Nortriptyline

[Annasmith715]

Hi all,

I’ve been diagnosed with neuropathic pain today and I have a few questions. Obviously the diagnosis is a lot to take in first of all.

I was on amitriptyline for about 9 months previously, I took myself off it a month ago because the side effects were horrendous.

My consultant prescribed me Nortriptyline today and I was wondering if anyone has had any success with this? Or any awful side effects?

Thank you!

[Pinky2233]

I also had to go off Amitryplinevand change to nortryptiline it was definitely better for me for side effects not great but better!

[Annasmith715 in reply to Pinky2233]

Thank you!!

[Pinky2233 in reply to Annasmith715]

It was the lack of heart palpitations that decreased for me that changed for the better among other things

[Annasmith715 in reply to Pinky2233]

I just can’t bear to feel so low like I did on amitriptyline

[Pinky2233]

I understand.

[Cb1963]

I to was amitriptyline and gave me really bad symptoms, not been on the medication your on, how ever I've been on pregabalin for several years and not to many issues, except weight gain, there's plenty of drugs available, but I don't want to sound to pessimistic "curing" nerve pain is pretty slim, a good diet is helpful and drinking alcohol does not help matters, and I would suggest getting checked for B12 deficiency, it seems that quite a few people have had stomach issues in the past, (myself included) and have got some sort of peripheral neuropathy, which I already had, but then I was getting serve headaches and generally tired, so ended up getting vitamin B12 injections, so it's a bit of a lottery to see how you progress, and you'll feel down and depressed trying to come to terms with this condition, and it's relentless, so it's going to be tough and with some support you'll need people to understand if your a bit bad tempered or don't feel like doing anything, so that you can make life a little easier for yourself, good luck.

[Annasmith715 in reply to Cb1963]

Hi, thank you for your response. ☺️

I’ve given up alcohol because it is just too painful! I’ve been checked for B12 and that was all fine, my neuropathy comes from an injury to the face, so the consultants have ruled out anything else.

Thank you for your support

[willow80]

Hi Annasmith715

I was also on amytriptiline with terrible effects. I was given nortryptyline for neck and back pain but my lupus consultant told me to take it 12 hours before I wish to wake up. This has really worked and I take at 19:00 to wake up at 7.00. The pain has reduced, although I do have bad days

I also have severe migraine headaches and the neurologist suggested this medication would improve these too but I did increase the dose.

Do hope this helps.

All the very best.

[Annasmith715 in reply to willow80]

Hello,

Thank you for this, it’s very helpful! I’ll take them 12 hours before I want to get up! Do they make you very drowsy?

Thank you!

[willow80 in reply to Annasmith715]

Hi

Taking them with that time span really helps. If I took them at bedtime they would make me drowsy.

Give it a try if you find it still makes you drowsy leave a bigger gap. ( I’m not a medic but I did this as previously I used to take at 20:00)

I used to have real problems sleeping all through the night but these have improved that.

Do hope this helps.

[Skipper55 in reply to willow80]

my belief is that 150miccro grams of fentayl is the way to go i have vasculitis but a very rare and shocking version churg strauss . it does a good job and has done for 5 years when things are really crook i get morphine shots i get a prescription for between 5 per month to 10 per month . the nerve tablets ie lyrics amphrpine etc sends me loopy so much so my family finds it difficult to live with me . this opiod scare is awful people do stupid things with fentayl patches and makes life difficult for the rest of us .i was also getting 120 endone 10mg tablets every 6 weeks but i found they were of little use so i stopped them in Feb this year after 5 years .no problems just did not get a new script no withdrawal systoms etc .

[Toplady]

I’m on Nortryptyline and Pregabalin for nerve pain, I find they both work well for me, the Nortyptyline had few, if any side effects but the Pregabalin had major side effects- lot of weight gain, very jerky fingers , hands and limbs but also, on my last planned increased dosage, severe depression and suicidal thoughts, which thankfully, quickly passed. It has worked well but there are side effects so be aware.

[Violetta70]

I'd like to second what Willow80 said about taking the Nortriptyline earlier in the evening, rather than just before bedtime. I was initially told by the GP to take it at bedtime and I felt like a zombie the following day. Just as Willow has said, I then read that you should allow a 12 hour gap between taking it and getting up. I take 50mg a day at 6pm, for Fibromyalgia and Osteoarthritis pain and don't have any side effects. Good luck with it. I hope it helps.

[Annasmith715 in reply to Violetta70]

Does it make you drowsy at 6pm until you go to bed?

[Violetta70]

No, I can't say it's made any difference to me and I certainly haven't found it makes me drowsy. I usually go to bed about 10pm and always read before I go to sleep. One good thing is that, if I get up in the night to go to the loo, I find it easy to get back to sleep again without lying awake for hours, as happened before I took the medication.

[Annasmith715 in reply to Violetta70]

Thank you, that’s very helpful