Prescription medication · Tricyclic Antidepressant (TCA)
desipramine
Also sold as Norpramin. Desipramine is used to treat depression.
Data updated 2026-05-15
- 1,275
- FDA reportsRarely reported
- 18
- InteractionsSeveral interactions
- In shortage
- FDA status
What the data shows
desipramine (Norpramin) is a prescription Tricyclic Antidepressant (TCA), among the least-reported drugs the FDA tracks (1,275 FDA reports), with 18 documented drug interactions.
Reporting volume reflects how widely a drug is used and studied, not how dangerous it is, a FAERS report documents a temporal association, never proof of cause.
desipramine (Norpramin) is a prescription Tricyclic Antidepressant (TCA). Desipramine is used to treat depression.
Desipramine is a medicine used to treat depression. It belongs to a class of drugs called tricyclic antidepressants.
Verify with FDA → · CMS NADAC pricing →
Drug Shortage Alert
desipramine is currently listed as to be discontinued by the FDA. Affected manufacturer: Avet Pharmaceuticals, Inc..
View all drug shortages →Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Generic Price
$0.11/unit
Generic Available
Yes (9 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
Desipramine is used to treat depression.
Common side effects
Drowsiness, Dizziness, Dry mouth
Key warnings
Antidepressants may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or actions in children, teens, and young adults.
The sections below are summarized in plain English from desipramine's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.
How It Works
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.
How to Take It
Take desipramine exactly as your doctor tells you. The usual adult dose is 100 to 200 mg per day. Your doctor may start you on a lower dose and increase it slowly. You can take it as a single dose or divided doses.
This is a plain-language summary of desipramine's FDA labeling, not individualized dosing advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber before changing how you take this medication.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
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.
This is a plain-language summary of desipramine's FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber about pregnancy or breastfeeding on this medication.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is close to your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule.
This is a plain-language summary of desipramine's FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber what to do about your specific missed dose.
Storage
Store desipramine at room temperature (68°-77°F) away from heat and moisture.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 1,275 FDA adverse event reports.
Most-reported reactions
Adverse reactions in FAERS for desipramine, by number of reports
- Tiredness
Tiredness
119 reports
- Death by suicide
Death by suicide
116 reports
- Feeling sick to your stomach
Feeling sick to your stomach
77 reports
- Head pain
Head pain
70 reports
- Gaining weight
Gaining weight
68 reports
- Feeling lightheaded
Feeling lightheaded
63 reports
- Harm from different substances
Harm from different substances
60 reports
- Aches
Aches
59 reports
- Joint pain
Joint pain
58 reports
- Difficulty breathing
Difficulty breathing
53 reports
What this shows Bars show how often each reaction was reported, not how likely it is to happen, a report records a temporal association, never proof that the drug caused it.
Reports over time
Adverse-event reports filed for desipramine each year to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).
Year-to-year volume tracks usage, prescribing, and scrutiny, not a change in per-patient risk. Source: FDA FAERS.
Where desipramine sits
desipramine has more FDA adverse-event reports than 8% of the drugs FAERS tracks. A high position reflects how widely a drug is used and watched, not how dangerous it is.
Percentile across all drugs PlainMeds tracks by FAERS report volume. The dot is desipramine; the line is the median (50th percentile).
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 1,275 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2004–2025.
Total Reports
1,275
Reports Mentioning Death
217
17.0% of reports — not proof of cause
Hospitalization Reports
341
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | FATIGUE | 119 |
| 3 | COMPLETED SUICIDE | 116 |
| 4 | NAUSEA | 77 |
| 5 | HEADACHE | 70 |
| 6 | WEIGHT INCREASED | 68 |
| 7 | DIZZINESS | 63 |
| 9 | TOXICITY TO VARIOUS AGENTS | 60 |
| 10 | PAIN | 59 |
| 11 | ARTHRALGIA | 58 |
| 13 | DYSPNOEA | 53 |
| 14 | DYSPNOEA EXERTIONAL | 46 |
| 15 | ANXIETY | 43 |
| 16 | DEPRESSION | 43 |
| 17 | DIARRHOEA | 43 |
| 18 | ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY | 42 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
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.
Known Drug Interactions
CYP2D6 Substrate (e.g., Desipramine) — Coadministration of atomoxetine (40 or 60 mg BID for 13 days) with desipramine, a model compound for CYP2D6 metabolized drugs (single dose of 50 mg), did not alter the pharmacokinetics of desipramine.
