Nortriptyline for Depression User Reviews

• Flu...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 16, 2020

"I had literally tried every SSRI and SNRI out there... 7 years of going through my nightmare of a life and nothing worked for my Treatment Resistant Depression. I was honestly considering ECT... I asked my psychiatrist if we could try a tricyclic in a last-ditch effort... he put me on Nortriptyline a year ago. I'm now up to 100mg at bedtime, but this antidepressant has helped me more than anything had in 7 years, and no weight gain or bad side effects for me."

• Phe...
• July 21, 2016

"I've suffered with depression for most of my life. I'd taken Prozac for almost 20 years and decided to try something else because of the sexual side effects. That started a 5-year nightmare of drugs and severe side effects. So I quit taking pills and tried to go it alone. After a year without medication, I lost contact with my friends and most of my family, no longer went out for enjoyment, stopped writing, and generally just comforted myself with TV. I finally went back to my doctor a week ago and he put me on Nortriptyline 10mg. The first two days were a painful introduction of lethargy and dizzy spells. On the third day, my world had changed. I'm talking to people, making plans, cleaning. After a week, the sadness and death fantasies are gone."

• Deb...
• April 25, 2017

"I'm 61 years old and have been taking Nortriptyline for about 30 years for depression. I believe I was depressed most of my life before being diagnosed. Initially, it took about 4 weeks before I started feeling the effects of the drug, but once it kicked in, it made all the difference in the world. After many years, my doctor had me try some of the newer SSRI drugs (while still on Nortriptyline) and with each one, I didn't feel at all like myself (like I was watching my life from outside myself), so with each attempt at trying a new drug, I kept going back to what worked best: Nortriptyline. I guess I'd consider myself a poster child for the drug because it's always given me a level mood, and I've never experienced deep depression while on it."

• Tan...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 6, 2018

"This medication saved my life. I originally tried amitriptyline. I felt tired and still didn’t fully rid the black cloud over me. I tried this on the recommendation from a neurologist. Best decision I ever made. I am now the person I used to be before I became depressed. I am so thankful for this medication. 50 milligrams a night is my dose. Forever thankful I tried this medication :)"

• Vio...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 18, 2020

Nortriptyline "I had been taking Trintellix for a couple years with success until eventually my anxiety/depression started to creep back. My doctor added 75 mg of nortriptyline every day and I swear I felt major relief in just 3 days. I have been on the Trintellix/Pamelor combo now for over a year. No side effects, and the Pamelor is cheap. As an added bonus, I have chronic hip pain due to bursitis and the pain has almost completely gone away. I am so thankful for this medicine, it has truly helped me."

• TCA...
• November 17, 2019

"This was super effective for both severe treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, chronic vestibular migraines, panic attacks, and even helped a bit with social anxiety and OCD. Never had such remarkable effects from any other drug before, even with SSRIs/SNRIs (which made depression worse) and MAOIs. I started feeling better the very first day, and within a few days, I had old emotions back that I hadn't experienced in years. Unfortunately, I developed a drug allergy to this drug, but it is not the drug's fault but my immune system. The drug still gets a 10/10, and I will be trying another TCA soon, hoping it works just as well! Also, don't worry about the anticholinergic effects of this medicine/other TCAs. The anticholinergic side effects of this medicine can actually be of benefit in treating your depression and should rather be called 'effects' than 'side-effects' and embraced and accepted as potentially positive."

• Vot...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 25, 2019

"I was hospitalized for depression recently after many hospitalizations. I have tried almost all of SSRIs, and the only one that slightly helped was Wellbutrin. It stopped working for me in the last year, along with lithium. I was prescribed nortriptyline in the hospital, starting at 10 mg up to 100 mg. Shortly after the 100 mg, I experienced a feeling of being on speed. The surge of rage took over me and caused so many panic attacks. After a visit to the ER, it was reduced to 85 mg. After a couple of days on 85 mg of nortriptyline, I felt like my old self again. In disbelief, my lack of motivation was gone, and I experienced “my old self”. So far, it has been a week, and I feel very good. I hope this lasts as I’ve been experiencing treatment-resistant depression for 4 years now. Let’s hope this tricyclic antidepressant is the answer for me."

