nortriptyline - Pain Management Message Board

Toonces1 · 08-06-2008, 05:32 PM

Sorry if this has been discussed before...

Is anyone taking this or does anyone have experience with this medication. I just had a 2nd PM opinion, which was very traumatic, but that's for another post. The one thing that I am taking away from it is that he recommended nortriptyline. I'm curious about the side effect, and whether it helped with your pain.

brianpain33 · 08-06-2008, 07:29 PM

I have taken this med before and it really did not help with my pain. I had some really annoying side effects like constant dry mouth(I always had gum or mints or something to drink). I also experienced drowsiness. However, we are all different in our reactions to medications. I know that it has helped alot of people with nerve pain, just not me. Keep in mind that it is a TCA(tricyclic anti-depressant) just in case you take another anti-depressant.

brian

cmpgirl · 08-06-2008, 10:19 PM

Hi Toonces, I took it several years ago for about 3 or 4 months. I never liked the way it made me feel. Very drowzy and it did nothing for my pain. My primary gave it to me when I first started having pain. It was supposed to be more to help me sleep.

As Brian said though, you never really know what it will do until you take it. What works for one person, may not for the next. Sorry I couldn't give you a better rating. Take care, CMP/MM

Torry590 · 08-07-2008, 12:27 AM

This medication has helped me dramatically with my depression from the pain, and helped with some nerve pain. It wouldnt hurt to try it at least. It has worked for me, saved me really.

frank_n_beans · 08-07-2008, 09:15 PM

Hi Toonces:

I was on 40 mgs of nortriptyline for a few years in addition to methadone and morphine. It really, really helped me with nerve pain. Unfortunately, I had to come off of it in Feb. asap when I found out that I developed something called QT prolongation. It can cause heart attack so they did not want to mess around and I had to stop it. Other than that, side effects were constipation and mild sedation (I took it at night). If you are worried about the heart issue I had, you can always ask your doctor to do regular EKGs once you are on it but from what I understand it actually is not a common problem.

I'd give it a shot..if it makes you feel bad then stop taking it (under direction, of course). I don't think you have anything to lose!