Nortriptyline

Description

Side effects

(Don't be unduly alarmed. All drugs cause side effects for some patients)

Warnings

(These are standard cautions but may not apply in your case)

Comments

I have found this to be my miracle drug! I have been on it for about 2 yrs and have had RSD for 4 yrs. The only side effect that I deal with that is annoying is the dry mouth (which in turn, it is believed by my Drs that it caused me to battle Thrush for about 6 months...). Before I started taking this medication I would awaken almost every hour during the night and only if I was lucky I would go back to sleep. I tried Lyrica, Neurontin (Gabapentin), Cymbalta, many sleeping pills and many narcotics and none have helped as much as Nortriptyline has. Also, it seems I have either bad allergic reactions or terrible bad side effects with almost every med and the only bothersome negative side effect is the dry mouth. I started with 10 mg a night and was at that dose for about a year, until an accident that caused other pain problems started disrupting my sleep and the med had to be increased. Amanda - USA

This drug comes from the same group as the Amitriptyline. I think is just a more modern one but basically the same. My daughter has problems with Amitriptyline. Firstly it did not work and then she had a major allergic reaction to it with bad cardiac problems for a night. Since then she does not react well to any drugs and wonder if this has partly started an immune response to drugs generally. Clare - Cornwall, UK

When nortriptyline first came out it was used as an antidepressant. Then they figured out it was a good drug for neuro-muscular disorders. I can say it has never affected as far as side effects are concerned. I have taken it on an everyday basis and it has helped with the spasms and the cramping in my legs. Lynn - Memphis, Tennessee, USA

I am on Amiltriptyline and have no problems with it at all...oh I lie ! - it gives me a slightly dry mouth during the night. I take it to help me sleep and as an antidepressant. I have some wonderful colourful dreams when I take it...so it does work - I hadn't dreamt in years. I do wake up briefly during the night, maybe 3-4 times, but head straight back into a deep sleep. Wendy - Wellington, New Zealand

I am using nortriptyline to help reduce my pain. It is for sleep disorders and i have good result. Dianne - Canada

My 20 year old son is taking nortriptyline for cyclic vomiting syndrome, and has had very good results. He takes 25mg, 2 tablets before he goes to bed and has not been ill since the day he started taking them in May 2002. Before that he was being sick most weeks. Elaine - Manchester, England

When I was prescribed this drug Ionly took 3 tablets and it took away my speech for a week. I have had RSD for 4 years and I am getting worse every day now; it started in my left foot and has travelled to my left hand side right to my head. I have tried most of the drugs listed and I can't find any that give me any relief. I also take Gabapentin dihydrocodine, Tramadol, AmYtripaline and Sonata. Adele - Liverpool, England

I started taking this med in February 2005 for lower back pain that stopped me from sleeping properly for about three years. I was hit with every conceivable side effect. As a person who is not easily depressed I was described an anti-depressant for pain, but it pretty much turned me into a Zombie. In addition, it caused people I care about to think I did not want to be around them. I voluntarily decided to quit the medication because it was ruining my life. It was tough for the three months I was on the drug. I came off the medication and4-6 weeks later I felt better than I have in years. Don - Jacksonville Beach, Florida, USA