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Brand names - Aventyl, Pamelor.
Medication type - Tricyclic antidepressant
Common side effects - Drowsiness or
dizziness, headache, dry mouth or unpleasant taste, fatigue, heightened
sensitivity to light, weight gain, nausea, increased appetite.
Rare side effects - Heartburn, sleeping
difficulty, diarrhoea, increased or profuse sweating, vomiting.
Serious side effects - Confusion, heartbeat
irregularities, hallucinations, seizures, extreme fatigue or drowsiness,
blurred or altered vision, breathing difficulty, constipation, staring
and absence of facial expression, impaired concentration, difficult
urination, fever, extreme and persistent restlessness, loss of coordination
and balance, difficulty swallowing or speaking, dilated pupils,
eye pain, fainting. Also trembling, shaking, weakness, and stiffness
in the extremities; shuffling gait. Call your doctor immediately.
Uses - To relieve symptoms of major
depression, anxiety disorders, panic disorder, or chronic pain.
Other notes - Can take 1-6 weeks to
start working. Take with food to reduce the chance of a stomach
upset, unless your doctor instructs otherwise. Increase intake of
fiber and fluids. Avoid alcohol. Nortriptyline passes into breast
milk; do not use it while nursing. This is a potentially dangerous
drug, especially if taken in excess. Tricyclic antidepressants should
not be within easy reach of suicidal patients. If dry mouth occurs,
use candy or sugarless gum for relief.
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