Tricyclic Antidepressant drugs compared

Compare all 4 Tricyclic Antidepressant drugs side by side, used for conditions such as attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity, depressive disorder, enuresis. They share one FDA-defined mechanism but differ in approved uses, prescription status, brand-vs-generic options, price, and FDA recall-safety record — which our independent rating scores. The highest-rated is imipramine hydrochloride.

4 of 4 drugs in this class carry a pharmaranks safety score, ranging 64–72 out of 100 — computed from FDA recall records, not from reviews.

Rated against independent sources·Last updated June 7, 2026·How we rate

Top-rated tricyclic antidepressant: 1. Imipramine Hydrochloride · 2. Anafranil · 3. Amitriptyline Hydrochloride

Tricyclic Antidepressant drugs compared side by side, with pharmaranks' FDA recall-safety rating
Drug	Generic	Form	Status	Used for	Safety ratingFDA recall-based	Pharmacy pays
Imipramine Hydrochloride	—	Tablet	Prescription	Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, Depressive Disorder	72/100	$3
Anafranil	Clomipramine Hydrochloride	Capsule	Prescription	Depressive Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder	70/100	$7
Amitriptyline Hydrochloride	—	Tablet	Prescription	Depressive Disorder, Pain	66/100	$3
Zonalon	Doxepin Hydrochloride	Topical	Prescription	Anxiety Disorders, Depressive Disorder	64/100	$5

The safety rating column is unique to pharmaranks — an independent 0–100 score from FDA regulatory recall data. Higher is safer. Not medical advice.

Best tricyclic antidepressant by condition

for depressive disorder for pain for panic disorder

Full ranking · 4 drugs

Frequently asked questions

What is the Tricyclic Antidepressant drug class?

Tricyclic Antidepressant is an FDA Established Pharmacologic Class (EPC) — a group of drugs that share a mechanism of action. pharmaranks lists 4 Tricyclic Antidepressant products, each independently rated.

Are all Tricyclic Antidepressant drugs the same?

No. Tricyclic Antidepressant drugs share the same core mechanism — that is why they sit in one FDA class — but they differ in their approved uses, available forms, whether they are prescription or over-the-counter, brand-vs-generic options and price, and their FDA recall-safety record.

What conditions do Tricyclic Antidepressant drugs treat?

Per NIH RxClass drug-classification data, Tricyclic Antidepressant drugs are used for conditions including attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity, depressive disorder, enuresis, pain, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Which Tricyclic Antidepressant drug is best-rated?

By our independent rating, imipramine hydrochloride currently ranks highest among Tricyclic Antidepressant drugs. Ratings are based on FDA regulatory (recall-safety) data — always consult a professional.

Sources: the Tricyclic Antidepressant class definition and its member drugs come from the U.S. NLM RxClass (Established Pharmacologic Class). Ratings are pharmaranks’ independent FDA recall-safety analysis.