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Nortriptyline for Pain User Reviews (Page 4)

Brand names: Pamelor

Nortriptyline has an average rating of 6.7 out of 10 from a total of 118 reviews for the off-label treatment of Pain. 59% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 25% reported a negative experience.

Reviews for Nortriptyline

  • cyclone
  • 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."

9 / 10
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37 Report
  • Sara...
  • October 14, 2017

"I'm 37, started 10 mg of it last night. I have five herniated discs, had some head trauma, I have chronic nerve damage, pinched nerves, horrible migraines, dark spots in my brain. Last night I slept like a baby for the first time in forever. I was given this medication by my neurologist a few weeks ago and have been extremely hesitant to take it. I feel a little different, like I have more focus. Hopefully this will continue to help me with my healing. I still have pain, though, but only took this once, so I probably haven't been on it long enough to notice a huge difference. This morning I feel more focused."

5 / 10
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40 Report
  • Chris...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • September 3, 2020

"This medication nortriptyline does fairly well for pain but the side affects (migraines) are counterproductive because I am using this medicine for migraines. This medication will definitely make you tired and drain your energy, it increases your appetite and gives you mood swings."

4 / 10
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25 Report

Frequently asked questions

  • Dodge...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • September 5, 2017

"This medication is not worth long-term risks. I was given it for a sleeping disorder and chronic regional pain syndrome (CRPS). When taken to assist me in not being able to sleep, it did nothing to help me at all or help with my CRPS. In fact, it was the exact opposite, it had absolutely zero effect on CRPS and increased pain, and I was completely unable to sleep at all when taken as prescribed at bedtime."

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37 Report
  • Jane
  • August 14, 2019

"I have been suffering from teeth pain, specifically my lower molars. Also jaw and facial pain all on my left bottom side. First thought was cavity so I went to the dentist he put a crown on one of my molars. Pain continued he put another crown next to the previous. Pain continued I decided to get a second opinion the dentist referred me to Endodontist and she did an Ice test determined I needed a root canal. Their was no swelling or infection just pain that I couldn’t pin point. After root canal and new crown still in pain. I decided to see my medical doctor and she said it was temporomandibular joint pain (TMJ) and told me to take ibuprofen. Pain was severe at times that the ibuprofen wouldn’t work. I ended up at the ER and they gave me a shot for pain and a referral to an maxillofacial dr. He finally said it could be nerve pain and gave me Nortriptyline I am currently on my second week using 20 milligrams but started with 10mg so far pain is still there I guess I have to wait and see. Wish me luck!"

3 / 10
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29 Report

Are you taking this medicine?

  • Bird
  • January 22, 2020

"I don't remember having nightmares on Pamelor or Elavil. Both worked well for migraine/facial nerve pain & depression. They'd be better if the side effects weren't dry mouth, constipation, dizziness & 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 & Elavil are probably the best antidepressant that I have tried other than Effexor & Wellbutrin- although the latter gives me more side effects. SSRI'S don't work for me & cause agitation, insomnia, teeth grinding. I'll stick with the older antidepressants or the SNRI'S."

9 / 10
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27 Report
  • myrtle
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • June 24, 2024

"I have had chronic back and neck pain (fibro but also disc related) for five years. I tried everything. The pain got so bad I couldn't sleep or focus during the day. My doctor put me on 10 mg of nortriptyline at night. I wasn't hopeful. I have tried similar medications before that gave only given relief for 10 days. Well, I'm three months in, and it's working incredibly. I'd say at least 50% of the pain has gone. I can sleep through the night and focus. I never hoped I could even have this type of ability back. Just keeping my fingers crossed it lasts. No side effects yet."

10 / 10
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3 Report
  • Gobbl...
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • April 12, 2017

"Dose has been titrated up by 10 mg every 2 weeks. Now at 75 mg a day. Pain of chemo-induced bilateral peripheral neuropathy is as bad as ever. When the dose was increasing, pain relief of a few hours was bliss. Now at maximum dose, and side effects are as bad as the pain. Have to wait another month to see the pain clinic. Dry mouth causing problems swallowing. This is the last resort, as almost every other drug treatment has been tried over 6 years."

