RT Journal
A1 Garvey CW
T1 DEsipramine isn't when it's disopyramide
JF JAMA
JO JAMA
YR 1989
FD July 14
VO 262
IS 2
SP 210
OP 210
DO 10.1001/jama.1989.03430020052025
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.1989.03430020052025
AB To the Editor.— 
    Pitfalls in medication dispensing are demonstrated by the following case.Report of a Case.— 
    A 33-year-old businesswoman had been taking tricyclic medication since 1980 for treatment of chronic fatigue and slow morning wakening. She was doing well while taking desipramine, 200 mg daily, when seen in December 1987. She returned 3 1/2 months later, however, complaining of severe sleep disturbance reminiscent of her symptoms before using tricyclics. She also complained of depression and unusual weight gains and losses. Laboratory evaluation revealed a normal blood cell count and chemistry values, but her desipramine level was zero.When informed of this, the patient looked at her desipramine bottle and noted that it was labeled "Norpace 100 mg" (disopyramide). Because she had received both Norpramin (desipramine, Merrell Dow) and Pertofrane (desipramine, Rorer) on her generically written prescriptions in the past, she assumed that Norpace was another generic form of desipramine.