What the FDA labels say about taking them together
Desipramine and sertraline
Desipramine's FDA label of July 9, 2025 names sertraline in its drug interactions section, and sertraline's label names desipramine too. The sertraline label: “ZOLOFT is a CYP2D6 inhibitor. The concomitant use of ZOLOFT with a CYP2D6 substrate may increase the exposure of the CYP2D6 substrate.”
Check it at the source: the desipramine FDA label on DailyMed (effective July 9, 2025, Alembic Pharmaceuticals Inc.); the sertraline FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 8, 2023, Viatris Specialty LLC).
What does the desipramine label say about sertraline?
Desipramine label, drug interactionsWhile all the SSRIs, e.g., fluoxetine, sertraline, paroxetine, inhibit P450 2D6, they may vary in the extent of inhibition.
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 sertraline label say about desipramine?
Sertraline label, drug interactionsDrugs Metabolized by CYP2D6 Clinical Impact: ZOLOFT is a CYP2D6 inhibitor [See ]. The concomitant use of ZOLOFT with a CYP2D6 substrate may increase the exposure of the CYP2D6 substrate. Intervention: Decrease the dosage of a CYP2D6 substrate if needed with concomitant ZOLOFT use. Conversely, an increase in dosage of a CYP2D6 substrate may be needed if ZOLOFT is discontinued. …
Source: FDA drug label (Sertraline Hydrochloride, NDA020990), Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc., effective September 15, 2024 (SPL set 1a58062b-e635-431a-908d-2651c6a4a21c), via openFDA
Source: FDA drug label (Zoloft), Viatris Specialty LLC, effective August 8, 2023 (SPL set fda754f6-d0f3-4dce-a17a-927d64f912f7), 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 | Sertraline | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Depression | Depression, Anxiety |
| Boxed warning | Yes | Yes |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC) | $0.276 per tablet 75 mg tablet | $0.0507 per tablet 100 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