Lupus Site - a guide for lupus patients and their families

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.