<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<compound>
  <id type="integer">3038</id>
  <title>T3D2996</title>
  <common-name>Desipramine</common-name>
  <description>Desipramine hydrochloride is a dibenzazepine-derivative tricyclic antidepressant (TCA). TCAs are structurally similar to phenothiazines. They contain a tricyclic ring system with an alkyl amine substituent on the central ring. In non-depressed individuals, desipramine does not affect mood or arousal, but may cause sedation. In depressed individuals, desipramine exerts a positive effect on mood. TCAs are potent inhibitors of serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake. Secondary amine TCAs, such as desipramine and nortriptyline, are more potent inhibitors of norepinephrine reuptake than tertiary amine TCAs, such as amitriptyline and doxepine. TCAs also down-regulate cerebral cortical &amp;beta;-adrenergic receptors and sensitize post-synaptic serotonergic receptors with chronic use. The antidepressant effects of TCAs are thought to be due to an overall increase in serotonergic neurotransmission. TCAs also block histamine-H&lt;sub&gt;1&lt;/sub&gt; receptors, &amp;alpha;&lt;sub&gt;1&lt;/sub&gt;-adrenergic receptors and muscarinic receptors, which accounts for their sedative, hypotensive and anticholinergic effects (e.g. blurred vision, dry mouth, constipation, urinary retention), respectively. See toxicity section below for a complete listing of side effects. Desipramine exerts less anticholinergic and sedative side effects compared to tertiary amine TCAs, such as amitriptyline and clomipramine. Desipramine may be used to treat depression, neuropathic pain (unlabeled use), agitation and insomnia (unlabeled use) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (unlabeled use). </description>
  <cas>50-47-5</cas>
  <pubchem-id>2995</pubchem-id>
  <chemical-formula>C18H22N2</chemical-formula>
  <weight>266.178300</weight>
  <appearance>White powder.</appearance>
  <melting-point>214-218°C</melting-point>
  <boiling-point nil="true"/>
  <density nil="true"/>
  <solubility>58.6 mg/L (at 24°C)</solubility>
  <specific-gravity nil="true"/>
  <flash-point nil="true"/>
  <vapour-pressure nil="true"/>
  <route-of-exposure>Desipramine hydrochloride is rapidly and almost completely absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. It undergoes extensive first-pass metabolism. Peak plasma concentrations are attained 4 - 6 hours following oral administration.</route-of-exposure>
  <target nil="true"/>
  <mechanism-of-toxicity>Desipramine is a tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) that selectively blocks reuptake of norepinephrine (noradrenaline) from the neuronal synapse. It also inhibits serotonin reuptake, but to a lesser extent compared to tertiary amine TCAs such as imipramine. Inhibition of neurotransmitter reuptake increases stimulation of the post-synaptic neuron.  Chronic use of desipramine also leads to down-regulation of beta-adrenergic receptors in the cerebral cortex and sensitization of serotonergic receptors. An overall increase in serotonergic transmission likely confers desipramine its antidepressant effects. Desipramine also possesses minor anticholinergic activity, through its affinity for muscarinic receptors. TCAs are believed to act by restoring normal levels of neurotransmitters via synaptic reuptake inhibition and by increasing serotonergic neurotransmission via serotonergic receptor sensitization in the central nervous system.</mechanism-of-toxicity>
