Does Anyone Know Anything About The Medication Nortriptyline?

[luvindisneyworld]

My Dr put me on this yesterday for IBS because all the other medications gave me bad side effects.Nortriptyline is for depression and chronic pain.It has a long list of side effects,I am already on Wellbutrin for depression.I am worried about althe side effects.It also says weight gain is possible,I really dont want to gain weight my Wellbutrin has helped me to actually lose down to 121.
So any thoughts or experiences are appreciated.

Misty

 

[Texan Mouseketeer]

Both of my parents just got put on this for depression - my dad is terminally ill and my mother is in the 'caregiver' role and not handling it well. Both of them have not been able to take Paxil, Zoloft or Prozac due to side effects. They are on different strengths of the medication - my dad is also using it to help relieve neuropathy pains. They both swear by it and say it works really well. So far neither of them have had any side effects and they have been on it for about a month now. I hope it works well for you, too!

 

[Aidensmom]

The side effects of it are usually not anything really major - you may be drowsy for the first week taking it, have some constipation, etc. It is just an older type antidepressent (unlike Paxil, Prozac, etc - which do have side effects though they are touted as having less). My question (both as someone who has taken antidepressants in the past and has worked in the mental health field), why is that prescribed to you along with Wellbutrin? They are similar drugs, and to me it just doesn't make sense for you to be on both of them.

 

[luvindisneyworld]

The side effects of it are usually not anything really major - you may be drowsy for the first week taking it, have some constipation, etc. It is just an older type antidepressent (unlike Paxil, Prozac, etc - which do have side effects though they are touted as having less). My question (both as someone who has taken antidepressants in the past and has worked in the mental health field), why is that prescribed to you along with Wellbutrin? They are similar drugs, and to me it just doesn't make sense for you to be on both of them.

The Dr put me on the Nortriptyline for IBS,not depression.I cannot figure out why he has me on that for IBS.

 

[Texan Mouseketeer]

Not that I have any idea, but just a thought. IBS causes pain, right? And that is why my dad was put on it. Maybe that could be the reasoning?

 

[caitycaity]

from what i understand, nortriptyline is used to treat the pain of IBs as opposed to the symptoms (for example i'm on an antispasmodic for ibs which causes my colon to relax). i think it is perscribed in lower doses for ibs than it is for depression. i am not a doctor, however. this is just what i've learned from having IBS.

 

[Tinkim]

Nortriptyline is an antidepressant but it can be given usually in a smaller dose for IBS. It works to stop pain and can be used as prophylaxis for things like migraine headaches and abdominal pain from IBS. Hopefully it will give you some relief.

 

[Texan Mouseketeer]

I was over at my dad's when his came in the mail. 9 bottles for a 90 day supply! He has to take 3 at a time for his neuropathy. But, that's an extreme. His condition is considered terminal so they overmedicate him all the time to get him by. He is also on methadone which is awful stuff, but it helps.

 

[2bemarried]

My mom and I both take Nortriptyline, but it's to prevent migraines. It just happens to be one of the medications with various "off label" indications. Give it a little bit of time and see if it works. If you find that the side effects really scare you, then call your doctor and ask for something else.
Best of luck!!!

 

[luvindisneyworld]

Soes it just help the pain?I am wanting something that helps more than just the pain.He had me on Lezbit or something like that,and it affected my bladder,i could not use the bathroom.So I had to go off of that.

 

[2bemarried]

Have you tried Lotronex?

 

[bananiem]

from what i understand, nortriptyline is used to treat the pain of IBs as opposed to the symptoms (for example i'm on an antispasmodic for ibs which causes my colon to relax). i think it is perscribed in lower doses for ibs than it is for depression. i am not a doctor, however. this is just what i've learned from having IBS.

Caitycaity is correct. It is given in a much lower dose and can help with pain. My doctor prescribed it to me to take one at night to help "slow things down" in my gut. I haven't tried it yet because I'm trying something else and don't want to do two things at once. I have diarrhea dominant IBS, as opposed to constipation dominant IBS. Also, my doctor is at the Mayo Clinic and does IBS research. Many of the medications haven't worked for me except generic Imodium.

 

[ColoradoBuffaloMom]

I've taken 2 nortriptyline every night for years for my migraines. It seems to give me a dry mouth at times but other than that I haven't had any side effects. I still get headaches but I'm afraid to go off the meds for fear my headaches would get worse.

 

[lemondog]

My DH took this for migraines and chronic pain he was having a while back. He wasn't on it for very long, though. He did not have any side effects, but I am not sure how effective it was.

 

[dcentity2000]

Nortriptyline is a Tricyclic anti depressant and works on dopamine, serotonin and noradrenaline; it is also indicated as a sedative, which means the you will be sleepy and probably a big groggy during the day.

It is best to take this medication in one dose at night; alcohol should be avoided, as should MAO inhibitor medications (MAOIs, RIMAs).

Tricyclic anti-depressants are seen as the "gold standard" of anti-depressants and only fell out of favour when SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) and SSNaRIs (Selective Serotonin and Noradrenaline Reuptake Inhibitors) were developed; despite the novel quality of SSRIs and SSNaRIs, Tricyclics are still the medication of choice for most high end psychiatrists due to their stable qualities.

Long story short, it is likely to do you a world of good



Rich::

 

[luvindisneyworld]

Well,I have taken it for the past 2 nights and I have been very groggy through the day and I have been very weak feeling.I just dont think I can take this.I slept 10 hours last night and I could go to sleep now.

 

[dcentity2000]

Well,I have taken it for the past 2 nights and I have been very groggy through the day and I have been very weak feeling.I just dont think I can take this.I slept 10 hours last night and I could go to sleep now.

Remember, it takes roughly a week for the drug to build up in your body. The excessive grogginess is down to your body using up extra energy adapting on top of the usual sedative effect.

I'd expect any side effects to disappear after roughly a week; if they don't, talk to your doctor. Dothiepin is another tricyclic sedative anti-depressant that may work. If the drowsiness is still too much, I'd recommend Imipramine, a tricyclic that is neither a stimulant nor a sedative.

Hang in there!



Rich::