Nortriptyline and Dry Mouth: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Rsb...
• January 17, 2018

For Migraine Prevention "I have vestibular migraines, and this drug has been amazing for it. I've suffered from vestibular issues for over 10 years before it was nailed down as migraine and was started on nortriptyline. After years of these vestibular attacks, lasting several days and occurring several times a month, I'm now down to maybe an attack or two every few months and a few during times of high stress. Side effects are minimal: dry mouth. I was told it would help me sleep, kinda doesn't, but so worth it for the incredibly mild side effects and the huge quality of life increase."

• Anonymous
• January 26, 2012

Nortriptyline for Migraine Prevention "I have been on Pamelor for the past 6 months or so, and I suffer from severe headaches and migraines. After being prescribed 25 mg, I have felt I'm in control of my life, going from 15 headaches and multiple migraines a month to a manageable 3-4 headaches and a couple of migraines a month. My doctor and I are now trying to drop these numbers even lower by doubling my dose. The side effects I have experienced are dry mouth and odd vivid dreams, which are very manageable compared to before."

• Psy...
• July 30, 2015

For Migraine Prevention "I have been experiencing significant feelings of my 'brain hurting,' with it feeling like it wanted to bust out of my skull, was overwhelmed by sounds and sights, feeling off-kilter because of brain dizziness. All affected my cognitive functioning (can't think, difficulty processing information, very bad memory, couldn't express myself verbally). Have had just about every scan done possible, showing nothing of concern. My neurologist started me on 25 mg. of Nortriptyline, and the head-hurting has stopped! Still some dizziness and difficulty processing information. Only side effect is dry mouth and a bad taste in my mouth, so always carry water. Happy with just this change as a place to start! I used to just cry, hold my head, and stay home."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 7, 2012

For Migraine Prevention "I have been suffering with my migraines and daily headaches since I was a child, I am now 34. I have tried Tramadol (sometimes REALLY good, but other times it gave me a worse headache), Amitriptyline (no impact), and now Nortriptyline. I started on 10 mg in the morning and 20 mg at night. I had to go up to 20 mg twice a day to see any effect. My headaches are now down to about one a week, which I can take painkillers for, so this medication has been amazing for me. The only downside for me is the extremely dry mouth, but that pales in comparison to the positives. I have also seen that Nortriptyline has led to weight gain for some. I am fortunate in that it actually keeps hunger at bay. I have only been on the medication for 8 weeks."

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

For Depression "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."

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

For Pain "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."

• che...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 6, 2013

For Migraine Prevention "I'm on week three, taking 100 mg of nortriptyline. I feel so much better! An added bonus is it helps me sleep at night. I'm able to fight most of my headaches with an Aleve that would have spiraled into a migraine before. The one and only negative, I've been so hungry! Gained at least 5 lbs. But I'd rather be a little fat and happy mommy of four boys than the skinny, miserable mom in pain I was before. I did get cotton mouth at first, but it went away."

• 48f...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 22, 2016

For Migraine Prevention "I started taking nortriptyline a couple of years ago after about a six-month-long migraine that never seemed to get relieved. I had tried amitriptyline before, but it made me very drowsy. The headache relief with 75 mg daily of nortriptyline has been nothing short of miraculous for me. I do get rare mild to intermediate headaches from time to time, but they never last long at all. The dry mouth is a real occurrence, but easily ignored. I've been reading about other possible side effects lately and was surprised to find that tingling and numbness in the extremities is a possible rare phenomenon. I must admit my fingers do get numb frequently. I was beginning to wonder if I was experiencing a symptom of carpal tunnel syndrome. Small price, though!"

• Ian...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 6, 2019

For Migraine Prevention "I suffer from depression, social anxiety, and migraines. I was prescribed nortriptyline at just 20 mg daily to reduce migraine frequency, but I noticed it seemed to make my anxiety much worse. I plowed on because the migraines were dreadful, and it did reduce their frequency and severity. I have stopped taking it after three years because I can no longer tolerate the side effects of dry mouth, general spaciness, difficulty finding words and speaking, and heightened anxiety. These side effects disappeared completely within forty-eight hours, and my anxiety is much more bearable. I’ll find another medication for the migraines because this one is just too troublesome."

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

For Pain "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."

