Use

This test is useful for monitoring imipramine and desipramine concentrations during therapy, evaluating potential imipramine and desipramine toxicity, and may aid in evaluating patient compliance. Imipramine and its metabolite desipramine are tricyclic antidepressants used to treat endogenous depression, which requires 1 to 3 weeks of treatment before therapeutic effectiveness becomes apparent. The therapeutic concentration for desipramine alone is 100 to 300 ng/mL, while combined levels of imipramine and desipramine for therapeutic effect range from 175 to 300 ng/mL. Cardiac toxicity is usually associated with blood concentrations more than 400 ng/mL.