Antidepressant medications are used to treat a variety of conditions, including depression and other mental/mood disorders. These medications can help prevent suicidal thoughts/attempts and provide other important benefits. However, studies have shown that a small number of people (especially people younger than 25) who take antidepressants for any condition may experience worsening depression, other mental/mood symptoms, or suicidal thoughts/attempts. Therefore, it is very important to talk with the doctor about the risks and benefits of antidepressant medication (especially for people younger than 25), even if treatment is not for a mental/mood condition.

Tell the doctor immediately if you notice worsening depression/other psychiatric conditions, unusual behavior changes (including possible suicidal thoughts/attempts), or other mental/mood changes (including new/worsening anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, irritability, hostile/angry feelings, impulsive actions, severe restlessness, very rapid speech). Be especially watchful for these symptoms when a new antidepressant is started or when the dose is changed.

Desipramine is used to treat depression. This medication may improve your mood, sleep, appetite, and energy level and may help restore your interest in daily living. This medication belongs to a class of medications called tricyclic antidepressants. It works by restoring the balance of a certain natural substance (norepinephrine) in the brain.

OTHER USES: This section contains uses of this drug that are not listed in the approved professional labeling for the drug but that may be prescribed by your health care professional. Use this drug for a condition that is listed in this section only if it has been so prescribed by your health care professional.

This medication may also be used to treat panic disorder and certain types of ongoing pain.

Read the Medication Guide available from your pharmacist. Consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.

Take this medication by mouth with or without food, usually 1-3 times daily or as directed by your doctor. Dosage is based on your medical condition and response to therapy. Your doctor may start you at a low dose and gradually increase your dose. Usually, the daily dose will not be more than 300 milligrams for adults and 150 milligrams for teenagers and the elderly. This medication may make you sleepy or wakeful. Therefore, depending on how this medication affects you, your doctor may direct you to take the entire dose once daily either in the morning or at bedtime.

Follow your doctor's instructions carefully. Do not take more or less medication or take it more frequently than prescribed. Your condition will not improve any faster and your risk of side effects will increase. Use this medication regularly in order to get the most benefit from it. To help you remember, use it at the same time(s) each day.

It is important to continue taking this medication even if you feel well. Do not suddenly stop taking this medication without consulting your doctor. Some conditions may become worse when the drug is abruptly stopped. Your dose may need to be gradually decreased.

This medication does not work right away. It may take 2 to 3 weeks before you experience the full benefits when this medication is used for depression.

Inform your doctor if your condition persists or worsens.

Headache, nausea, dizziness, drowsiness, nervousness, trouble sleeping, blurred vision, increased appetite, weight gain, constipation and dry mouth may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor or pharmacist promptly.

To relieve dry mouth, suck on (sugarless) hard candy or ice chips, chew (sugarless) gum, drink water, or use a saliva substitute.

Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.

Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: mental/mood changes (e.g., confusion, depression, hallucinations, memory problems), enlarged/painful breasts, unusual breast milk production, irregular/painful menstrual periods, muscle stiffness/twitching, restlessness, ringing in the ears, sexual problems (e.g., decreased sexual ability, changes in desire), shakiness (tremors), numbness/tingling of the hands/feet, pain/redness/swelling of arms or legs, trouble urinating, severe vomiting.

Tell your doctor immediately if any of these rare but very serious side effects occur: easy bruising/bleeding, signs of infection (e.g., fever, persistent sore throat), severe stomach/abdominal pain, dark urine, yellowing of eyes/skin.

Seek immediate medical attention if any of these rare but very serious side effects occur: chest pain, slow/fast/irregular heartbeat, seizures, fainting, slurred speech, weakness on one side of the body, vision changes.

This drug may rarely cause a serious nervous system disorder (neuroleptic malignant syndrome). Seek immediate medical attention if you notice any of the following rare but very serious side effects: muscle stiffness, high fever, increased sweating, fast heartbeat, sudden mental/mood changes, change in the amount of urine.

A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is unlikely, but seek immediate medical attention if it occurs. Symptoms of a serious allergic reaction include: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing.

This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

In the US -

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.

Before taking this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or to other tricyclic antidepressants (e.g., amitriptyline); or if you have any other allergies. See also the Warning section.

This medication should not be used if you have a certain medical condition. Before using this medicine, consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have had: a recent heart attack.

Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: breathing problems (e.g., asthma, chronic bronchitis), certain eye problems (e.g., glaucoma, increased intraocular pressure), diabetes, eating disorders (e.g., bulimia), heart problems (e.g., arrhythmias, coronary artery disease), liver problems, kidney problems, personal or family history of other mental/mood conditions (e.g., bipolar disorder, schizophrenia), seizures, overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism), trouble urinating (e.g., due to enlarged prostate), any condition that may increase your risk of seizures (e.g., alcohol/sedative dependency, use of electroconvulsive therapy, brain injury/disease such as stroke), certain types of tumors (e.g., pheochromocytoma, neuroblastoma).

Desipramine may cause a condition that affects the heart rhythm (QT prolongation). QT prolongation can infrequently result in serious (rarely fatal) fast/irregular heartbeat and other symptoms (such as severe dizziness, fainting) that require immediate medical attention. The risk of QT prolongation may be increased if you have certain medical conditions or are taking other drugs that may affect the heart rhythm (see also Drug Interactions section). Before using desipramine, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any of the following conditions: certain heart problems (heart failure, slow heartbeat, QT prolongation in the EKG), family history of certain heart problems (QT prolongation in the EKG, sudden cardiac death).