4 / 10
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36 Report
  • Moomoo
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • November 17, 2019

"Given these nortriptyline at a dose 10mg per night for chronic osteoarthritis pain in hips knees and wrists. Have been taking them for a week and they have done nothing. Don't know whether to ask Doctor to increase the dose or ask for something else. They were supposed to aid sleep. But I'm still awake most of the night in agony. I also take Tramadol but as I've been on those for 4 years the effect has worn off. Oh for a decent sleep."

1 / 10
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26 Report
  • SP2015
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • February 10, 2017

"Been on nortriptyline for less than a week and I absolutely hate it. Started with 20mg first few days but have reduced to 10mg in hopes of minimizing side effects. Having hell of a time falling asleep, low grade headaches and blurred vision. But the worst is the sexual side effect of ED. Had been on 10mg of amitriptyline for years previously. Slept great on that and had no ED problems. Had the fogginess the next day though I had gotten used to that. Planning to switch back but Doc wants me to wait two weeks in hope that side effects will lessen. Have DDD in lower back 4+ years and chronic foot pain from super high arches for 17 years. Pain had increased recently so doc thought Nortriptyline might help better. Also on 900mg Neurontin a day"

1 / 10
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33 Report
  • Lrrr
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • January 21, 2018

"At about week 3 on 25 mg pill. My anxiety is good. My sciatica pain is gone. I just stopped taking it as I started having extreme nightmares and no sleep. I never enter deep sleep. Just a state of dreaming and nightmares. The sense I am fighting and even using a knife to defend myself. The sense I am moving sideways while asleep like a dream but I'm half awake, trapped in sleep until I go through so much 'dream anxiety' that I wake up. I stopped taking it as I have not been able to sleep for 2 days. I'm not taking it anymore. It's too bad because it did seem to be helping pain and depression."

6 / 10
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29 Report
  • Anonymous
  • January 5, 2016

"I had moderate to severe chest pain for over a year. I'm athletic and in good shape. Doctors did all sorts of tests and couldn't find anything wrong with my heart. Aventyl 25 mg, after one dose, I was pain-free and have been so for three months. Life saver!"

10 / 10
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33 Report
  • Jack...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • April 29, 2016

"I have a "band" of the "fuzzies" crossing top of head, down on each side of my head. "Tinglies" on left of my forehead. Given Nortrip. 25mg, take 2x per day. Really NO change. Have lived with these problems for almost 30 years. Maybe by making me drowsy, then I won't notice nerve pain so much? Whatever."

6 / 10
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31 Report
  • help
  • Taken for 10 years or more
  • August 10, 2018

"I took nortriptline for 18 years not knowing I shouldn't have until Feb of this year. Since then my pain in the spin lumbar area as well as my neck have been more severe. I am also having the pins and needle sensations up the spine . I was given shots for pain in the neck at it seems to be working. Now my legs go flying or kinda freeze and go pigeon toed. I'm falling more and very unsteady on my feet and balance. I need to know if these are common side effects and more importantly how can I fix this"

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24 Report
  • SGT...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • July 9, 2018

"I started on 10 mg to be taken at night for TMJ related pain. The doc bumped it up to 25mg over a month ago. I suppose I sleep better, and I don’t clench my jaw as much at night. But, having seen the entire list of side effects, I can’t be sure what this medication could be interacting with or if it is messing with my brain or other organs. I believe I will stop this pretty soon."

8 / 10
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21 Report
  • Anonymous
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • November 18, 2015

"I have had bad pain in both wrists for one and a half years now, I have had to leave my job as a gardener for 10 years. I found it effective with pain working up to 30mg but stopped as I don't wont to have to always take drugs, but now the pain is back."

