What is Norpramin (Desipramine)?

Desipramine is a tricyclic antidepressant. Desipramine affects chemicals in the brain that may become unbalanced.
Desipramine is used to treat symptoms of depression.
Desipramine may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What is the most important information I should know about Norpramin (Desipramine)?

Do not use this medication if you have recently had a heart attack, or if you have used an MAO inhibitor such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) within the past 14 days.
You may have thoughts about suicide when you first start taking an antidepressant, especially if you are younger than 24 years old. Your doctor will need to check you at regular visits for at least the first 12 weeks of treatment.
Call your doctor at once if you have any new or worsening symptoms such as: mood or behavior changes, anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, or if you feel impulsive, irritable, agitated, hostile, aggressive, restless, hyperactive (mentally or physically), more depressed, or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself.

Norpramin Side Effects

What are the possible side effects of Norpramin (Desipramine)?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have any new or worsening symptoms such as: mood or behavior changes, anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, or if you feel impulsive, irritable, agitated, hostile, aggressive, restless, hyperactive (mentally or physically), more depressed, or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself.
Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• fast, pounding, or uneven heart rate
• seizure (convulsions)
• chest pain or heavy feeling, pain spreading to the arm or shoulder, nausea, general ill feeling
• sudden numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body
• sudden headache, problems with vision, speech, or balance
• easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness
• tremors, restless muscle movements in your eyes, tongue, jaw, or neck
• very stiff (rigid) muscles, high fever, sweating, confusion, tremors, feeling like you might pass out
• urinating less than usual or not at all
• extreme thirst with headache, nausea, vomiting, and weakness
• skin rash, severe tingling or numbness, pain and muscle weakness; or
• nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)

Less serious side effects may include:

• vomiting, constipation
• dry mouth, unpleasant taste
• weakness, lack of coordination
• feeling anxious, restless, dizzy, or drowsy
• sleep problems (insomnia), nightmares
• blurred vision, trouble concentrating, headache, ringing in your ears
• breast swelling (in men or women); or
• decreased sex drive, impotence, or difficulty having an orgasm

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Norpramin Interactions

What other drugs affect Norpramin (Desipramine)?

Cold or allergy medicine, sedatives, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures or anxiety can add to sleepiness caused by desipramine. Tell your doctor if you regularly use any of these medicines, or any other antidepressants.
Before taking desipramine, tell your doctor if you have used an “SSRI” antidepressant in the past 5 weeks, such as citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil), or sertraline (Zoloft).
Tell your doctor about all other medicines you use, especially:

• cimetidine (Tagamet); or
• heart rhythm medications such as flecainide (Tambocor), propafenone (Rhythmol), or quinidine (Cardioquin, Quinidex, Quinaglute)

This list is not complete and there are many other medicines that can interact with desipramine. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor. Keep a list with you of all the medicines you use and show this list to any doctor or other healthcare provider who treats you.

What should I avoid while taking Norpramin (Desipramine)?

Avoid drinking alcohol. It can cause dangerous side effects when taken together with desipramine.
Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with desipramine. Discuss the use of grapefruit products with your doctor before increasing or decreasing the amount of grapefruit products in your diet.
Desipramine can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.
Avoid exposure to sunlight or artificial UV rays (sunlamps or tanning beds). Desipramine can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight and sunburn may result. Use a sunscreen (minimum SPF 15) and wear protective clothing if you must be out in the sun.

Norpramin Dosage

How should I take Norpramin (Desipramine)?

Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results from this medication. Follow the directions on your prescription label.
If you need to have any type of surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are taking desipramine. You may need to stop using the medicine for a short time.
Do not stop using desipramine without first talking to your doctor. You may need to use less and less before you stop the medication completely. Stopping this medication suddenly could cause you to have unpleasant side effects.
It may take a few weeks of using this medicine before your symptoms improve. For best results, keep using the medication as directed. Talk with your doctor if your symptoms do not improve during treatment.
Store desipramine at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I overdose on Norpramin (Desipramine)?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. An overdose of desipramine can be fatal. Symptoms may include uneven heartbeats, extreme drowsiness, vomiting, blurred vision, confusion, hallucinations, muscle stiffness, feeling hot or cold, seizure (convulsions), or coma.

What happens if I miss a dose of Norpramin (Desipramine)?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
Edited from everydayhealth.com