I have been on Nortriptyline for 30 years. It was part of a drug called Motival which is now discontinued. I was only ever on 10mgs of Nortriptyline. I have now tapered down to 4mgs and have been feeling ill whilst doing this with dizziness etc and want to know if the symptoms I mention in my question are attributable to Nortriptyline withdrawal. I also get headaches. I should add I was originally put on the drug Motival for post natal depresson 30 years ago. I would be very grateful for any answers or help.
Does tapering off Nortriptyline cause weakness, nasal congestion and sinus pain and dizziness?
Question posted by pippa52 on 16 Aug 2010
Last updated on 12 June 2017 by Kathleenmarco
Answers
Kathleenmarco
13 June 2017
I rx 30 mg nortriptyline 30 mg nightly for 1 year and my pain is gone. How do i taper off ? Your recommendation ? And yes I will check with my md.
Kathleen
suzanne66
30 Aug 2010
Nortriptyline is a tricyclic anti-depressant. Abrupt discontinuation (withdrawal) of tricyclic anti-depressants can cause symptoms of restlessness, anxiety, chills, muscle pain, headache, dizziness, nausea and vomiting. Symptoms can be reduced by slowly reducing the dose.
pippa52
30 Aug 2010
Thanks so much for your comment on my posting. I am reducing the dose very slowly indeed with the help of some very accurate laboratory pharmaceutical scales to weigh out the pills ever day but unfortunately this is not causing the withdrawal effects to be any less severe. I think patience is going to be the key here as I was hoping to be off the drug in around 4 - 6 months but realise even at the tiny dose I am still on it is going to take me a lot longer. When I asked a GP for advice I was told categorically that Nortriptyline was not addictive (I know it is now named "discontinuance " but whatever it is called stopping it causes the same symptoms) and he had never known anyone having trouble to get off it. After researching this I find the complete opposite is true and many if not most people have some issues stopping/tapering off it and anti depressants in general.
I wish the medical profession would take on board the problems this class of drugs causes people not just in tapering off them but side effects that arise when people are on them. I am finding that the lower I go on the dose when the withdrawal effects have finally subsided I feel better and better and nothing on this earth would ever even vaguely tempt me to take any form/type of psychiatric drug again ever.
Related topics
pamelor, neurosis, nasal congestion, panic disorder, nortriptyline
Further information
Similar questions
Search for questions
Still looking for answers? Try searching for what you seek or ask your own question.
