Nortriptyline Description

Generic Name : NORTRIPTYLINE

Pronunciation : (nor trip' ti leen)

Trade Name(s) : Nortin, Sensival, Primox

Why it is prescribed: Nortriptyline, an antidepressant or mood elevator, is used to treat mental depression.

When it is to be taken: Nortriptyline must be taken on a regular schedule to be effective. The drug must be taken for several weeks before its full effect is felt. Follow the instructions on your prescription label, and ask your doctor to explain any part that you do not understand. Do not stop taking nortriptyline without consulting your doctor. Your doctor may want to decrease your dosage gradually.

How it should be taken: Nortriptyline comes in the form of capsules and in liquid form to be taken orally. Your prescription label tells you how much to take at each dose. If you are to take the oral liquid, you may obtain a specially marked measuring spoon to be sure of an accurate dose.

Special Instruction :
1. Nortriptyline makes some people drowsy or dizzy. Do not drive a car or operate dangerous machinery until you know how it affects you.
2. If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember it and take any remaining doses for that day at evenly spaced intervals. However if you remember a missed dose when it is almost time for your next scheduled dose, take only the regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.

Side Effects :
1. Dizziness, lightheadedness, or faintness when getting up from a sitting or lying position. Get up slowly.
2. Dry mouth. Suck sugarless hard candy or chew sugarless gum.
3. Nausea, headache, agitation, tiredness, weakness, confusion, difficulty sleeping. These effects should decrease as you continue to take the drug. Contact your doctor if they persist or become severe. 4. Blurred vision, constipation, irregular heartbeat, difficulty urinating, eye pain, hallucinations, shakiness, unusually slow pulse, skin rash, itching, sore throat, fever, yellowing of eyes or skin, unusual bleeding or bruising. Contact your doctor.

Other Precautions :
1. Alcoholic beverages can add to the drowsiness caused by this drug.
2. Women who are pregnant or breast-feeding should inform their doctors.
3. Before you take nortriptyline, tell your doctor if you have had a bad reaction to it or to any tricyclic antidepressants like amitriptyline, amoxapine, desipramine, doxepin, imipramine, maprotiline, protriptyline, or trimipramine.
4. Tell your doctor what prescription and nonprescription drugs you are taking. Do not take any medication without consulting your doctor. Nortriptyline can affect some medical conditions; tell your doctor your entire medical history.
5. Before you have emergency treatment or surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist in charge that you are taking nortriptyline.

Storage Conditions :
1. Keep nortriptyline in the container it came in and out of the reach of children.
2. An overdose with nortriptyline is particularly dangerous in young children.