• RLZ...
• September 13, 2014

Nortriptyline "My neurologist prescribed Nortriptyline for Neuropathy. It did not help much for that condition. However, at the time, I was suffering from severe depression due to having to place my husband in a nursing home. The medication did wonders for me and I have been a daily user since that time."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 10 years or more
• June 10, 2017

"Fell into major depression at age 40. Tried 5 different SSRIs and no improvement. Then started Pamelor. Wow, the light went on. On 100mg for 25 years. Life saver. I'll put up with constipation and dry mouth to stay happy."

• Nic...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 2, 2017

"I've been taking 10mg nortriptyline now for 5 weeks for severe anxiety and depression. Very happy with results. Still have some depression but it kicked butt on the anxiety. I can function normally again. No side effects at all."

• kru...
• October 19, 2009

"My doctor switched me to nortriptyline for depression. I started out at 50mg a night for a month, then upped it to 75mg a night. Since taking the 75mg, the depression has gone away. And I feel so much better. I've been on SSRIs for years and was always still depressed. The doctor told me I was allergic to SSRIs and put me on a tricyclic. Worked wonders."

• PHa...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 16, 2020

"I have been on nortriptyline for 2.5 years due to anxiety, and it has significantly improved my quality of life. I do have a dry mouth as a side effect, but it is very worth it in comparison to the benefits that it brings. Prior to starting nortriptyline, I experienced a number of secondary symptoms caused by my anxiety: insomnia, headaches, and loss of appetite. In addition to reducing my anxiety, I now sleep well every night, no longer have frequent headaches, and I have an appetite that allows me to keep my weight at a healthy spot (I was too thin before). These things seem to help my immune system too because I seem to be much better at fighting off/avoiding colds than before I was on this medication. So in summary: This medication helped address my anxiety and a bunch of secondary symptoms that I hadn’t realized were anxiety-related. On this medication, I feel happier and healthier than ever before."

• Hel...
• August 31, 2015

"I was the person who had all kinds of problems and none of them could be linked together. So, I saw many doctors and I tried many drugs. I had major depression, which all the usual antidepressants made worse. Debilitating migraines, moderate to severe muscle and joint pain, severe insomnia, and panic attacks. I was on many medications and in high doses, but they didn't help. It was very frustrating because no one believed what I experienced was real. Until a friend in college said maybe it's just in your head and encouraged me to see a counselor who then sent me to the psychiatrist. He took me off everything I was on and put me on nortriptyline within 3 weeks. I did a 180, except for the panic attacks for which I started taking lorazepam. I'm doing great."

• Tho...
• February 19, 2017

"I suffered from depression and anxiety at a young age due to a stuttering problem, but I never knew at that time what caused it. I went to a doctor at the age of 22, and he put me on Pamelor. I was afraid to take it, but I did. The first few days it made me feel weird. I felt like a zombie at first for maybe 3 days, but then it went away. In 6 weeks, my depression was gone, and I felt like a normal person. I was normal. I think my dose at one point was 100, which is moderate. People need to know that this type of medication takes 6-8 weeks to work, and when it does, it's like a fog has lifted, for me at least. You have to be careful with weight gain because it does increase your appetite. It helped me sleep at night. 6-8 weeks to work."

• Nee...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 12, 2023

Nortriptyline "I have to give this drug the best review possible. No exaggerating, this medicine saved my life and helped me to learn about how much I don't know about depression, and the self-medication I resorted to was no longer needed. This self-medication that was destroying my life was no longer needed or desired. It helped me to understand that's what I was doing because of mental health struggles and that I was deserving of a better life. All I can say is thank you!!"

• Anonymous
• March 25, 2011

"After some serious life events I became depressed - while I didn't truly realize it - my house became overly cluttered, work went from great to average, got behind on things... after attempts at Lexapro, we figured out that I was having a reaction to the Lexapro. We started on nortriptyline. The first winter I worked up to 75mg/day - then went off for a few months during the summer - this year I've worked from 25mg then to 50mg/day. It's amazing how much better I'm performing. I do have issues with the drowsiness but I try to work through that. Work is now improving after about 14 months of treatment and the home is slowly getting better."

• Anonymous
• March 28, 2012

"I suffer from depression, back pain, and anxiety that has been gradually getting worse. I started taking nortriptyline and noticed a number of changes within 24 hours. I finally slept through the night. My back pain dramatically improved, and my anxiety lessened. Sounds amazing, right? Well, yes, but I was also crying all the time and felt even more depressed. I also began having bad thoughts about hurting myself. I have had bad thoughts in the past, but always had control of them. These felt very different, I had no control of them. For some people, this medicine is a miracle, but if you start to have thoughts that don't feel right when you start taking this medication, go to your doctor immediately."