8 / 10
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27 Report
  • Boo
  • February 29, 2024

"I’m 45, and I was diagnosed with occipital neuralgia, trigeminal neuralgia, and myofascial pain syndrome 17 years ago. I have since developed central spinal stenosis. I started seeing a new neurologist 2 1/2 years ago, and she prescribed me nortriptyline. It has had a significantly positive impact on my pain. I still experience some degree of pain all the time, but it’s much more manageable now. I take 25mg right before bed, and I sleep much better. The first time I forgot to take it was the last time, as I could definitely tell the next day that I didn’t take it. I haven’t experienced any side effects to speak of. No dry mouth, no suicidal thoughts, no notable weight gain or loss. I had a pain specialist years ago who was big on prescribing opioids, which I took for 2 years (Tramadol). Ultimately, the effect was not worth the risk of addiction for me. I find nortriptyline to be way more effective than Tramadol. I highly recommend it for nerve pain."

10 / 10
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3 Report
  • Prophet
  • February 15, 2016

"This message is for lbk11 I understand your frustrations. Work isn't everything. It sounds like a cancer could have grown in the area you take nortriptyline for. It sounds exactly like me at the time. I had stage 4 lymphoma and I only had weeks to live. So please get an MRI. Truly find out what wrong with you."

9 / 10
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23 Report
  • Lilmama
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • October 16, 2022

"Have been on Nortriptyline 10mg a night since September 2021 for severe nerve pain in abdomen and chronic pelvic pain, with neuropathy through 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 30mg 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."

10 / 10
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7 Report
  • cris
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • May 21, 2018

"Took it one time for post-concussion syndrome and to help me sleep. It kept me awake for 24 hours and made my chest hurt. I had to work all day without sleep. Come to find out the drug is not FDA approved for post-concussion syndrome. Will not be taking the drug again or return back to the doctor who prescribe it for me."

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15 Report
  • GaMou...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • August 18, 2015

"Can't tell if it is working because it was prescribed after epidural. It was prescribed because I could not have orgasm even after 40+ minutes of stimulation when taking gabapentin. I am having the same problem with nortriptyline"

5 / 10
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18 Report
  • Getti...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • July 17, 2021

"Jeez Louise. Where to start. Ok - for pain, it was like 60-70% effective when titrated but the side effects made me wish I was detoxing from Tramadol again. I was FATIGUED. So tired, I was bed bound for 4 hours during the day. I needed 16oz Redbulls to make breakfast. I was bloated. So bloated I looked six months pregnant. My boobs were swollen and sore. I was always dizzy. Like hold on to the wall or else you fall dizzy. And what is with the blue dots you see when you wake up in the morning??? I was coughing all the time - which in 2021 is a no-no with COVID. My insomnia was through the roof so I had to take it during the day time and not at night as prescribed. I read the reviews about this drug before agreeing to try it. Never Again."

4 / 10
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8 Report
  • Liljo
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • July 8, 2022

"Was given this drug to help with L5/S1 nerve pain prior to surgery. Took 1 capsule daily as directed, on the third day I awoke with a dry mouth, burning sore throat, my throat was swollen, uvula was 3 times normal size. Be very cautious taking this drug."

1 / 10
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6 Report
  • 100
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • July 6, 2022

"I have spinal stenosis that has caused nerve pain down my arms and legs along with headaches. I was put on several different meds before Nortriptyline that made me feel worse.. This is the first time I have felt no pain in a couple years. I find if you take the meds around 5/6 in the evening you don’t wake up so drowsy.."

10 / 10
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6 Report
  • Lily
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • May 17, 2023

"Worst experience ever!! I took lowest dose (10mg) to treat nerve pain. After 6 days I woke up in the middle of the night with THE LOUDEST tinnitus you can possibly imagine. I stopped immediately and had the worst anxiety/sleepless nights I have ever had in my life. Now after a week my tinnitus has gone down 50% in volume and it is tolerable. However, I really hope this stupid drug didn't cause my ears to ring permanently!!"

1 / 10
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4 Report

Reviews may be edited to correct grammar/spelling or to remove inappropriate language and content. Reviews that appear to be created by parties with a vested interest are not published. This information is not intended to endorse any particular medication. While these reviews may be helpful, they are not a substitute for the expertise, knowledge, and judgement of healthcare professionals.