Desipramine belongs to the class of medications known as tricyclic antidepressants. Desipramine helps to elevate mood and eliminate or reduce other symptoms associated with depression. Tricyclic antidepressants such as desipramine work by increasing the amount of norepinephrine and serotonin neurotransmitters (chemical substances in the brain) available in certain parts of the brain.

Your doctor may choose to use a medication for conditions other than the ones listed in these drug information articles. If you're unsure why you are taking this medication, contact your doctor.

The recommended adult dose of desipramine ranges from 25 mg to 300 mg daily in single or divided doses. The usual adult dose is 100 mg to 200 mg daily. Doses above 300 mg daily are not recommended. Desipramine may be taken with or without food.

Many things can affect the dose of medication that a person needs, such as body weight, other medical conditions, and other medications. If your doctor has recommended a dose different from the ones listed here, do not change the way that you are taking the medication without consulting your doctor.

It is very important that this medication be taken on a regular schedule as prescribed by the doctor. If you miss a dose of this medication, take it as soon as you remember it. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and carry on with your regular schedule. Do not double-up on doses.

10 mg
Each blue, round, biconvex, film-coated tablet, engraved "10" on one side, contains desipramine HCl 10 mg. Nonmedicinal ingredients: colloidal silicon dioxide, dextrates and magnesium stearate; film-coating: FD&C Blue No. 1 (brilliant blue FCF) aluminum lake, carnauba wax, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, polyethylene glycol and titanium dioxide.

25 mg
Each yellowish-orange, round, biconvex, film-coated tablet, engraved "25" on one side, contains desipramine HCl 25 mg. Nonmedicinal ingredients: colloidal silicon dioxide, dextrates and magnesium stearate; film-coating: carnauba wax, D&C Yellow No. 10 aluminum lake, FD&C Yellow No. 6 aluminum lake, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, polyethylene glycol and titanium dioxide.

50 mg
Each green, round, biconvex, film-coated tablet, engraved "50" on one side, contains desipramine HCl 50 mg. Nonmedicinal ingredients: colloidal silicon dioxide, dextrates and magnesium stearate; film-coating: FD&C Blue No. 1 (brilliant blue FCF) aluminum lake, carnauba wax, D&C Yellow No. 10 aluminum lake, ferric-ferrous oxide, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, polyethylene glycol and titanium dioxide.

75 mg
Each orange, round, biconvex, film-coated tablet, engraved "75" on one side, contains desipramine HCl 75 mg. Nonmedicinal ingredients: colloidal silicon dioxide, dextrates and magnesium stearate; film-coating: carnauba wax, FD&C Yellow No. 6 aluminum lake, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose and polyethylene glycol.

100 mg
Each peach, round, biconvex, film-coated tablet, engraved "100" on one side, contains desipramine HCl 100 mg. Nonmedicinal ingredients: colloidal silicon dioxide, dextrates and magnesium stearate; film-coating: carnauba wax, FD&C Yellow No. 6 aluminum lake, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, polyethylene glycol and titanium dioxide.

Some medications may have other generic brands available. Always ask your doctor or pharmacist about the safety of switching between brands of the same medication.

Desipramine should not be taken by anyone who:

• has just had a heart attack
• has acute congestive heart failure
• has taken a MAO inhibitor (e.g., phenelzine, tranylcypromine) in the last 14 days
• is allergic to desipramine or any of the ingredients of the medication

The side effects listed below are not experienced by everyone who takes this medication. If you are concerned about side effects, discuss the risks and benefits of this medication with your doctor. Your health professional may be able to help you deal with some of the effects.

The following side effects may go away as your body becomes used to the medicine; check with your doctor if they continue or become bothersome.

More common

• dizziness
• drowsiness
• dryness of mouth
• increased appetite (may include craving for sweets)
• nausea
• tiredness or weakness (mild)
• unpleasant taste
• weight gain

  Less common

• diarrhea
• headache
• heartburn
• increased sweating
• trouble sleeping
• vomiting

Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:

Less common

• blurred vision
• confusion or delirium
• constipation (especially for seniors)
• decreased sexual ability
• difficulty speaking or swallowing
• eye pain
• fainting
• fast or irregular heartbeat (pounding, racing, skipping)
• hallucinations
• loss of balance control
• nervousness or restlessness
• numbness or tingling sensation in arms and legs
• problems urinating
• shakiness or trembling
• shuffling walk
• slowed movements
• stiffness of arms and legs

  Rare

• anxiety
• breast enlargement (both males and females)
• hair loss
• inappropriate secretion of milk (females)
• increased sensitivity to sunlight
• irritability
• muscle twitching
• red or brownish spots on skin
• ringing, buzzing, or other unexplained sounds in the ears
• seizures
• skin rash and itching
• sore throat and fever
• swelling of face and tongue
• swelling of testicles
• trouble with teeth or gums
• weakness
• yellow eyes or skin

Some people may experience side effects other than those listed. Check with your doctor if you notice any symptom that worries you while you are taking this medication.

Diabetes: Both elevation and lowering of blood sugar levels have been reported with desipramine use. People with diabetes or hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) should monitor their blood glucose levels closely while taking this medication

Heart disease: Tricyclic antidepressant drugs such as desipramine, particularly when taken in high doses, can cause abnormal heart rhythms. Therefore, desipramine should be taken with caution by seniors or those with a history of heart disease.

Medical conditions: Desipramine should be used with caution by people with:

• thyroid disease
• a history of seizures
• mania (desipramine may induce mania in people with a history of mania or bipolar disorder)
• urinary retention
• narrow-angle glaucoma
• increased eye pressure

Occupational hazards: Desipramine may reduce the mental or physical abilities required for the performance of hazardous tasks, such as operating machinery or driving a motor vehicle.

Pregnancy: There are no good studies of the effects of taking desipramine during pregnancy. Pregnant women should speak to their doctor about benefits and risks of taking this medication.

Breast-feeding: Desipramine passes into breast milk. Because of the potential for serious side effects in infants, a decision should be made to stop nursing or to stop taking the medication.

Children: Desipramine is not recommended for use by children

• alcohol
• anticholinergic medications (e.g., atropine)
• barbiturates (e.g., phenobarbital)
• benzodiazepines (e.g., diazepam, lorazepam)
• butyrophenones (e.g., haloperidol)
• carbamazepine
• cimetidine
• quinidine
• MAO inhibitors (e.g., phenelzine, moclobemide)
• methadone
• methylphenidate
• phenothiazines (e.g., chlorpromazine, thioridazine)
• phenylephrine
• SSRI antidepressants (e.g., fluoxetine, fluvoxamine)

Desipramine may affect how the following medications work:

• guanethidine

If you are taking any of these medications, speak with your doctor or pharmacist. Depending on your specific circumstances, your doctor may want you to:

• stop taking one of the medications,
• change one of the medications to another,
• change how you are taking one or both of the medications, or
• leave everything as is.

An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. In many cases, interactions are intended or are managed by close monitoring. Speak to your doctor about how any drug interactions are being managed or should be managed.

Medications other than the ones listed above may interact with this medication. Tell your doctor or prescriber about all prescription, over-the-counter (non-prescription), and herbal medications that you are taking. Also tell them about any supplements you take. Since caffeine, alcohol, the nicotine from cigarettes, or street drugs can affect the action of many medications, you should let your prescriber know if you use them.