Raw research findings for this medication. Mostly single studies, not curated or confirmed robust.
Desipramine is a tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) that acts mostly on noradrenaline. It is used for depression and, off label, for nerve pain and ADHD. It is also the main active breakdown product of imipramine. It is sold as Norpramin, among other names.
Desipramine is broken down almost entirely by the liver enzyme CYP2D6, so its blood level follows the gene very closely: CYP2D6 poor metabolizers can have several times the usual level, with more side effects, and people with extra copies may have levels too low to work. CPIC has published a guideline on CYP2D6 and the tricyclics, including desipramine, and the US FDA lists an effect on drug levels. A few other genes have been studied, with weaker evidence.
Clinical guidelines that name a gene for Desipramine. They sort people into groups by the gene copies they carry.
CPIC guideline: CYP2D6. CYP2D6 activity score 0 to 6 or more. Strong. 2017.
Every published finding on gene variants and Desipramine. Upload your DNA file to see which of these rows apply to you.
PharmGKB weighs all studies of a variant and rates how strong the evidence is, from 1A (strongest) to 4.
CYP2D6 CYP2D6*1, CYP2D6*2, CYP2D6*2xN, CYP2D6*4, CYP2D6*5, CYP2D6*6, CYP2D6*9, CYP2D6*10: Level 1A · replicated. Metabolism/PK: Major Depressive Disorder, Mental Disorders. 12.
CYP2D6 CYP2D6*1, CYP2D6*3, CYP2D6*4, CYP2D6*5, CYP2D6*6: Level 1A · replicated. Toxicity: Depressive Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder. 3.
MC1R rs2228478: Level 3. Efficacy: Major Depressive Disorder. 1.
MC1R rs2228479: Level 3. Efficacy: Major Depressive Disorder. 1.
Studies of how quickly the body processes this medication.
Studies of how well it worked in people carrying a variant.
Studies of how much of the drug people needed or tolerated.
Study findings and evidence levels: PharmGKB (CC BY-SA 4.0). Guidelines: CPIC and DPWG, as bundled in PharmCAT. Most studies were done mainly in people of European ancestry.
More drugs from the same category
Not a prescribing recommendation. This page is educational information about pharmacogenomic research and clinical guidelines - it is not medical or dosing advice, and not a prediction of how any medication will work for you. Never start, stop, or change a medication or dose based on it; talk to your doctor or pharmacist, who can order clinical-grade testing if appropriate.
Content updated September 2026.
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