What the FDA labels say about taking them together
Desipramine and fluoxetine
Desipramine's FDA label of July 9, 2025 names fluoxetine in its drug interactions section, and fluoxetine's label names desipramine too. The fluoxetine label: “Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs) – In 2 studies, previously stable plasma levels of imipramine and desipramine have increased greater than 2- to 10-fold when fluoxetine has been administered in combination.”
Check it at the source: the desipramine FDA label on DailyMed (effective July 9, 2025, Alembic Pharmaceuticals Inc.); the fluoxetine FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 8, 2026, Dista Products Company).
What does the desipramine label say about fluoxetine?
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 fluoxetine label say about desipramine?
Fluoxetine label, drug interactionsTricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs) – In 2 studies, previously stable plasma levels of imipramine and desipramine have increased greater than 2- to 10-fold when fluoxetine has been administered in combination.
Source: FDA drug label (Prozac), NDA018936 (Eli Lilly And Co), as published by Dista Products Company, effective January 8, 2026 (SPL set c88f33ed-6dfb-4c5e-bc01-d8e36dd97299), 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 | Fluoxetine | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Depression | Depression, Anxiety, Bipolar disorder |
| Boxed warning | Yes | Yes |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC) | $0.276 per tablet 75 mg tablet | $0.0519 per capsule 40 mg capsule |
| 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