Nortriptyline, anyone?
 

Sorry, that wasn't an offer.

But seriously, has any taken (or is anyone currently taking) Nortriptyline? During my last visit to my pain doc, I discussed the difficulty I have been having sleeping. Nothing you guys can't guess - the pain wakes me up over and over again. So, my doc suggested I try Nortriptyline. He said it is a tricyclic antidepressant but it is also used to treat neuropathic pain and this is why he was prescribing it to me.

I started taking it just over a week ago (10mg/once a day about 12 hours before 'wake up' time the next day). I'm not convinced that I'm sleeping better yet and I certainly don't feel like my pain levels have decreased but I suppose that may take time. However, I am having trouble concentrating since I started taking it. Of course, I had trouble concentrating before that (funny how extreme pain does that, eh?). But since I started taking it I feel extra foggy. If any of you have taken or are taking Nortriptyline, I would be grateful if you would let me know about your experience with it. Did you find that you were foggier than usual? If so, did that wear off once you got used to the drug?

(For background information, I do not take anything else on a regular basis. I tried Lyrica but was basically a zombie on that. I have a prescription for tramadol but only take it when I am in a very bad flare.)

Thanks,
Kim

Kim , if I recall correctly it takes most people 2-3 weeks to ffeel the full benefit of this med and to adjust to the side effects. Concentration will improve once you get some solid sleep. Are you able to nap during the day to re- charge your battery?

Thanks, Lottie. Unfortunately, I can't nap during the day (well, maybe I could but I think my boss would get pretty annoyed :p).

If you tried this, did you find that it helped with the pain at all? I'm not sure but I think it might be reducing the sudden sharp stabbing pains.

The side effects are really starting to kick my butt though. Hopefully, these will lessen as I adjust to the medication.

Hi Kim,

I take Nortriptyline (in addition to Cymbalta, Neurontin, Piroxicam, Norco, and MS Contin).

I think you have to give antidepressants several weeks to kick in before you start to see effects. Frequently one has to taper up to a dose that might have the desired effect. 10 mg is a low dose of Nortriptyline, but it sounds like you are very sensitive to many medications so your doc is probably trying to go conservatively.

You mentioned it might be helping a bit with your sharp, stabbing pains. My sharp RSD pains felt like electrical jolts; I call them zingers. My Neurontin helps tremendously with that type of pain, so that I only feel a zinger once or twice a month. My main RSD pain complaint is of severe, deep, burning pain just to the left of T1-T2. I call that my burning golfball. The Piroxicam, Norco, and MS Contin all help with that, of course it never goes away, but the combo makes it bearable. I can't say that I noticed any change/effect on either type of pain since the Nortriptyline was introduced, but the other meds were in place prior to the start of the Nortriptyline.

I was started on the Nortriptyline specifically because of my difficulty with sleep, both getting to sleep and staying asleep. It does help me fall asleep better IF I remember to take it an hour before I intend to try to sleep.

I can't say that I think the Nortriptyline makes me feel more groggy or confused. I think I was pretty foggy for years before the Nortriptyline came onboard. :winky:

I hope that you find something that works well for you that you can tolerate the side effects of.

Hi Finz,

Thanks so much for your reply. I am very sensitive to medications. They tend to either make me nauseated or foggy/confused. The nortriptyline also seems to be causing me to have memory problems. I'm not sure why I'm so sensitive.

The pain doc prescribed the nortriptyline to help with pain but mainly to help me sleep. I am trying to figure out the best time to take it so that I don't feel so spaced out and groggy at work. The doc said to take it at least 12 hours before 'wake up time' but that hasn't been quite enough. I'm currently experimenting with taking it around 5pm and that seems to be working (I usually leave the house for work around 8:30ish - flexi-time is a beautiful thing.) I think taking it earlier is helping.

Since I'm not depressed, I was hoping it would make me super happy but that hasn't happened yet. :p

Although, it is helping me sleep and I'm pretty happy about that.

Kim