Nortriptyline.

[Wazza84]

Hiya all

Its been a while since I last posted on here.

I just wanted to know if anybody else has had Nortriptyline prescribed to them for problems sleeping and headaches?

I was prescribed them around February 2023 and for me they've been a wonder drug. I’m sleeping much better and my headaches are rare. I was taking up to 8 paracetamol a day, waking up at3,4,5 am with headache and reaching for paracetamol, now I get a good 7/8 hours sleep nightly and don’t wake up with headaches.

I would recommend these but always speak with your doctors 😁

nhs.uk/medicines/nortriptyl...

[t-b-test]

Hello, I'm new here. I joined about a month ago but have never posted. Just a bit of my background. ..... I was hit on the forehead by a gate during a cattle tb test back in October. One of the larger cow's decided to reverse and the gate swung into me. (My own fault as I was off guard) I was not too bad the first couple of days, but then it seemed to get worse and could not do much at all with out feeling bad. So 4 days later went to the urgent treatment centre at the local hospital and was told I was suffering form post concussion headaches, given a leaflet told to take paracetamol and ibuprofen and to go the the GP if not better after 2 weeks. 2 weeks later visited the GP as no better and over the counter pain killers didn't work. He send me for a CT scan,( which thankfully was OK), said it could take 3 months and just take paracetamol and ibuprofen. So carried on with life the best I could.

I did ring Headway which was a great help, it was lovely to talk to somebody who actually knew what I was on about. It was reassuring to know that all my symptoms, being sensitive to noise, light, feeling tired, headaches, were normal. They suggested I asked for amitriptyline at my next Doctor's appointment.

3 months past, things had improved but I was still having days where I couldn't do much due to headache and feeling so tired. Had another chat with a different GP who was very understanding. I was put on amitriptyline (which is in the same group as nortriptyline) without me even suggesting it. This was 4 weeks ago, which is early days. My sleep is better, my headaches are improving and life is slowly getting back to normal.

Sorry about the essay, and thank you for reading. as Wazza84 says it definitely worth a try.

[Wazza84 in reply to t-b-test]

Hiya t-b-test

my sister takes Amitriptyline for Fibromyalgia however a Neurologist recommended Nortriptyline for me and contacted my GP to have them prescribed to me.

Not too sure what the difference is between Nortriptyline & Amitriptyline is. Think I’ll read into it🤔

[Runningpains in reply to Wazza84]

Nortriotyline and Amitriptyline are sister drugs - but ami is supposed to be a “downer” and help with sleep for those whose sleep and rest patterns may be disturbed; whilst nor is supposed to be more of an “upper” so better if some one struggles with getting up and going

[Stubble]

I've just started on these and am definitely sleeping better but haven't yet got the headaches under control. I'm only on 10mg at the moment but will be going up to 20mg from next week.

What dose has been working for you?

[Wazza84 in reply to Stubble]

I’m up to 30mg and I seemed to of found the correct dosage for me. 3 tiny pills a night 😁

[Nafnaf87]

Good morning Wazza

Nortriptyline sent me haywire, got off it fast and went back to normal.

Headaches are still there but I can put up with them rather than the emotional roller-coaster drugs send me on.

Best wishes

Michael

[Wazza84 in reply to Nafnaf87]

Hiya Michael

I’ve had no side affects as of yet. What do you mean by saying “Nortriptyline sent me haywire”?

[Ideogram in reply to Wazza84]

Given how amitriptyline affected me it sounds like we might be similar. Not 100% sure whether it affected my moods but it definitely made it horribly sedated.

[Wazza84 in reply to Ideogram]

I also take Modafinil in the morning to “boost” me.. it’s a smart drug used for fighting off narcolepsy. I think I’ve found a balance between sleeping and waking up.. drugs for sleep and drugs to wake me up.. HaHa!

[Nafnaf87 in reply to Wazza84]

Got very emotional and shaky.

Am happier to avoid meds if at all possible and unless a headache gets a bit naughty prefer not to take anything for that as well.

[Wazza84 in reply to Nafnaf87]

I’d much prefer to take no medication but I’ve learnt they are a must to fight Neuro fatigue, to help me sleep & to fight the headaches, they can be unbearable

[Ideogram in reply to Nafnaf87]

Yeah I may have had the emotional too - though it's hard to tell since big mood swings are my natural state. Glad it's working well for the OP though; if I could tolerate a drug that prevents the headaches I would def be interested!

In fairness, I hate that my neurologist was right, but almost entirely stopping OTC painkillers and cutting out coffee (though not tea) does seem to have helped a bit.

[Ideogram]

I had amitriptyline and some others (not nortriptyline) and couldn't get on with them at all; the following day I was waaaay too sedated - didn't feel safe living alone and doing daft things like leaving the oven on. My neurologist now has me on a waiting list for some preventative injections (I don't know the name - it's not Botox) but seems I just don't tolerate an awful lot of meds. Can't beat the impression from medical professionals that I'm somehow in the wrong and shouldn't be reacting like this - but I remember my grandma had a similar issue. (Have to admit I also like to hold onto hope that I'll be able to have a pint again one day, and can't with those I believe.)

Clearly plenty of people tolerate it much better than me though, so glad you're getting relief from it; I'm now just off any painkillers at all most of the time (had also previously been on max paracetamol and ibuprofen every day - I can now only take them exceptionally, like for period pain) and it's ruddy annoying. Do have sumatriptan but I never know early enough if it's a headache that's going to develop into needing it.

Everyone's different eh.

[cat3]

Good to hear you've found relief for the headaches. I took the 'sister' drug Amitriptyline for 20 years with no side-effects apart from weight gain on an increased dose (75ml). My sister in law takes 25mg for the pain of shingles with good results.

Stay headache free Wazza.. x

[Wazza84 in reply to cat3]

Being headache free and paracetamol free is wonderful Cat. 😁

[cat3 in reply to Wazza84]

Not painkiller free unfortunately ; I've had a knee injury for 11 months and only now (next month) at the MRi stage, so it's been a long time on Codeine.. (just praying it's fixable)... 🤨

Take care Wazza.. x

[Alibongo60]

Hi Wazza, I too took amitrytiline and like cat had the weight gain, and wasn’t so effective, I am now on tipimarate still have to take the paracetamols too, and have relief for a few hours, it would be wonderful to be drug and pain free but we have to be grateful for small mercy’s take care love Alice xx

[Wazza84 in reply to Alibongo60]

Hiya Alibongo60.

I’ve never heard of Tipimarate, I’ll have to read about em

[Alibongo60]

If I remember rightly they are used for migraines, and were prescribed by my neurosurgeon, it said weight loss was a side effect but I’m still waiting for that unfortunately. Xx

[Wazza84 in reply to Alibongo60]

it says on NHS website:-

“Topiramate is a medicine used to treat epilepsy. These are also called anti-epileptic medicines.

It can also be taken to help prevent migraine.

Topiramate works by reducing bursts of electrical activity in your brain and restoring the normal balance of nerve activity.”

I kind of remember injecting myself daily when I was gettin ready to leave hospital with an anticoagulant which fought off/prevented epileptic fits (They’re no longer needed thankfully)