Hi Everyone,
I was told today that I have Labyrinthitis, my doctor prescribed nortriptyline for 30 days. I was wondering if anyone else has used this medicine and what side effects you have had if any. I'm afraid of taking it because I read that the more serious side effects can effect you heart.
Thank you for your time.

Hi aeq777,

Nortriptyline is a tricyclic antidepressant. I would be asking the doc why he suggested this over some of the newer SSRI antidepressants. ADs are definitely good for helping recovery from labs - it worked wonders for me! I'm just puzzled at why he's chosen this older style AD which generally comes with more side-effects over say lexapro or cipramil.

Best...Scott

Thanks Scott,
I didn't even start on the medicine. I'm calling the doctor today and see if there is something else I can take instead. Did you have it be on the anti-depressant long or was it short term?
Thanks for you help.

Scotsman I have a question about Nortriptyline. I was prescribed this medicine a month or so ago by a neurologist, who told me my dizziness was "all in my head". He put me on this thinking my problems were coming from anxiety, when rather my symptoms sound much like labs/vn. I didnt take the medicine because I knew I wasnt having anxiety. But you said the medicine worked wonders for you, can you please, if you dont mind, be more specific on how it helped you recover from labs?? Did it help with your dizziness? Thanks very much.

Hi:
I have been on Nortriptyline for approx. 3 years to control the amount of Migraines I have. The only side affect I ever had was getting used to this med in the beginning because it can make you tired. I take 25 mg every evening and it helps me sleep. I have never had any other side affects. As far as the Dr. prescribing an older med. over the newer ones, I would have to say I would trust one of the meds that has been around for many years versus the newer ones that still haven't been out there long enough to know the long term side effects. Personally I was very leary about possibly being put on an anxiety med. because for some reason it made me uncomfortable. I fortunately was able to deal with the occasional diazepam to control my anxiety. I know this can be a very addicting med. but for me I was able to use it only in moderation.

all the best,
Kathy

Scotsman I have a question about Nortriptyline. He put me on this thinking my problems were coming from anxiety, when rather my symptoms sound much like labs/vn.... if you dont mind, be more specific on how it helped you recover from labs?? Hi nc,

In many (if not most) people, inner ear disorders bring terrible anxiety to the body which can lead to a sort of reactive depression...the pendulum swings one way and then the opposite. I believe there are 2 reasons for this - 1) There is a DIRECT physiological connection between the vestibular system and the sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight response) which is out of our control although understanding where it comes from and using meds/CBT can shorten and ease the intensity. 2) The feelings of illness and loss of control in one's life from this also make us feel pretty bad. Together they can drop the sufferer down a black hole faster than you can blink an eye. This was my experience. Research has shown that anxiety and depressive symptoms hold back or totally stop compenstaion by the brain in correcting for the loss of vestibular function. Furthermore, some studies have shown that SSRI meds actually speed neural growth/development and therefore speed compensation and recovery. They appear to attack the problem on 2 fronts. I've been on Cipramil for just over a year and am in the process of coming off now that I am pretty much over this mess. The Cipramil definitely saved my back side. However I don't think I'll feel 100% until I am free of the meds. They've done their job and now it's time to walk on my own 2 feet...at least that's the plan.

It really annoys me when a doc would tell you it's all in your head like that. Did he perform some tests on you to look for vestibular problems? Most docs just don't understand that an inner ear hassle produces the anxiety.

Best...Scott

Hello,

Just to follow up what Scant has said. Notriptyline is often used to treat migraine, and also migraine associated vertigo. The newer SSRI's are rarely used for this. I wonder if your doc has given you this type of anti depressant because of its effectiveness in migraine treatment. Sometimes a type of silent, non painful migraine can cause dizziness and vertigo - this is called MAV. Alternatively, if he heard you actually suffered from migraine (?) then he may have wanted to control those as they can affect recovery from lab. I would be surprised if a doctor gave this out unknowingly. He is almost certainly aware of SSRI's and as Scott says, this is a strange first choice of drug for anxiety or depression.


best,

hbep

Hi Scotsman,
Thanks for your reply. The only tests that the neurologist did was a bep, and a ct scan. They told me they were looking for a tumor that lies on the nerve in my inner ear (acoustic neuroma) but, thank goodness, they didnt find any tumors. So at that point he told me "it must be in my head, because we don't see anything wrong". This really made me mad because you can't see labs/vn, and they treated me like I was absolutely crazy. So thats why I didn't take the nortriptyline, and I didnt return to that doctor either. I have never had an ENG done, I have been to several different doctors, including an ENT, and NONE have mentioned this test. Its like it doesnt even exsist in North Carolina. But anyway, I wish you the best of luck as you step out on your own two feet. I also hope everyone else feels better too, this is fustrating, but I know my life could be worse.
- NC