Low levels of potassium or magnesium in the blood may also increase your risk of QT prolongation. This risk may increase if you use certain drugs (such as diuretics/"water pills") or if you have conditions such as severe sweating, diarrhea, or vomiting. Talk to your doctor about using desipramine safely.

Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist that you are taking this medication.

This drug may make you dizzy or drowsy or cause blurred vision. Do not drive, use machinery, or do any activity that requires alertness or clear vision until you are sure you can perform such activities safely. Limit alcoholic beverages.

To decrease dizziness and lightheadedness, get up slowly when rising from a seated or lying position.

This drug may make you more sensitive to the sun. Avoid prolonged sun exposure, tanning booths, and sunlamps. Use a sunscreen and wear protective clothing when outdoors.

If you have diabetes, this drug may make it harder to control your blood sugar levels. Check your blood sugar regularly as directed by your doctor. Tell your doctor immediately if you have symptoms such as increased thirst/urination, shakiness, unusual sweating, or hunger. Your anti-diabetic medication or diet may need to be adjusted.

Kidney function declines as you grow older. This medication is removed by the kidneys. Therefore, elderly people may be at a greater risk for heart problems or mental/mood changes (e.g., confusion, agitation) while using this drug.

Caution is advised when using this drug in children. (See also the Warning section.)

This medication should be used only when clearly needed during pregnancy. Infants born to mothers who have taken similar medications during pregnancy may have symptoms such as trouble urinating, prolonged sleepiness, shaking, and seizures. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.

This medication passes into breast milk and may have undesirable effects on a nursing infant. Breast-feeding while using this drug is not recommended. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

Your healthcare professionals (e.g., doctor or pharmacist) may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for it. Do not start, stop or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with them first.

This drug should not be used with the following medications because very serious, possibly fatal interactions may occur: arbutamine, disopyramide, sibutramine, MAO inhibitors (e.g., isocarboxazid, linezolid, moclobemide, phenelzine, procarbazine, rasagiline, selegiline, tranylcypromine).

Avoid taking MAO inhibitors within 2 weeks before, during and after treatment with this medication. In some cases a serious, possibly fatal drug interaction may occur.

If you are currently using any of these medications listed above, tell your doctor or pharmacist before starting desipramine.

Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products you may use, especially of: anticholinergics (e.g., atropine, belladonna alkaloids, scopolamine, drugs for Parkinson's disease such as benztropine), inhaled bronchodilators (e.g., albuterol, salmeterol), certain drugs for high blood pressure (e.g., clonidine, guanadrel, guanethidine, reserpine), digoxin, nasal decongestants (e.g., epinephrine, phenylephrine), levodopa, lithium, stimulants (e.g., amphetamine, epinephrine, methylphenidate), thyroid supplements, valproic acid, drugs affecting liver enzymes that remove desipramine from your body (e.g., alcohol, barbiturates such as phenobarbital, cimetidine, cisapride, haloperidol, certain drugs for heart rhythm such as flecainide/propafenone, halofantrine, HIV protease inhibitors such as amprenavir/fosprenavir, phenothiazines such as thioridazine, pimozide, certain anti-seizure drugs such as carbamazepine/phenytoin, antidepressants such as duloxetine/fluvoxamine/paroxetine/sertraline/trazodone, St. John's wort, terbinafine).

If you have been taking fluoxetine, wait at least 5 weeks after your last dose before starting this medication.

Cigarette smoking decreases blood levels of this medication. Tell your doctor if you smoke or if you have recently stopped smoking.

Many drugs besides desipramine may affect the heart rhythm (QT prolongation in the EKG), including amiodarone, dofetilide, pimozide, procainamide, quinidine, sotalol, sparfloxacin, macrolide antibiotics (such as erythromycin), among others. Therefore, before using desipramine, report all medications you are currently using to your doctor or pharmacist.

Also report the use of drugs which might increase seizure risk (decrease seizure threshold) when combined with this medication such as bupropion, isoniazid (INH), theophylline, or tramadol, among others. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for details.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you also take drugs that cause drowsiness such as: certain antihistamines (e.g., diphenhydramine), anti-anxiety drugs (e.g., diazepam), anti-seizure drugs (e.g., levetiracetam), drugs for motion sickness (e.g., meclizine).

Check the labels on all your medicines (e.g., cough-and-cold products) because they may contain drowsiness-containing ingredients or decongestants that could increase your heart rate or blood pressure. Ask your pharmacist about the safe use of those products.

This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist.

If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. US residents can call the US national poison hotline at 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents can call a provincial poison control center. Symptoms of overdose may include: severe dizziness, fast/irregular heartbeat, fainting, hallucinations, seizures.

Do not share this medication with others.

Laboratory and/or medical tests (e.g., blood count, EKG, kidney function tests) may be performed regularly to monitor your progress or check for side effects. Consult your doctor for more details.

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up.

Store in a tightly closed container at room temperature below 86 degrees F (30 degrees C) away from light and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.

Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product.

MEDICAL ALERT: Your condition can cause complications in a medical emergency. For enrollment information call MedicAlert at 1-800-854-1166 (USA) or 1-800-668-1507 (Canada).

Information last revised July 2009 Copyright(c) 2009 First DataBank, Inc.