Amitriptyline vs nortriptyline?

[girli1111]

Consultant recently changed me from Amitriptyline to Nortriptyline, in another attempt to reduce fatigue (positive RA and Fibromyalgia diagnosis). Two nights of Nortriptyline and both nights I’ve woken very early (4am ish) and had quite memorable dreams (which I think implies not deep sleep?). On the plus side, I havnt woken feeling hungover, which is how Amitriptyline makes me feel. I’m just interested in what others may have experienced really please. It’s early days so I’m happy to continue for now and see how this works out. Thanks

[Mmrr]

I couldn't tolerate amitriptyline, I was just so hung over the next day.Nortriptyline is just so much better, I have no hangover at all , I take it around 8pm. I do have more vivid dreams, but remembering more dreams doesn't mean that you are having less deep sleep, they are different cycles in the sleep process.

According to my fitbit, I am having more deep sleep with nortriptyline than without. I regularly get 10 - 12 % of my nights sleep in deep sleep and around 14 % in REM (dreams). My average nightly sleep has increased from around 7 hrs to between 8 - 9 hrs. I feel so much better taking nortriptyline (25mgs) .

[girli1111 in reply to Mmrr]

That’s very reassuring , thank you. I certainly feel better in the morning than I did on Amitriptyline so far

[Deeb1764 in reply to girli1111]

I was the same as @Mmrr could not tolerate amitriptyline then tried gabapentin now on pregablin which for me has been the best. You have to work thro them sometimes to find the one for you 🥰

[Haired in reply to girli1111]

Hi, I take amitriptyline at night. I was on 10mg to start with but could not tolerate as like you I was so groggy the next morning. Fatigued, dizzy, brain fog. Chemist said to try half tablet ( I do not tolerate medication very well ) this worked much better. But it takes a while to settle down.

I have been having a tough time with photosensitivity since March burning/ pain in arms & legs bad last week so took 10mg of amitriptyline side effects not so bad. Regarding vivid dreams/ nightmares I started on blood pressure tablets a few months ago and started having very vivid dreams from about 4 am. I was getting up exhausted , dizzy short of breath which lasted until lunch time. GP said to decrease dose as again too high for me.

I hope you find right medication for you soon.

Have a good week end .

[girli1111 in reply to Haired]

Thank you. My dreams havnt been disturbing, just very memorable,

And I don’t usually recall dreaming when I wake. Another med, sulphasalazine gave me really bad dreams and daytime panic attacks so I quickly stopped that one!

[matazz in reply to girli1111]

I was prescribed amytriptaline and I was also waking feeling drowsy lethargic and not quite with it well I couldn't have that I'm a driving instructor so I have to be ready on the ball and such like so I got switched to nortriptaline I take three every evening at 5pm and I sleep well with no early morning side effects... all you can do is try and see what works for you good luck ..Oh I was also on sulfasalazine OMG it nearly ruined my stomach I had cramps in my neck couldn't eat lost loads of weight really fast had to have a camera down my throat it was awful not a nice drug that I was given diazapam to stop my throat cramping and relax it again so I could eat food without it getting stuck I thought I was going to choke . X

[CarolP2390]

I woke up every morning with a hangover after using amitriptyline for about a year. I was then changed to nortriptyline no hangover but it didn’t have any beneficial effect either. I gave up on both but sleep seriously evades me.

[girli1111 in reply to CarolP2390]

Thanks for your reply. I hope you eventually find the answer to your sleep difficulties! I can empathise as my sleep has been crazy for years!

[barbieg]

I must be so odd! I’ve tried Amitriptyline twice in the 20odd years I’ve been diagnosed and had to stop both times as it affects my speech. I then tried Nortriptyline and the same thing happened. Neither helped me sleep either unfortunately.

[Deeb1764 in reply to barbieg]

i had that it was almost like I was unable to speak! Hubby said it was a plus to the drug........😂

[barbieg in reply to Deeb1764]

😂😂😂😂😂

[J1707- in reply to barbieg]

Snap but I slept all day. I slurred like a drunken sot 😂🤣

[girli1111 in reply to barbieg]

Ooo that’s a bit scary!

[girli1111]

Thank you. I did try taking the Amitriptyline earlier but still had problems. So far so good with nortriptyline, although it’s only day 3!

[KittyJ]

just in case people are put off amitriptyline by this post I had the same bad hangover/ doziness in the morning when starting it so cut my dose and gradually built it up and this solved the problem so it’s worth trying as it’s worked well for me 😊

[girli1111 in reply to KittyJ]

Yes, sorry, definitely worth a try, we are all different, I have been taking Amitriptyline on and off for many years.

[Hidden]

I take Nortriptyline for chronic nerve pain, so more effective than Amitriptyline. All other drugs I tried had awful side effects so I researched Nortriptyline and asked my GP to prescribe it. I titrated 10mgs per week until desired effect.

[Slife]

so pleased to read your post! I have the same conditions as you and am soon to start on Nortriptyline. I have tried so many zombie- fying meds. I now have hope. Thank you!

[girli1111 in reply to Slife]

glad it helps! I still get crazy fatigue from other meds, but the nortriptyline is definitely less zombifying than the amitriptyline