Reactions 445 - 3 Apr 1993

★Desipramine

First report of skin pigmentation change: casereport

Skin pigmentation changes developed in a 61-year-oldwoman with chronic depression who had been takingdesipramine 200-450 mg/day for 14 years Examinationrevealed a slate-grey colour on sun-exposed areas of her neckand dorsa of her upper limbs. There were also pigmentarychanges in her irises. A skin biopsy revealed extracellularyellow-brown pigment granules in the upper dermis. (Thepatient’s subsequent outcome was not documented).

Author comment: ‘The only two reported cases ofpigmentation associated with antidepressants concernimipramine; we present here the first report of desipramine-involved changes in skin color, with confirmation by skinbiopsy.’Steele TE, et al. Desipramine-related slate-gray skin pigmentation. Journal ofClinical Psychopharmacology 13: 76-77, Feb 1993 - USA 800186190

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Reactions 3 Apr 1993 No. 4450114-9954/10/0445-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved