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What the FDA labels say about taking them together

Bupropion and desipramine

Bupropion's FDA label of June 21, 2024 names desipramine in its drug interactions section; the desipramine labels PlainMeds reads (2) do not name bupropion. The bupropion label: “Drugs metabolized by CYP2D6: Bupropion inhibits CYP2D6 and can increase concentrations of: antidepressants, antipsychotics, beta-blockers (e.g., metoprolol), and Type 1C antiarrhythmics.”

Check it at the source: the bupropion FDA label on DailyMed (effective June 21, 2024); the desipramine FDA label on DailyMed (effective July 9, 2025, Alembic Pharmaceuticals Inc.).

What does the bupropion label say about desipramine?

Bupropion label, drug interactions

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).

Source: FDA drug label (BUPROPION HYDROCHLORIDE), Epic Pharma LLC, effective June 21, 2024 (SPL set 9fb44e96-6160-4a4a-90cb-91764c0dcd89), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed

What does the desipramine label say about bupropion?

Desipramine's label (effective July 9, 2025) and its 1 other brand-application label do not name bupropion in these sections. A label lists what its studies and reports found; it is not a complete list.

Source: FDA drug label (DESIPRAMINE HYDROCHLORIDE), Alembic Pharmaceuticals Inc., effective July 9, 2025 (SPL set cad14805-64d8-4257-b5f1-d56e0063f0e2), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed

These are the labels' own sentences. PlainMeds does not grade interactions; a pharmacist or prescriber can say what they mean for one person's medicines.

Both medicines on the record

69Bupropion generic labelers
9Desipramine generic labelers
BupropionDesipramine
Labeled forDepression, Quitting smokingDepression
Boxed warningYesYes
Pharmacy cost (NADAC)$0.0785 per tablet 150 mg tablet$0.276 per tablet 75 mg tablet
Shortage nowNo current entryNo current entry

Source: FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026 and the FDA Drug Shortage Database (FDA files October 8, 2026)

What next?