• MAR...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 22, 2012

"I have been taking this for 2 years now and have found it helpful in a few ways. It has stopped my panic attacks for the most part, I get a few here and there. My overthinking has stopped altogether. The only thing I don't like about this medicine is that I have to be asleep within 30 minutes after taking it, or I will be up all night. For some reason, it causes my brain to become very active after 30 minutes. When I do go to sleep, I have very vivid dreams that seem almost realistic."

• non...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• April 8, 2018

"I have taken nortriptyline for over 20 years and had suffered no side effects. I suffered from depression and had several hospitalizations. I did begin to work again, but after 6 years, I moved from the Midwest to California to join my adult daughter. It was not an easy move. This medication allowed me to sleep through the night and be able to concentrate at work. I am so glad that I was able to function more comfortably since that time."

• Jea...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 2, 2024

"I had suffered with depression and addiction my whole life because I was self-medicating. I was officially diagnosed with postpartum depression after my second child, and after trying a couple of other medications, I was put on Nortriptyline. At first, every time my dose was increased, I would feel off, almost sick, for a day or two, but after that, all balanced out. I can’t tell you how much of a life changer this medication has been. It’s not that I never get sad, it’s that I never fall into that deep, dark pit anymore. People with depression know what I mean. I feel like what I think a ‘normal’ person feels like. I’ve been on it for 6 years. Life is not perfect, but it is so much better. If I could meet the creators of this, I would give them a big hug."

• mrs...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 1, 2017

"I was originally prescribed this drug for insomnia. I've struggled with depression and anxiety for years. Therapy had been helpful, but there was a marked improvement in both conditions after I began this drug. Primarily, I am more able to let things go when I am distressed instead of compulsively fixating on them. My quality of life is so much better now. I initially had some light-headedness. This side effect went away within a few months. I have a bit of dry mouth, and I believe I suffered some hair loss. I was most troubled by the hair loss because I am pretty vain. But I decided my mental health was more important to my happiness than my appearance. It appears to be regrowing after around 6-12 months."

• Che...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 26, 2020

Nortriptyline "I landed on the ER twice because of this medication, Pamelor. I never felt so sick in my entire life. I thought I was dying. It took me more than a week to get it out of my system. I was agitated, my heart racing at 150 per hour. Horrible experience."

• Sca...
• July 11, 2013

"I have multiple sclerosis, also scoliosis. Walking with a cane for 20 years caused it, and now I am in a wheelchair permanently. I have had a very hard time sleeping, my brain just overthinks all the time. I am a retired I.T. director, automation designer, and engineer, so I guess it's just a problem with a high IQ. Anyway, my neuro started me out on nortriptyline 25 mg. I could tell it was doing some good, but I was still not sleeping. Taking Ambien just was not cutting it. Last week, my doctor put me on 50 mg, and for the first time in years, I slept all night long. I was amazed! I normally eat dinner late, so I have to take it before I eat, or it does not work."

• Les...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 21, 2024

"I’ve taken nortriptyline for 10 months. I was a bit pessimistic about taking it because of the many failures I’ve had with other meds. Still, I realized that my mental health was truly at a low point. So I tried the nortriptyline and became amazed at how much better I felt. I started falling asleep quickly and feeling fresh. I am truly so thankful, as I feel content, at peace, and I actually feel joy. I’ve never felt this way. It’s miraculous for me. I suggest giving nortriptyline a try and giving it time to assess its effectiveness. I no longer feel the aspects of depression or anxiety that had plagued me. I also have no weight gain, tiredness, emotional blunting, or sexual side effects. The only side effects I have are a drier mouth, which is simple to remedy, and a quicker heart rate (that’s modest and I’m not aware of it and not a concern for my doctors). I will be taking it for life! It’s a miracle for me that’s helped my IBD, NDPH, sleep, depression, and anxiety."

• aa8...
• February 21, 2012

"I had no problem with Nortriptyline. I had to take it in conjunction with Lithium for depression. My problem was when I quit taking it. I'm dizzy, sick to my stomach, I have ringing in my ears, I'm irritated all the time, and I can't sleep. Just be prepared in case you stop taking it too."