Desipramine

Generic Name : Desipramine

TradeName : Norpramine, Pertofrane

Why it is prescribed (Indications) : Desipramine, an antidepressant or mood elevator, is used to treat depression.

When it is to be taken : Desipramine must be taken on a regular schedule to be effective. The drug must be taken for at least two weeks before its full effect is felt. If you take despramine once a day and it causes drowsines, take it at bedtime. However, if this drug causes restlessness, take it in the morning. Follow the instructions on your prescription label. Do not stop taking desipramine without consulting your doctor. Your doctor may want you to decrease your dose gradually.

How it should be taken : Desipramine comes in the form of capsules and tablets. Your prescription label tells you how much to take at each dose.

Special Instruction :
1. Desipramine makes some people drowsy or dizzy. Do not drive a car or operate dangerous machinery until you know how it affects you.
2. If you take several doses per day, take the missed dose as soon as you remember and take any remaining doses for that day at evenly spaced intervals. However, if you remember a missed dose when it it almost time for your next scheduled dose, omit the missed dose entirely.
3. If you take desipramine once a day at bedtime and do not remember it until morning, omit the missed dose.
4. If you take desipramine once a day in the morning and do not remember it until evening, omit the missed dose. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed dose.

Side Effects :
1. Dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting when getting up from a sitting or lying position. Get up slowly.
2. Dry mouth. Suck sugarless hard candy or chew gum.
3. Drowsiness, nausea, agitation, tiredness, weakness, confusion, difficulty sleeping. These effects should decrease as you continue to take the drug. Contact your doctor if they are bothersome.
4. Blurred vision, irregular heartbeat, difficulty urinating, eye pain, hallucinations, shakiness, sore throat, fever, yellowing of eyes or skin. Contct your doctor

Other Precautions :
1. Alcoholic beverages can add to the drowsiness caused by this drug.
2. Women who are pregnant or breast-feeding should inform their doctors.
3. Before you take desipramine, tell your doctor if you have had a bad reaction to any tricyclic antidepressant
4. Desipramine can make some conditions worse; tell your doctor your entire medical history.
5. Tell your doctor what prescription and non prescription drugs you are taking.
6. Do not take any other medications without consulting your doctor.
7. Before you have emergency treatment or surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist in charge that you are taking desipramine.
8. Tell your doctor if you are allergic to aspirin or tartrazine ( a yellow dye).
9. If have have difficulty breathing, a skin rash, itching, or hives, contact your doctor or go to a hospital immediately.

Storage Conditions :
Keep desipramine in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of the reach of children; an overdose with this drug is particularly dangerous in young children.