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Anyone else take nortryptiline?

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Posted 4/17/2009 4:05 PM (GMT 0)
My rheumotologist started me on nortryptiline at bedtime to help me sleep better.  I've only been taking it for three nights now, but it seems like it has a counter-effect with me.  Initially, it helped me fall asleep, but I slept very lightly and at different times I was awake enough to know my surroundings, but not enough to move or get up.  I know it sounds weird.  Every morning I've ended up feeling even more severely exhausted.  Has anyone else ever experienced anything like this?  I'm not sure if I should keep taking nortryptiline or not. 
Posted 4/18/2009 1:10 AM (GMT 0)

Lefty85,

I have been taking nortryptiline for 3 years and it has been the only thing that has helped.  I felt some relief from my pain within a few days of starting the medicine.  I also slept for the first time in my life I think.  I did feel a little groggy in the mornings for awhile after starting the medicine but I've adjusted.  Could the dose be the problem?  I started out with 25mg a night for 6 months and then moved to 50mgs.  Just this month my doctor increased the dose to 75mg.  My doctor did say the usual dose is 75mgs but maybe that is to much to start with.

As far as being aware of things during the night, most times I don't remember anything.  It has become funny for my 10 year old.  She often comes in to see me at night and asks me questions, aparently I answer and give her a cuddle and a kiss (like I always did before the medicine).  When I wake up the next day she will tell me everything I said (always G rated thank goodness). 

It is not unusual to try many medicines until you find something that works.  If nortryptiline does not work for you, keep looking.  My pain is not gone but it is tolerable and I can function during the day (most of the time) so for now, I'm content.

Posted 5/12/2009 2:42 AM (GMT 0)
A little late on this one but I was taking 40mg of Nortriptyline for afew months and it really helped me in the beginning.  I have just been taken off of it and changed to a different med as it didn't seem to be helping me anymore.  I know it did help me alot for the amount of pain I was having tho at the start.

Posted 5/12/2009 3:10 PM (GMT 0)
I have been taking nortriptyline for 4-5 months.  It was prescribed to me to help with muscle spasms.  I can't really tell if it has helped with that, but it has reduced anxiety levels and helps me sleep.  I only take 25mg.  I was very tired as well when I first started taking it, but this symptom subsided after 4-5 days.  I tried to jump up to 50mg, but the sides returned.  I just didn't have 4-5 days I could give up to exhaustion.  I know many people with fibro have stomach problems, and this drug can be very benificial to those who have IBS-D, as it dries you out from head to toe.  If you suffer from constipation, you probably do not want to take this drug.  It will also likely keep your mouth pretty dry.  For a medication of this type, I think it has very few sides, and most of those will go away after a short time.  I would definitely give it a chance.  I wouldn't start off taking more than 25mg...work your way up over time.      
Posted 5/12/2009 7:16 PM (GMT 0)
I tried this medicine and it made me have angry fits, don't even know
where the anger came from, but it was horrid, so I was weaned off this...
soft hugz to all...
just my insite...
Posted 6/4/2009 1:41 AM (GMT 0)
Nortryptiline can take as many as 7 days to start working properly.
Posted 6/4/2009 4:30 AM (GMT 0)
Sometimes you have to start with a really low dose of these drugs and they do take a week or even two to work. I had to take 1/8th of a 10mg of amitriptylene for a while because even 1/4 made me feel just as you said...really dopey.
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