Prescription medication · Tricyclic Antidepressant (TCA)
protriptyline
Also sold as Vivactil. Protriptyline is used to treat symptoms of mental depression.
Data updated 2026-05-15
- 96
- FDA reportsRarely reported
- 1
- InteractionFew interactions
- $2.44
- Generic price (NADAC)
What the data shows
protriptyline (Vivactil) is a prescription Tricyclic Antidepressant (TCA), among the least-reported drugs the FDA tracks (96 FDA reports), with 1 documented drug interaction.
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.
protriptyline (Vivactil) is a prescription Tricyclic Antidepressant (TCA). Protriptyline is used to treat symptoms of mental depression.
Protriptyline (Vivactil) is a medicine used to treat depression. It can help improve mood and energy levels in adults under close medical supervision.
Verify with FDA → · CMS NADAC pricing →
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Generic Price
$2.44/unit
Generic Available
Yes (2 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
Protriptyline is used to treat symptoms of mental depression.
Common side effects
No common side effects listed.
Key warnings
Antidepressants may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in children, teenagers, and young adults.
The sections below are summarized in plain English from protriptyline's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.
How It Works
Protriptyline is a tricyclic antidepressant. It works by affecting certain natural chemicals in the brain. These chemicals help regulate mood.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 96 FDA adverse event reports.
Most-reported reactions
Adverse reactions in FAERS for protriptyline, by number of reports
- Fall
Fall
12 reports
- Product Administration Interrupted
Product Administration Interrupted
8 reports
- Sleep Apnoea Syndrome
Sleep Apnoea Syndrome
8 reports
- Anxiety
Anxiety
7 reports
- Depression
Depression
6 reports
- Dizziness
Dizziness
6 reports
- Blood Pressure Increased
Blood Pressure Increased
5 reports
- Covid-19
Covid-19
5 reports
- Hypertension
Hypertension
5 reports
- Illness
Illness
5 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 protriptyline 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 protriptyline sits
protriptyline has more FDA adverse-event reports than 1% 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 protriptyline; the line is the median (50th percentile).
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 96 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2012–2025.
Total Reports
96
Hospitalization Reports
24
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | FALL | 12 |
| 3 | PRODUCT ADMINISTRATION INTERRUPTED | 8 |
| 4 | SLEEP APNOEA SYNDROME | 8 |
| 5 | ANXIETY | 7 |
| 7 | DEPRESSION | 6 |
| 8 | DIZZINESS | 6 |
| 9 | BLOOD PRESSURE INCREASED | 5 |
| 10 | COVID-19 | 5 |
| 11 | HYPERTENSION | 5 |
| 12 | ILLNESS | 5 |
| 13 | WEIGHT INCREASED | 5 |
| 14 | ABDOMINAL DISCOMFORT | 4 |
| 15 | DYSPNOEA | 4 |
| 16 | FATIGUE | 4 |
| 17 | GAIT DISTURBANCE | 4 |
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
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.
Known Drug Interactions
7.2 Tricyclic Antidepressants Co-administration of norepinephrine bitartrate with tricyclic antidepressants (including amitriptyline, nortriptyline, protriptyline, clomipramine, desipramine, imipramine) can cause severe, prolonged hypertension.
Mechanism: Protriptyline increases the blood-pressure-raising effects of norepinephrine, making them more intense and harder to control.
This is a plain-language summary of FDA-label interaction records and does not provide individual medication-combination directions.
Common Questions
Can I stop taking protriptyline suddenly?
How long does it take for protriptyline to work?
Can I drink alcohol while taking protriptyline?
What should I tell my doctor before starting protriptyline?
Can protriptyline cause dry mouth?
Will protriptyline make me sleepy?
Can protriptyline affect my heart?
What if I think I'm experiencing a serious side effect?
Is it safe to take protriptyline with other medications?
How will I know if the medication is working?
Does protriptyline interact with other medications?
What drug class is protriptyline?
What pregnancy or breastfeeding source fields are listed for protriptyline?
Related Medications in Tricyclic Antidepressant (TCA)
Other drugs grouped near protriptyline - same-class peers and common alternatives.
acamprosate
Campral
Acamprosate is a medicine that can help you stay away from alcohol if you are alcohol-dependent and have already stopped drinking.
Compare with protriptyline →
alprazolam
Xanax
Alprazolam (Xanax) is a medication that can help you with anxiety and panic disorders.
Compare with protriptyline →
amitriptyline
Elavil
Amitriptyline is a medicine used to treat depression.
Compare with protriptyline →
amphetamine/dextroamphetamine
Adderall, Adderall XR
Adderall XR is a stimulant medicine.
Compare with protriptyline →
aripiprazole
Abilify
Aripiprazole (Abilify) is a medicine used to treat certain mental disorders and mood problems.
Compare with protriptyline →
Compare beyond drug class
Nationwide peers by FAERS volume & death-report share
Two PlainMeds-derived comparison paths for protriptyline: nearest FDA FAERS report volume and nearest death-report share among drugs with at least 1,000 logged reports, excluding same-class neighbors listed above. Counts reflect reporting volume, not proven individual harm.
Similar FAERS report volume
Nearest drugs by total FAERS reports. This record: 96.
Similar death-report share
Nearest drugs by FAERS death-report share. This record: 0.00%.
- adapalene Δ 0.02 pts · 178,147 reports · Retinoid (Topical) 0.02%death share
- levonorgestrel Δ 0.14 pts · 197,074 reports · Progestin 0.14%death share
- etonogestrel Δ 0.20 pts · 46,939 reports · Progestin (Implant) 0.20%death share
- crisaborole Δ 0.26 pts · 9,400 reports · PDE4 Inhibitor (Topical) 0.26%death share
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
FDA bioequivalence and label-record context for narrow therapeutic index medicines
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
Save on protriptyline
Compare prices and find discounts at pharmacies near you. Free coupons can save up to 80% on prescriptions.
Disclosure: This link may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. See our terms.
What the FDA Data Shows for protriptyline
The FDA label for protriptyline (sold under brand names such as Vivactil) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Tricyclic Antidepressant (TCA) class. Protriptyline is used to treat symptoms of mental depression. Labeling covers dosing, contraindications, and monitoring requirements derived from clinical trials.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 96 voluntary reports. The database also lists 1 documented drug interaction derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated minor severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $2.44.
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, and patent information are separate source-record fields. This page is a public FDA/CMS registry and does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions.
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).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. This registry does not provide medication decisions.
Last updated: January 10, 2023
PlainMeds is rendered directly from FDA openFDA/FAERS extracts, DailyMed labels, and CMS drug-pricing files, no number is typed in by an editor. FAERS counts, recalls, shortages, and price figures on this page are queried live from those federal extracts. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-05-15. Primary sources: openFDA / FAERS, DailyMed and CMS Part B ASP.
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 from the source snapshot dated . See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a data issue.
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