  <metabolism>Desipramine is extensively metabolized in the liver by CYP2D6 (major) and CYP1A2 (minor) to 2-hydroxydesipramine, an active metabolite. 2-hydroxydesipramine is thought to retain some amine reuptake inhibition and may possess cardiac depressant activity. The 2-hydroxylation metabolic pathway of desipramine is under genetic control.Route of Elimination: Desipramine is metabolized in the liver, and approximately 70% is excreted in the urine.Half Life: 7-60+ hours; 70% eliminated renally</metabolism>
  <toxicity>LD50: 290 mg/kg (Mouse) (A308)LD50: 320 mg/kg (Rat) (A308)</toxicity>
  <lethaldose nil="true"/>
  <carcinogenicity>No indication of carcinogenicity to humans (not listed by IARC).</carcinogenicity>
  <use-source>For relief of symptoms in various depressive syndromes, especially endogenous depression. It has also been used to manage chronic peripheral neuropathic pain, as a second line agent for the management of anxiety disorders (e.g. panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder), and as a second or third line agent in the ADHD management. </use-source>
  <min-risk-level nil="true"/>
  <health-effects nil="true"/>
  <symptoms></symptoms>
  <treatment>Obtain an ECG and immediately initiate cardiac monitoring. Protect the patient's airway, establish an intravenous line, and initiate gastric decontamination. A minimum of 6 hours of observation with cardiac monitoring and observation for signs of CNS or respiratory depression, hypotension, cardiac dysrhythmias and/or conduction blocks, and seizures is necessary. If signs of toxicity occur at any time during this period, extended monitoring is required. Follow ECG, renal function, CPK, and arterial blood gasses as clinically indicated. (L1712)</treatment>
  <created-at type="dateTime">2009-07-21T20:28:27Z</created-at>
  <updated-at type="dateTime">2026-03-31T19:07:16Z</updated-at>
  <interacting-proteins nil="true"/>
  <wikipedia>Desipramine</wikipedia>
  <uniprot-id></uniprot-id>
  <kegg-compound-id>C06943</kegg-compound-id>
  <omim-id></omim-id>
  <chebi-id>47781</chebi-id>
  <biocyc-id></biocyc-id>
  <ctd-id nil="true"/>
  <stitch-id>Desipramine</stitch-id>
  <drugbank-id>DB01151</drugbank-id>
  <pdb-id>DSM</pdb-id>
  <actor-id nil="true"/>
  <organism nil="true"/>
  <export type="boolean">true</export>
  <metabolizing-proteins nil="true"/>
  <transporting-proteins nil="true"/>
  <moldb-smiles>CNCCCN1C2=CC=CC=C2CCC2=CC=CC=C12</moldb-smiles>
  <moldb-formula>C18H22N2</moldb-formula>
  <moldb-inchi>InChI=1S/C18H22N2/c1-19-13-6-14-20-17-9-4-2-7-15(17)11-12-16-8-3-5-10-18(16)20/h2-5,7-10,19H,6,11-14H2,1H3</moldb-inchi>
  <moldb-inchikey>HCYAFALTSJYZDH-UHFFFAOYSA-N</moldb-inchikey>
  <moldb-average-mass type="decimal">266.3807</moldb-average-mass>
  <moldb-mono-mass type="decimal">266.178298714</moldb-mono-mass>
  <origin>Exogenous</origin>
  <state>Solid</state>
  <logp>4.9</logp>
  <hmdb-id>HMDB15282</hmdb-id>
  <chembl-id>CHEMBL72</chembl-id>
  <chemspider-id>2888</chemspider-id>
  <structure-image-file-name nil="true"/>
  <structure-image-content-type nil="true"/>
  <structure-image-file-size type="integer" nil="true"/>
  <structure-image-updated-at type="dateTime" nil="true"/>
  <biodb-id nil="true"/>
  <synthesis-reference>&lt;p&gt;Biel, J.H.and Judd, C.I.; US. Patent 3,454,554; July 8,1969; assigned to Colgate Palmolive Co.&lt;/p&gt;</synthesis-reference>
  <structure-image-caption nil="true"/>
  <chemdb-id>CHEM002356</chemdb-id>
  <dsstox-id>DTXSID6022896</dsstox-id>
  <toxcast-id nil="true"/>
  <stoff-ident-origin nil="true"/>
  <stoff-ident-id nil="true"/>
  <susdat-id>NS00010406</susdat-id>
  <iupac>(3-{2-azatricyclo[9.4.0.0³,⁸]pentadeca-1(15),3,5,7,11,13-hexaen-2-yl}propyl)(methyl)amine</iupac>
</compound>
