Nortriptyline

[mrsurqhart]

Anyone taken Nortriptyline?

I've been given these by my GP. They're supposed to be a bit multi purpose. To help with pain (arthritis), sleep (suffering from insomnia at the mo and possibly
anxiety.

I did google (as you do) and noticed that usually amitriptyline is prescribed for pain and sleep.

Any experiences with either of these or both?
Side effects? Good effects? Did they help? And were they had to come off after?

I've taken Amitriptyline for years now. Both for nerve pain and for treatment resistant depression.

Set an alarm. Seriously. It makes you sleep like the dead. My record is 16 hours straight.

Does give me terrible dry mouth and I had a few dizzy spells starting out bit they subsided quickly and the dry mouth is a fair trade off for good sleep imo. No experience of nortriptyline but I think they're pretty similar.

Btw, keep them up high and locked up if you have children. Even if they're older and not normally interested in stuff like that. Pretty much all Tricyclic ADs are very very lethal in overdose.

Nothingcanhurtmewithmyeyesshut.
Thank you!
That's really useful to know. Given I'm having terrible trouble sleeping I am hopeful of an end to many months of escalating insomnia.

I am very worried they'll make me put on weight. Did you find any changes?

Anyone else try these?

I used to take a low dose of nortriptylene for a neurological condition which causes migraines. I didn’t find I had too many side effects, a little bit of dry mouth, although I may have had them if I’d had a higher dose. I slept much better on them and I did lose all the competition nerves I used to get before sports competitions! Previous to taking them I wouldn’t be able to eat breakfast on a competition day, but when I was on them I could trough down breakfast and actually have the energy to compete! I didn’t noticeably gain weight either.
The one problem I had was coming off them to start IVF (before COVID knackered that plan). During the period of cutting down and stopping I would be sweating and shivering, had hideous nausea, headaches, aching joints, massive mood swings... it was pretty shitty, and I was only withdrawing a low dose. But, having said that, I tend to be very sensitive to medications. Two paracetamol and I’m out for the count, so there’s no guarantee it would affect someone else as strongly.

I have gained a lot of weight but tbh I'm not convinced it's the meds so much as working next door to McDonalds...

The3rdwatermelon.
Thank you. The withdrawal effects sound concerning.
What dose were you on? I've been given a 10mg a day dose.

Has anyone had this affect their blood pressure. My blood pressure is on the high side (145/92) and concerned this will make it worse.

I got the tablets yesterday but have yet to take any as I'm worried about side effects.

does it say anything on the leaflet about blood pressure?

try taking them and follow your blood pressure?

Bluebell.
The leaflet is confusing. It says under common side effects: may cause hypertension and below says: may cause hypotension.

So it could go either way?

Just wondering if anyone experienced blood pressure changes.

I can take my blood pressure before and after. It would be reassuring to hear what others experienced first tho.

i agree on the leaflets they try to cover everything and sometimes it contradict even with the purpose of the medication.
i dont know if you need to check before and after. you know your average levels. so checking after maybe everyday or once a couple of days - at your most rested condition - might be sufficient.
i am not an expert, just some experiences.

Thank Bluebell

My dose was 10mg

10mg is a very small dose. I was on 75mg for over a year before I noticed any withdrawal when coming off them. You likely wont have any symptoms.

I have used both and I think side effects and how effective they are just depends on the person. I'm now back on Amitriptyline, it's very good for insomnia and pain. I'm on 20mg, 10mg les to no benefits in terms of sleep and pain but all the side effects. You just have to try them and see. I have come off them with no side effects .

Hi OP. I take a low dose (25mg) for ADHD, as apparently it works similarly to strattera which is not approved where I live.

It took me a very long time to acclimatise to it and I almost stopped taking it. Constant nausea and unbelievable tiredness. I took several pregnancy tests as it felt like the first trimester. I also felt brain foggy and had horrible dry mouth. This all went on for several weeks. But then suddenly it just disappeared and I can take it with no problems now. It doesn't affect my sleep but it does give me weird dreams!

Hi everyone. Thanks for all the information and advice.

I have given them a go. Not last night but night before. Sadly not a good experience. Gave me palpitations which kept me awake half the night. I then spent most of yesterday really agitated, drowsy and not myself. Horrible.

I think I had a bad reaction to be fair because I got a rash on both arms and my neck which is now subsiding.

Sorry to hear you had a bad experience, sounds like an allergic reaction? Hope you're ok now.

Im not sure what you'll be offered next, and I haven't taken noritriptyline, but I am a long term user of amitriptyline if my experience is of any help to you. I take amitriptyline for insomnia, only 10mg, and also to reduce the severity of migraines. I have no side effects other than being a bit slow to get going in the morning sometimes. The first few days you take it, you'll feel tired and a bit drugged up so to speak, but it will pass. Any other questions, just ask.

Just to add, I have also come off 10mg amitriptyline with no effects other than no sleep for 2 days (get through that, then it's totally fine).

I also have a history of high blood pressure and the amitriptyline has not affected my blood pressure at all.