drug class, while protriptyline 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 507 submissions while protriptyline has 45. 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 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 protriptyline — 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.