What the FDA labels say about taking them together
Desipramine and phenelzine
Phenelzine's FDA label of June 6, 2025 names desipramine in its warnings section; desipramine's label does not name phenelzine itself but warns about its class (MAO inhibitors).
Check it at the source: the desipramine FDA label on DailyMed (effective July 9, 2025, Alembic Pharmaceuticals Inc.); the phenelzine FDA label on DailyMed (effective June 6, 2025, Parke-Davis Div of Pfizer Inc).
What does the desipramine label say about phenelzine?
Desipramine's label does not name phenelzine itself; it warns about its class (MAO inhibitors):
Desipramine label, contraindicationsCONTRAINDICATIONS The use of MAOIs intended to treat psychiatric disorders with desipramine hydrochloride tablet or within 14 days of stopping treatment with desipramine hydrochloride tablet is contraindicated because of an increased risk of serotonin syndrome.
Desipramine label, contraindicationsCONTRAINDICATIONS The use of MAOIs intended to treat psychiatric disorders with NORPRAMIN or within 14 days of stopping treatment with NORPRAMIN is contraindicated because of an increased risk of serotonin syndrome.
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
What does the phenelzine label say about desipramine?
Phenelzine label, warningsA List of Dibenzazepine Derivative Drugs by Generic Name Follows: nortriptyline hydrochloride amitriptyline hydrochloride perphenazine and amitriptyline hydrochloride clomipramine hydrochloride desipramine hydrochloride imipramine hydrochloride doxepin carbamazepine cyclobenzaprine HCl amoxapine maprotiline HCl trimipramine maleate protriptyline HCl mirtazapine NARDIL should be used with caution in combination with antihypertensive drugs, including thiazide diuretics and β-blockers, since exaggerated hypotensive effects may result.
Source: FDA drug label (Nardil), Parke-Davis Div of Pfizer Inc, effective June 6, 2025 (SPL set 513a41d0-37d4-4355-8a6d-a2c643bce6fa), 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
| Desipramine | Phenelzine | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Depression | n/a |
| Boxed warning | Yes | Yes |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC) | $0.276 per tablet 75 mg tablet | $0.586 per tablet 15 mg tablet |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No 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?
- Check more medicines together
- up to five at once