Nortriptyline for Pain User Reviews (Page 3)

• Fan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 1, 2019

"I have radiculopathy (cervical and thoracic spine) and was prescribed nortriptyline for acute flare of disc/nerve pain due to bulging discs. As a doctor myself, I was cynical that tricyclics can be used for acute pain (general consensus is chronic pain and long-term use), but my GP insisted I could take it acutely and stop abruptly afterwards. I have found it to be superb for the pain relief; the first dose was the first time I slept through the night (previously was woken by pain at 4/5 AM). Due to its very long half-life, it seems to continue working until late afternoon the next day when I feel the pain return. Within 2 weeks of taking it, I have been able to make my first gym visit in 6 months. The only downside I have noticed is when I feel the acute flare is over and stop taking it, I feel low in mood/depressed. I also find myself awake at 2 AM (not from pain or anxiety, just not tired). So I do worry about becoming dependent on it for sleep and having low mood as a withdrawal effect. For the pain itself, though, I absolutely rate it."

• mom...
• April 12, 2016

"This medication has greatly improved my quality of life! I have chronic tension headaches every day and all day unless I take 25 mg of my Pamelor. I take it every night (because it does make me sleepy), and if I forget, my headaches start right back up around 3 PM the next day. One downfall is that I seem to crave snacks much more since I've been on this drug. I'll take that side effect over chronic headaches."

• Chi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 5, 2019

"Twice I was prescribed this medication as an alternative to real pain medication because doctors are so badly in fear of the DEA because of the so-called 'opiate crisis.' I have two crushed discs in my back. I received this medication years apart, and both times within the first month I noticed sexual dysfunction, which grew worse. I quit the medication the first time, and gradually things returned to normal. The second and most recent time I noticed a problem and quit the medication, but it was too late, things have never returned to normal. By sexual dysfunction, I mean inability to achieve and maintain an erection and shrinkage in size of genitalia. I can't believe that this problem is not reported by other people unless they are embarrassed to do so."

• sun...
• February 24, 2016

"I was given nortriptyline by a pain doctor 7 years ago. It did help somewhat with the pain. However, the side effects have been giving me problems ever since. I have problems concentrating, but worse than that, I daydream constantly. I can't shut it off. It lasts for hours. It is like it turned on a daydreaming switch in my brain, and I can't shut it off. I went off of it expecting it to stop. It never has. It gets more unmanageable. I do not know what to do."

• CAG...
• February 18, 2014

"I'm 34 years old, military for 10 years as a grunt so automatically pain in every joint possible. I've also had two serious incidents in combat and two vehicle accidents in the states. I have been on everything I think, no help so far and recently 3 months ago put on stepped into nortriptyline 50 mg along with gabapentin. I must say I'm a bit better as I'm not on bed rest as I used to not be able to get up. I have also been forced to carry a Tens unit which helps with spasms along with Robaxin and at times have to take Norco when it gets bad. I'm hoping for the best and hoping to just be on one pill or none soon. Oh, and therapy weekly. So far I can only say: I think nortriptyline helps."

• lbk...
• August 12, 2015

"I started taking this medication after neck surgery C5-C6. This helped me with sleep and function throughout the day. I went off after I was back to normal. Just recently, I had to go back on because I now have a bulging disc at C4-C5. Without this, I could not do my job. The pain is tolerable, and I still have numb fingers. I do think it is a good medication to try and see if it works for your nerve pain."

• Nig...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 21, 2016

"I took the first dose at night because my doctor said it may cause sleepiness. I woke up in the middle of the night with a terrible headache and insomnia. I decided to try a second night. This time, no headache, but still insomnia. Last night I took my tenth dose, and I am awake two hours after falling asleep, then having a horrible, horrible nightmare about sexual situations, being part of murders, and my son being kidnapped by a killer clown. I know that sounds dumb, but it was extremely realistic, and now I can't go back to sleep. I will call my doctor in a few hours to discuss tapering off and quitting this medication altogether. My pain has not been relieved at all (even if it had, I could continue with the insomnia and graphic nightmares)."

• not...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 4, 2013

"I take 25mg of nortriptyline at bedtime. I have taken it for 3 weeks. I toss and turn at night and sleep about 3 hours for 2 nights. Then on the 3rd night, I am able to sleep 9 or so hours because of lack of sleep previously. It has helped my neck pain considerably, but about 10 days ago, I began getting pain in both my knees and hips, which makes it even more difficult to sleep now. At first, I believed it was because of the treadmill, but I stopped after 2 days using it to heal my knees and hips, but they are still hurting. Also, I am experiencing memory loss. I am 68 years old."

• Old...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 28, 2021

"After thirty years of extreme leg pain resulting from a kick injury and years of medical testing, binding my leg and taking gabapentin to sleep, I was prescribed nortriptyline last year, and my pain is 99 percent gone. I have been told by a pain and spine physician that not only does this medication help with nerve pain, it has a lasting effect even after you stop taking it."

• Anonymous
• November 24, 2009

"After trying Tramadol, Oxycodone, and Neurontin, I tried Nortriptyline for chronic back pain due to a herniated disc. Unfortunately, after only a couple of days on the drug, I had to quit. It made me extremely dizzy and caused my blood pressure to drop so quickly that I nearly passed out while taking a vigorous walk."

• Heg...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 20, 2013

"I have had acute neurological (atypical) pain for 10 weeks. The GP put me on Nortriptyline, which I am not sure whether it helped the pain or not, but it turned me into a zombie capable of sleeping all day and all night. It was nice at first but became a bit of a hassle in the end, so I have started to wean myself off it."

• Anonymous
• August 10, 2011

"I was in a car accident months ago, but the pain never went away. I can't work, it's hard to sleep, can't lift things, my life came to a stop. The medicine looks like it is helping, the pain is better, I'm sleeping better, but I've only been on it for one week."

• Suz...
• December 10, 2016

"I tried 2 medications for pain from a pinched nerve, and neither worked, so the doctor placed me on Nortriptyline, starting off with 10 mg and titrating up to 40 mg due to increased pain. I am now titrating down as my pain has lessened due to acupuncture, aqua jogging, and physical therapy. Side effects for me have been extremely dry mouth, blurry vision, skin darkening on my face (cheeks), and memory/focus problems, some hair loss. I want off of this as soon as possible due to the side effects, but it has been very effective for the pain relief. I hope the side effects go away quickly and I regrow my hair. Can't remember the cost of the drug, but most likely inexpensive as I have Kaiser."

• Suz...
• April 21, 2016

"I just started on this drug 2 weeks ago. My doctor prescribed it to me to help deal with my concussion headaches and to help me sleep. The pain-free aspect is quite lovely, however, 2 weeks in, and I'm super groggy. It doesn't help me sleep, but I didn't have a problem with that - it was just the post-concussion headaches. My doctor's main goal seemed to just send me back to work. I'm glad I didn't have to drive into work today because I'm not sure I'd be up for morning rush hour traffic. She only prescribed one month's worth (10 mg pills), and I can't wait to be finished with it. I have noticed a large increase in 'chubbiness' around my midsection. I notice that some weight gain is one of the side effects as well."

• Glo...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 22, 2018

"Started on 20 mg, increased to 40 mg a day for back pain. I felt odd after about 10 months and have slowly been weaned down to 20 mg. I'm so glad I was prescribed them. It took a while, but now the pain in my back has gone from a 9 to a 4. And I have more movement now. Whereas before the pills, I was very immobile. I needed help dressing my lower half, getting on and off the toilet and couch. Now I can walk up stairs!"

• LMH...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 15, 2016

"I suffer from interstitial cystitis and have tried all the medications to keep the burning pain and heaviness in my bladder tolerable. I was given amitriptyline first (5 mg), and I was like a zombie the entire next day. I tried it a few times to give it a chance, but without any change. A specialist that I saw a couple of months ago suggested that I try nortriptyline because, even though it is in the same family as amitriptyline, sometimes it has a different effect. I have taken it for 4 nights now and have noticed a huge difference in the way my bladder feels. Spasms are gone, and the heaviness and burning have gone as well. I haven't slept well since taking it but was having trouble sleeping through the night anyway. No day grogginess though."

• Dcl...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 8, 2018

"I had nerve damage caused by an infection in my tooth, and it caused chronic pain in my trigeminal nerve. I had a root canal that just intensified the pain. I saw acupuncturists, ENTs, doctors, dentists, chiropractors, the list goes on and on. Finally, I saw a neurologist that actually listened and prescribed me nortriptyline (50 mg) that I take every night, and my pain finally subsided to the point I have quality of life again. I did put on a few lbs (15), but I would gain another 100 lb for this medication. It saved my life. I was a lost cause and so desperate to find relief. I am so happy again. I have slight breakthrough pain once in a while, but it pales in comparison to what I have been through. I thank my lucky stars for nortriptyline!"

• Jan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 10, 2018

"Put on nortriptyline for nerve pain, the neurologist said it would help with sleep at least, if nothing else. Boy, was he wrong! I don’t tolerate meds well, so started on 10 mg for two weeks and 25 mg for a week. It has done nothing but give me nightmares, keep me awake, and turn me into a depressed emotional mess. I’m so sleep-deprived, my pupils go large, and I feel like I’m on a permanent come down. I’m stopping taking it as I just can’t cope with these side effects. Feel like I’m going mad :( shame really as I was hoping it would help me sleep as it seems to make most people drowsy."

• Bru...
• January 18, 2018

"I had been suffering from a heavy head feeling and ringing in my ears for 18 months. My Dr. was treating it as psychological for the whole time until I insisted on getting an MRI and seeing an ENT specialist. The specialist said I had myofascial pain disorder and put me on 25 mg of nortriptyline. Woke up the next day and the heavy head feeling had gone completely. The ringing in my ear still comes and goes, but symptoms have decreased. This drug has changed my life, and I am grateful for this medicine. I have been on 25 mg for 8 months now with no side effects."

• cyc...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 4, 2018

"I was taking oxycodone for a number of years. Then the doc got me off that - I had been using it for rotator cuff problems. Then he put me on nortriptyline. It does a way better job on my rotator cuff. I can lay on my shoulder at night now with no pain now. With the oxy, I could not do that on account of the pain."

• One...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 29, 2016

"I've been taking this pill among others for pain and migraines. I started with 25 mg, and it was upped to 50 because I was still in pain and having headaches. While this hasn't helped my pain, it has helped my migraines. I haven't had one since taking it, and I usually had one once a week. I still get headaches. I'm not sure if this helps or if it's my other medications. I feel like this stuff makes me dizzy when outside in the heat. I have a constant dry mouth, my sex drive is no longer alive, I can't remember things and get confused easily. But I sleep well, and my head doesn't hurt... I'm still in constant pain. And it seems like I have the hunger of three teenagers. I'm 27 and have DDD. I hope I can find something that works."

• Eme...
• October 11, 2016

"Have been on 10 mg Nortriptyline for almost a month now and have not found it helpful at all. I have 2 tumors on my liver, and they are painful most of the time. I have found that since I started taking the Nortriptyline, my moods have been more up and down, and my downs are considerable. I am now going to ask the doctor for antidepressants. 15-20 minutes after I take my pill each night, I get really itchy all over my body for about 10 minutes, and then it suddenly stops. I have also found that I have really vivid and scary dreams now of being chased. I also take Tramadol to manage pain levels, but have found that since starting Nortriptyline, I can no longer drive after taking Tramadol, previously, I managed fine. I have found no improvement in my pain levels."

• bad...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 30, 2016

"For over 20 years, I have had chronic facial nerve pain from a surgery that was messed up. I also had 2 additional surgeries to 'correct' the problem, but they were not successful. My only success with managing pain has been with morphine. Unfortunately, it keeps me awake if taken close to bedtime. I was given nortriptyline to try for sleep and pain relief (so as not to awaken in pain), but it was awful - the couple hours of interrupted sleep I had were with very bad nightmares. I stopped taking this medication as a result and will continue to look for a 'real' sleeping pill that works & that I am not tolerant of. In the meantime, I would rather not sleep!"

• Pen...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 25, 2019

"I was prescribed nortriptyline for chronic back pain after an injury. Unlike most here, I was given 5 mg at night, meant to go up to 10 mg after 5 days. I’m on day 5 and I’m stopping. Immediately I’ve experienced excessive sweating, dry mouth, slight weight gain, nausea, sadness, headaches, and the worst is the insomnia! I am not sleeping at all. I can see this going downhill and am getting married in a few weeks, so don’t need to be all messed up. Do your research, I wouldn’t recommend though."

• Bir...
• January 22, 2020

"I don't remember having nightmares on Pamelor or Elavil. Both worked well for migraine/facial nerve pain and depression. They'd be better if the side effects weren't dry mouth, constipation, dizziness, and lethargy (Elavil). Remeron is a different story. I had the scariest, most traumatic dreams ever. I was so terrified after waking up, I told my doctor I could not take it anymore. Pamelor and Elavil are probably the best antidepressants that I have tried other than Effexor and Wellbutrin, although the latter gives me more side effects. SSRIs don't work for me and cause agitation, insomnia, teeth grinding. I'll stick with the older antidepressants or the SNRIs."