What Is Desipramine Used For?

Many people wonder, "What is desipramine used for?" Desipramine is a prescription medicine that is used for treating depression. Since the medication has not been studied extensively in children or teenagers, it is recommended for use only in adults. Occasionally, desipramine is also used "off-label" for the treatment of anxiety disorders, chronic pain, and fibromyalgia, among other conditions.

Desipramine HCl

Desipramine Uses: An Overview

Desipramine hydrochloride (Norpramin^®) is a prescription medicine that is used for the treatment of depression (also known as major depression or clinical depression).

Depression is more than just "feeling sad." Some common symptoms of depression include:

Changes in sleep (sleeping too much or not enough)
Eating too much or too little (and weight gain or weight loss)
Having little interest in things that you used to enjoy
Physical pain
Feeling hopeless or worthless
Suicidal thoughts.

In large clinical trials, desipramine has been proven to help adults with depression. However, it is important to keep in mind that many antidepressants (including desipramine) take several weeks to begin working. Sometimes, other people will notice an improvement in your depression symptoms before you do. Often, the physical symptoms of depression (such as pain or changes in sleep) will improve first, sometimes very quickly. It usually takes a few weeks before significant changes in mood occur. It is important to give desipramine a chance to work before becoming discouraged.

Counseling and therapy (see Psychotherapy for Depression) are often used along with antidepressant medication to treat depression. Ask your healthcare provider if counseling or therapy would be good options for you (see Depression Treatment).

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