Mechanism: Atomoxetine does not change how the body processes desipramine, even though both drugs use the same liver enzyme.
What to do: No dosage changes are usually needed when taking these two medications together.
( 7.1 ) Drugs metabolized by CYP2D6: Bupropion inhibits CYP2D6 and can increase concentrations of: antidepressants (e.g., venlafaxine, nortriptyline, imipramine, desipramine, paroxetine, fluoxetine, sertraline), antipsychotics (e.g., haloperidol, risperidone, thioridazine), beta-blockers (e.g., metoprolol), and Type 1C antiarrhythmics (e.g., propafenone, flecainide). Such drugs include certain antidepressants (e.g., venlafaxine, nortriptyline, imipramine, desipramine, paroxetine, fluoxetine, and sertraline), antipsychotics (e.g., haloperidol, risperidone, and thioridazine), beta-blockers...
Mechanism: Bupropion interferes with the way your body breaks down desipramine, causing the drug to stay in your system longer.
What to do: Your doctor may need to reduce your dose of desipramine to prevent side effects from high drug levels.
Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs): amitriptyline, desipramine, imipramine, nortriptyline ↑ amitriptyline ↑ desipramine ↑ imipramine ↑ nortriptyline Use a lower dose of the tricyclic antidepressants and trazodone due to potential increased adverse events such as nausea, dizziness, hypotension and syncope.
Mechanism: Darunavir slows down the process your body uses to get rid of desipramine, leading to higher levels of the drug in your blood.
What to do: Your doctor should use a lower dose of desipramine and watch for side effects like dizziness or fainting.
Examples desipramine, atomoxetine, dextromethorphan, metoprolol, nebivolol, perphenazine, tolterodine 7.2 Drugs Having No Clinically Important Interactions with PRISTIQ Based on pharmacokinetic studies, no dosage adjustment is required for drugs that are mainly metabolized by CYP3A4 (e.g., midazolam), or for drugs that are metabolized by both CYP2D6 and CYP3A4 (e.g., tamoxifen, aripiprazole), when administered concomitantly with PRISTIQ [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ].
Mechanism: Desvenlafaxine may interfere with the way your body breaks down desipramine, potentially leading to higher levels of the medication in your blood.
What to do: Your doctor likely does not need to adjust your dose, but they may want to monitor your response to the treatment more closely.
Examples: amitriptyline, desipramine, doxepin, imipramine, nortriptyline.
Mechanism: This drug makes your body more sensitive to dopamine's effects on the heart and blood pressure. It prevents the body from soaking up chemicals that dopamine works with, making the effect stronger.
What to do: Your healthcare provider should watch your vital signs carefully. The dose of dopamine might need to be lowered.
This is a plain-language summary of interactions documented in FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber before combining medications.
Common Questions
Can I stop taking desipramine suddenly?
How long does it take for desipramine to work?
Can I drink alcohol while taking desipramine?
What should I do if I overdose on desipramine?
Can desipramine cause weight gain?
Is desipramine addictive?
Can I take desipramine with other medications?
What if I have side effects?
Can older adults take desipramine?
Can I drive while taking desipramine?
What are the common side effects of desipramine?
Does desipramine interact with other medications?
What drug class is desipramine?
Is desipramine safe during pregnancy?
Has desipramine been recalled?
Is desipramine currently in shortage?
Active Recalls
CGMP Deviations: N-Nitroso Desipramine impurity exceeding the permissible acceptable daily intake level.
Heritage Pharmaceuticals Inc
CGMP Deviations: N-Nitroso Desipramine impurity exceeding the permissible acceptable daily intake level.
Heritage Pharmaceuticals Inc
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Medication Guides
Understanding Drug Interactions
How CYP450 enzymes, inhibitors, and inducers affect your medications
Generic vs Brand Name Drugs
FDA requirements, cost savings, and when the difference matters
Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs
Why some drugs demand precise dosing and monitoring
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
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What the FDA Data Shows for desipramine
The FDA label for desipramine (sold under brand names such as Norpramin) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Tricyclic Antidepressant (TCA) class. Desipramine is used to treat depression. Official labeling lists 9 commonly reported side effects, including Drowsiness, Dizziness, Dry mouth.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 1,275 voluntary reports. The database also lists 18 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated minor severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $0.11.
Report counts do not establish causation, a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history (currently 2 recall records on file), and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC). Shortage status: FDA Drug Shortages Database.
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: December 9, 2025
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled and last refreshed May 2026. See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a correction.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book - approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed - NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) - post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm - standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files - federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database - current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages