Nortriptyline and Constipation: What Users Say

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 12, 2012

Pamelor (nortriptyline) for Pain "I have calf pain (mainly when sitting) due to small fiber neuropathy. I tried Neurontin, Lyrica, Cymbalta...without any luck. Tramadol provided limited relief, but not nearly enough. Finally, I tried Pamelor and after a few weeks, the calf pain started to dissipate. I take 100mg/day, and the side effects have been pretty mild. The drowsiness tapered off after a few days, but the dry mouth and constipation go with the territory. I get occasional tinnitus as well."

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

For Depression "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."

• Jen...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 21, 2017

For Pain "I am 56 years old with severe chronic nerve pain in my neck from herniation at C6-C7 and C4-C5. I opted for no surgery and I have had zero quality of life, been on bed rest for 4 years. Started PT with pain meds, neurontin 600mg. Slowly able to function in a brain fog but free from strong narcotics. Went to amitriptyline 40mg at night, slept great but next day brain fog with memory lapses and always tired. Now on 10mg nortriptyline I take in the morning because it affects me like a stimulant and hard to sleep at night but been on for a week. I have constipation but taking fiber in water helps. I love being alert with a clear head! So far no pain on 10mg so I won't increase unless I have pain. A very livable dose."

• bir...
• October 17, 2010

Pamelor (nortriptyline) for Migraine Prevention "I've suffered from migraines for 14 years and have taken numerous medications for prevention including Topamax. Topamax caused MANY bad, undetermined health issues. My Internal Medicine physician took me off Topamax and put me on 25 mg of Nortriptyline for migraine prevention. Almost immediately, I had relief from migraines, had clarity of mind even better than ever before, had a great attitude. I felt 'normal' for the first time in my life. This medication caused noticeable urinary retention, constipation, and increased appetite which caused weight gain. Due to weight gain, I was changed to Pristiq. Migraines have returned. I intend to ask to be put back on Nortriptyline and will have to alter diet and exercise."

• JZ6...
• March 7, 2013

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome "This medication has been a lifesaver. I am a 23-year-old female and was diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome 10 years ago. It wasn't until 2 years ago that my primary care doctor suggested this medication after finding success with another patient. Only 10 mg a day at bedtime and I am IBS symptom-free. I used to have 5 bowel movements a day and now I am very regular. My life is so different now that I am on this medication. When I started the medication, I had extreme dry mouth that went away after a couple of months and now I sometimes become constipated (which is something I've never had in my life)."

• Bax...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 12, 2019

For Pain "I have been struggling with progressively worsening nerve pain for 10 years. I cannot lift up on my toes on either leg due to nerve damage (slipped disc on one leg and some kind of impact arthritis on the other). The nortriptyline has virtually eliminated the nerve pain! I've been taking 25 mg for one month. The so-called 'side effects' are virtually all positive. Constipation? Great! Now I can have just one bowel movement per day instead of 5 or 6. Sleepiness? Great, I sleep much better now! I used to take a half dozen ibuprofen and acetaminophen and 2 naproxen almost every day... now one ibuprofen some mornings and that's all I need. Cannot say enough good things about this product!"

• Big...
• December 23, 2016

For Pain "To those of you who are having nightmares, they will go away. I had them so bad but it worked so well for the low back neuropathy. I was finally able to walk again. My back kills me. I take 30 mg throughout the day now. Taking it with tramadol decreases the effectiveness of the drug. Nortriptyline is a tricyclic antidepressant. It blocks the receptors in the cerebellum so pain signals cannot be received. This is not FDA approved because being an antidepressant when one is depressed can be very risky and cause serious side effects. For those of you who are waking up on this medication, you could be low on serotonin and those that are falling asleep you could have too much. It will also make you very constipated. Be careful."

• Ros...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 20, 2019

For Pain "I was prescribed Nortriptyline 50 mg at night for back pain and sciatica in 2012. It helped me sleep with no pain. I did have weight gain, dry mouth, constipation, decreased urination, and heartburn. In 2014, I had a right hip replacement. In 2019, most of my chronic pain was gone. My doctor lowered my dosage to 25 mg at night per my request. After two months, I have finally stopped Nortriptyline. I have more energy, have lost 13 lbs, and my memory and concentration have improved. I sleep all night and feel energetic when I wake up. After seven years, I hope to never have to take this drug again."

• khw...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 27, 2014

For Migraine Prevention "Three months ago I started the nortriptyline 10 mg daily to help with very disabling migraine with aura. So far, so good. I haven't had a migraine, and I would normally have had one or two in that time. For a couple of years, I have been taking 400 mg daily vitamin B2, but I was still getting sick. So I've added the nortriptyline. I also, now, am very careful to not become constipated, and that may be making a difference. But, it looks like the nortriptyline has been good for me. My migraines started at about 13; I'm 61 now."

• gmo...
• February 2, 2016

For Migraine Prevention "I've had chronic headaches for 4-5 years and was treating symptoms with OTC meds, which eventually became ineffective. Started having severe migraines about once a week, for which I finally sought a more permanent treatment. Had some undesirable side effects to a few of the initial prescriptions: hair loss, nausea, insomnia, etc. I had a rough start with Nortriptyline. As I increased the dosage, I experienced prolonged drowsiness and some constipation. After a few weeks, the symptoms decreased and my headaches stopped being a daily occurrence. I have had a few migraines since starting, but these have also become less frequent. Maybe from once a week to once a month now. Hoping this works for me long-term and doesn't become ineffective."

• cam...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 20, 2016

For Migraine Prevention "I've struggled with migraines since I was a child and have managed mostly on Excedrin until age 30 when I first tried Imitrex. The combination helps me, but the frequency of my migraines (2-3x) made me seek out a neurologist for preventative medication. I've been on Pamelor for only a week and stopped taking it last night because I couldn't take the side effects anymore: fast heart rate, major heartburn (a burning feeling that reaches up my chest, throat, and head), nausea, constipation, blurred vision, anxiety, fatigue, ringing ears. In that week, I had only 1 migraine and had 5 headaches. For me, any potential mitigation of future migraines isn't worth dealing with these side effects. I'm miserable and it's interfering with work and life."

• Ple...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 30, 2012

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome "I was prescribed this for neuralgia. However, I noticed after a few weeks my irritable bowel syndrome was gone. GONE! When my doctor wanted to switch me to gabapentin for the nerve pain, I insisted on continuing nortriptyline. I would rather have the nerve pain than irritable bowel syndrome. Word of caution: when I was increased to ~60 mg a day, I became severely constipated with abdominal pain. This medicine can cause paralytic ileus, so be careful. I take 10-20 mg a day and seem to be okay."

• Suz...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 4, 2018

Pamelor (nortriptyline) for Depression "25 years ago. I took Pamelor for postpartum depression. It worked for the depression but had to stop taking because my stools became hard as rocks and were difficult to pass. I have had irritable bowel syndrome since as a result. I also gained about 40 pounds, and no matter how much I diet or exercise, I cannot lose the weight."

• Bir...
• January 22, 2020

For Pain "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."

• 2dr...
• July 8, 2016

For Migraine Prevention "I have a love/hate relationship with this drug. When I take it, I am headache-free, but if I forget to take it just one time, I have the worst headache imaginable the next day. Like a hangover headache with nausea and dizziness. It is worse than the headaches I had before I started taking the medication. I've also noticed my energy levels are way lower, and I am super constipated every day. The doctor did advise me about the constipation but not the lack of interest in doing things. I am super slow and have literally no energy to do anything. So I am not sure if it is related. I want to try to get off the medicine, but the doctor advises against this. I am not sure what to do."

• Agg...
• October 2, 2016

For Migraine Prevention "This drug has changed my life. I used to get at least one headache per week, often up to three or four, with nausea and extreme fatigue. I have been on the 10 mg about three months now, and it has seriously given me my life back. I still get headaches (maybe twice per month), but they are very mild and usually really late at night. I had side effects (pretty annoying constipation and mood swings), but this has subsided almost completely. I haven't felt this good in years, and I highly recommend trying this drug."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 10 years or more
• February 27, 2013

For Vulvodynia "This medicine completely helped my vulvodynia. At my worst before the medication, I was in constant burning pain and could not sit down for extended periods of time. Nortriptyline started working for me after about two weeks. At first, I was a little dizzy and very sleepy. I did have more constipation. But the sleepy/dizzy feeling did wear off, and I was so happy to have the edge taken off the pain, I didn't mind the side effects. I was on it for about 10 years with minimal pain flare-ups. I am doing better now. The pain is not completely gone, but nortriptyline was the answer I needed."

• Mav...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 4, 2021

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome "I was put on one 10 mg Nortriptyline to see if it would help with severe bowel pain, it did seem to help a bit in that the pain stopped lasting the whole day. After a few weeks, it was increased to 15 grams and then to two 10 mg tablets, making it 20 mg. Unfortunately, it made me very constipated, and I had the worst headaches I've ever had in my life, including migraines that I suffered from for a couple of years. I have only been taking this drug for about 8 months, and I was really hoping it would help the severe bowel pain that I have daily. I have stopped taking the 20 mg and have gone back to trying just one tablet of 10 mg, which I really hope will help. Another thing the drug causes is the most horrible taste in my mouth when I wake up in the morning that is there every morning and is difficult to get rid of. I had big hopes for this drug. I do intend to try taking just 1 tablet of 10 mg to see if I get any relief taking that dose."

• the...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 8, 2017

Pamelor (nortriptyline) for Depression "I was tried on this for major depression. After 2 weeks on 50 mg per night, I couldn't handle it anymore. I ended up going to the ER because my heart was racing. I was at 125/130 beats per minute. I'd only been getting a few hours of sleep each night in those 2 weeks, and experienced the heart racing, brain short circuits, insomnia, anxiety, severe constipation, extreme thirst, and an overall feeling of disconnect from aliveness. As a teenager, I took Doxepin and Elavil too, and they were slightly better, but not much. These TCAs should be a last resort, like Thorazine and Lithium. Seroquel is much better. Good luck to my fellow sufferers!"

• 123...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 17, 2016

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome "Diagnosed with IBS and gastritis with intestinal metaplasia. Suffer with constipation and awful stomach pains. Started taking 10 mg a day and just increased to 20 mg. Wake up feeling just out of it for hours. Constipation is worse. Anyone else suffer these side effects?"

• Izz...
• August 23, 2017

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome "Doctor prescribed this to me after I was diagnosed with IBS. It seemed to work, but I didn't believe I was getting full effect. The doctor said at my young age of 17 (I'm now 18 since August 2017), I should not take as high a dosage as some people, but my pain I had told them I needed more, so I moved from 10 mg to 20 mg. I often get very thirsty as a side effect, and I'm almost always constipated. I'm actually typing this up as I'm in the bathroom right now, constipated. I don't believe I should be taking other medicines like laxatives or probiotics just to make up for this medicine that should be helping me."

• Eri...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 21, 2020

For Depression "I was getting ECT treatment for depression when my doctor told me nortriptyline pairs well with the ECT therapy. I once had a bad reaction to Trintellix. Without having much recollection of why I decided to start this new med, I did. I felt ECT was starting to heal my depression. As a few weeks passed, I noticed major daytime fatigue. Also, every night I would experience irrational fear and panic, I also had a few panic attacks at night, which had not happened for me in years. Constipation, vomiting, worsening depression, thoughts of self-harm. It took me way too long to figure out nortriptyline was the culprit of all this. I was on this medicine for about two months and am in the process of weaning off. If you notice similar symptoms, speak up to your doctor ASAP."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 9, 2019

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome "It worked like a charm for no more than about two years (possibly less) until the side effects started to wear off, but while it was working, I could almost have believed myself cured. The drug was given to me for relief of peripheral neuropathy pain, not IBS, but my doctor told me constipation was a common side effect. I assured him that would be no problem. So far, I've not had a lot of the aching all the way round and not feeling well in the belly that I had every day, but I'm continually having to clean myself and am therefore permanently sore. I am going to have to seek something else for this. Having been relieved of the misery of it and finding out just how miserable I had been, I'm not willing to suffer with it anymore. I'm quite angry that my previous doctor let me continue believing there was nothing that doctors could do for IBS and let me carry on dragging through my household chores feeling like death warmed up."

• Hea...
• November 30, 2013

For Neuralgia "This medicine worked amazingly for my trigeminal neuralgia, depression, and migraine prevention, however, I had to go off of it because I had weight gain and severe constipation. I'm starting on 400 mg of magnesium oxide and 400 mg of vitamin B2 as recommended by my neurologist for migraine prevention now and going to also try the lowest dose of Topamax."

• Lil...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 16, 2022

For Pain "Have been on nortriptyline 10 mg a night since September 2021 for severe nerve pain in the abdomen and chronic pelvic pain, with neuropathy through the legs and feet. I've got to say, for the neuropathy and nerve damage in my abdomen, this medication is a miracle. The chronic pelvic pain it doesn't help as much with, but that is due to muscular problems rather than nerve pain. I've tried amitriptyline in the past, and it completely stopped my bowel from working. I was also tried on duloxetine 30 mg, and that poison is the worst stuff I've ever taken. The only downside to nortriptyline is that it can sometimes make you constipated, however, I have found if you keep your water intake up, it shouldn't be a problem. I would recommend this medication to anyone suffering with long-term nerve pain, it's great to help regulate your sleep too."