Nortriptyline (Aventil, Pamelor)
Nortriptyline is a tricyclic antidepressants used to treat endogenous depression, chronic skin disorders, depression, migraine headaches, panic disorder, severe arthritis, bed wetting, AIDS, PMS, ADHD, ringing ears, and with other drugs to manage chronic/severe pain.
Benefits Seen
- In a few days to a few weeks
- If any unpleasant side effects, they should appear right away
Missed Dose
- If you take this drug at bedtime and miss it do not take in morning
- If within one hour take, if over an hour skip and then continue on your normal schedule
- Never Take a Double Dose!
If Stop Taking
- Do not stop without consulting your doctor
- Never abruptly – reduce gradually
Overdose symptoms include
- Confusion
- Convulsions
- Hallucinations
- Heart failure
- Loss of consciousness
- Lowered body temperature
- Sleepiness
- Deep sleep
- Tremors
Warnings
- The habit-forming potential is none.
- This drug if beneficial should be taken about six months and for some people up to a year.
- This drug may worsen the symptoms of a paranoid or schizophrenic person and a person with bipolar disorder may switch phase.
- Do not use this drug along with ECT (Electro convulsive therapy).
- Do not take this drug if you are pregnant try some non-drug alternatives.
- Do not take this drug if planning to become pregnant. Do not take if you are breast-feeding.
- Do not give this drug to anyone under the age of twelve. If over sixty only use drug in small doses and with close monitoring of it’s side effects (e.g. Blood pressure lowering, confusion).
Do not use if: You had negative reactions to this drug or any drug of this type in the past. If you have taken any monoamine oxidase (MAO) in the past two weeks.
Inform your Doctor if
- You had negative reactions to any drug or any drug of this type in the past.
- If you have epilepsy.
- If you are taking any other prescription or non-prescription drug.
- If you plan to be under anesthesia or having any surgery in the next few months, also if you will be under-going any medical tests.
Symptoms or Side Effects
Common
- Blurred vision
- Constipation
- Cramps
- Disorientation
- Drowsiness
- Dry mouth
- Headache
- Low blood pressure
- Sensitivity to bright lights
Rare
- Anxiety
- Black tongue
- Confusion
- Convulsions
- Hair loss
- Increased appetite
- Insomnia
- Intestinal blockage
- Racing heartbeat
- Palpitations
- Males developing breasts
- Nightmares
- Odd taste
- Ringing in ears
- Seizures
- Sexual problems
- Swelling testicles
- Skin rashes
- Allergies
- Tingling
- Weight gain/loss
- Yellowing skin/whites of eyes
See doctor always
- Low blood pressure
- Confusion
- Swelling testicles
- Seizures
- Males developing breasts
- Sexual problems
- Skin rashes/allergies
- Yellowing skin/whites of eyes
See doctor if severe
- Anxiety
- Blurred vision
- Constipation
- Cramps
- Headache
- Disorientation
- Drowsiness
- Dry mouth
- Intestinal blockage
- Racing heartbeat
- Palpitations
- Insomnia
- Increased appetite
- Nightmares
- Odd taste
- Ringing in ears
- Tingling
- Sensitivity to bright lights
- Weight gain / loss
See doctor NOW
- Confusion or skin rashes/allergies
Stop taking and see doctor NOW
- Seizures
- Yellowing skin / whites of eyes
