Gabapentin/nortriptyline Help please
 

I have been on Gabapentin since mid July. I am currently at 1200mg x3/day Upon my latest visit to neuro, I was given Nortriptyline 25mg at night to be increased to 50mg at 2 week mark. I have found that since starting the Nortriptyline that I am having trouble sleeping. Before starting it, I was experiencing extrme Manic moments with the Gabapentin which was one of the reasons nortrip was added. I find I take the dose and I do get groggy and sleepy, but within an hour I am wide awake again. I have tried taking right before going to bed, and an hour before even 2 hours before, and while I fall asleep quickly I am still up almost hourly. I was wondering if anyone else has had issues with sleep with this combination, and if there are any suggestions. I really appreciate all thoughts...thank you in advance :)

I tried the combination of gabapentin and nortriptylene but it didn't work for me. My pain was not any better than with gabapentin alone. Not that gabapentin is perfect but it helps somehow. With the combo, it was scary -- I couldn't control my mind thinking of negative thougghts.

I am sorry that you had such scary reactions with the med combo. I have been fortunate to not have that problem, I am more on a delirious high most of the time. The nortriptyline was added as I was starting to get pain despite the Gabapentin, and at 3600mg/day the neurologist didnt want to go higher. I have found I need to throw a movie on or something for me to focus on to even fall asleep which is completely new for me, I used to be no noise, no light kind of person. For the moment, the pain has eased with the addition of the nortiptyline, but I just really miss a good nights sleep without constantly waking up :(

Anniekins,
some people have paradoxical reactions to medications, ie, the opposite of the expected result. Benadryl is a good example. It is supposed to make you sleepy, but for some, it makes them hyper.

If you are having difficulty sleeping and had not before adding the second medication, call your Dr. and tell him what you are experiencing. Lack of sleep just makes pain worse, as I'm sure you know, and your Dr. should be told.
I hope things get better for you soon.

Sam:winky:

In time you should fall into a normal sleep pattern, its just that these drugs are very strong when 1st introduced for me there was a buzz of sorts thet kept me bug eyed and awake, especially with amy and tramadol but now I sleep like a baby

Thanks for the kind wishes Sam, I hope so too lol I will be talking to Dr this week and will definitely update him on this. I really appreciate you taking the time to respond.

Have a wonderful day,
annie:)