Norpramin (Desipramine) Addiction And Abuse

What Is Norpramin (Desipramine)?

Norpramin is an antidepressant and the brand version of desipramine. Norpramin is classified as a tricyclic antidepressant that helps increase the amount of norepinephrine and serotonin in the brain, which are both chemicals in the brain that regulate a person’s mood. The medication is used to treat depression in adults as well as conditions like hyperactivity and impulsivity. It can also be used to treat bulimia, cocaine cravings, resistant malaria and syndromes associated with chronic pain.

How Is Norpramin (Desipramine) Used?

First approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1964, Norpramin has been approved for use by patients who are over the age of eighteen.

The medication, however, has been known to increase suicidal tendencies in children, which is why it is rarely prescribed for people under the age of eighteen. In the late 1980s, Norpramin was one of the primary medications prescribed by physicians, but there have been many antidepressants introduced since then, which means that physicians do not use the medication as often as they once did.

Two of the reasons that physicians tend to prescribe Norpramin over other antidepressants is that Norpramin is available in many different strengths, which can be helpful in customizing amounts, and Norpramin has fewer side effects than many other similar medications.

Norpramin is available in tablets of 10, 25, 50, 75, 100 and 150 mg. The maximum dose of the medication is 300 mg daily, but adults are often prescribed anywhere between 100 to 200 mg. While some people feel more alert and energetic immediately after taking the medication, for many people, it takes several weeks before they notice the effects of the medication.

There are numerous types of drugs including MAO inhibitors that can cause adverse medical conditions, which is why a person should disclose details about what other medications they are using to a physician prior to taking Norpramin.

Norpramin is typically prescribed in doses between 25 mg and 100 mg, which must be taken daily. Prescriptions above 150 mg are not recommended. If a person misses a dose of the medication, it is important to avoid doubling up on the next dose because this can have adverse consequences.

Some of the most common side effects of Norpramin include the following:

• Blurred vision
• Constipation
• Dizziness
• Dry mouth
• Headaches
• Nausea
• Sleeping difficulties

Norpramin (Desipramine) Addiction

Desipramine is not habit forming in the way that medications like alcohol and heroin are. Although antidepressants are not often considered to be active in nature, many people who stop taking the medication experience symptoms that are similar to drug withdrawal.

Stopping desipramine suddenly can cause a person to experience a variety of adverse side effects, which is why it is often a much wiser idea for a person to gradually wean off the medication. Some of the symptoms that can occur due to withdrawal from desipramine include agitation, chills, diarrhea, dizziness, headaches, loss of appetite, muscle aches, nausea and sleep changes. These symptoms are most common in people who have taken the medication for six weeks or longer.

There are several important differences between withdrawal and addiction, however, which include withdrawal— not resulting in cravings for the medication — and the misuse of antidepressants, causing personal life or health complications.

The Importance Of Aftercare

The road to recovery from addictions involving Norpramin does not end when a program has concluded. Instead, it is important that a person creates an adequate aftercare program after tackling addiction issues. Aftercare refers to continued support and counsel that a person receives after completing a rehabilitation program. The exact aftercare program that will best benefit a person depends on that individual’s specific needs. Some of the goals that a person might focus on in an aftercare program is stabilizing family relationships and gaining financial stability.

Aftercare can take a variety of forms. Aftercare is often either available on a short-term or long-term basis. Sober living is another type of aftercare program that involves a sober environment where a person can live after participating in a rehabilitation program. Outpatient aftercare programs are another common type of aftercare method.

It is particularly important that a person’s aftercare program be strong during the first 60 days, during which a person is most likely to begin using the substance again. The continuous support and care provided by a strong aftercare program is often able to help a person avoid the risk of misusing again.