• Bob...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 20, 2018

For Migraine Prevention "My doctor had put me on Topamax 100 mg for 8 weeks and added nortriptyline 25 mg for a week then upped it to 50 mg. And it seemed to make the headaches worse. And on top of that, my mouth is always dry and every time I look around I get dizzy and have to sit down. Plus, my heart races and pounds, and I hate this drug."

• Rob...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 4, 2016

For Smoking Cessation "I've smoked for 40 years. Tried to quit before and never was successful. Somehow, taking this medication, it seemed easier. I have been smoke-free now for 2 months. I took the medication for 1 month prior to quitting and then went cold turkey. I take 75 mg daily when I go to bed. I have been instructed to take this medication for a full 6 months after quitting. Cons: dry mouth, flatulence, lower sex drive, some weight gain, groggy in the morning, increased appetite, harder to urinate (dribbling). Pros: no anxiety around quitting smoking, seemed easier this time, medication is covered on the drug plan, I feel committed and have been (no bargaining with myself to have 'just one'). It works! Pros outweigh the cons because I have quit. Cons are temporary!"

• It ...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 8, 2016

For Migraine Prevention "I woke up one day with a horrible migraine that never went away. Every day, all day. It was killing me. I haven't ever had a headache like this. Definitely never had one that lasted the entire day. So after four doctor visits, three blood tests, and six months of non-stop migraines, I was prescribed nortriptyline. Only after two weeks I was waking up without a headache. By the time I got up to 40 milligrams, I was headache-free. I'm so happy and relieved. The only side effects I am experiencing are dry mouth and trouble with sleepiness in the morning."

• 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."

• jul...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 10, 2016

For Neuralgia "Quick background about me - Female, 23, 5'8", 122 lbs. Started Nortriptyline for fibromyalgia and chronic pain. I started off at a low dose, 10 mg, increasing by 10 mg weekly. When I first started it, I was jolted with energy throughout the whole day (which was great because fibro has been causing so much fatigue), and I had a super dry mouth. The first couple of weeks... no other side effects, also was mildly helpful but not entirely. By the time I got to 60 mg, I was disassociating from my body, felt like I was going to crash my car when I drove it, dropped things, couldn't focus, couldn't speak without slurring my words, and I was extremely depressed... so I dropped down to 50 mg, and everything is great now. I am also starting Lyrica."

• Fee...
• October 13, 2016

For Migraine Prevention "Have had migraines for the past 20 years, but they were usually around my time of the month. Recently, the migraines were daily and on a pain scale of 7 to 8 out of 10. My GP prescribed Nortriptyline as a preventative treatment. I've been on it for almost a month. After a week of 10 mg before bed, the migraines lessened from multiple times per day to every other day and the pain scale dropped down to 1 from 7 - 8. I'm now 9 days migraine-free. No blurred vision, but really bad dry mouth in the morning. I'm hoping the dry mouth will eventually subside. Not overly concerned. The treatment plan is to titrate off the medication after 6 to 12 months. In the meantime, it's nice to be migraine-free."

• Gob...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 12, 2017

For Pain "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."

• Anonymous
• September 24, 2012

For Migraine Prevention "I've been taking nortriptyline for almost two years. It has proven extremely effective in reducing my migraines. I now get a migraine perhaps five or six times a year compared with once a week previously. It did cause dry mouth at first, though that has abated. And my mood is much improved, possibly because I have fewer headaches and possibly because of the drug's antidepressive effects. The main problem is weight gain. I feel hungry almost all the time. That said, I'm not ready to return to pre-nortriptyline days and, instead, will work on diet and exercise."

• Anonymous
• May 8, 2011

For Migraine Prevention "I have suffered for years with migraines. I calculated that I lost 1 year completely to migraines every 6 years. I started nortriptyline in Dec 2010 and have not had one migraine since then. Even with my job stress (nursing), no headaches. Finally, at 49, I have a life. The dry mouth can be difficult at times, but dry mouth or migraines, I pick dry mouth."

• Coo...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 7, 2016

For Migraine Prevention "I apparently have tension headaches rather than migraines. I had headaches about twice a week for maybe 9 years. They last up to 16 hours, and usual medications usually did very little. Started 10 mg Nortriptyline, worked immediately, but faded. Took it up to 20 mg, same thing. Went to 30 mg, and it lasted a while, but then faded. For about 7 months, I only had about 2 headaches a month. So I stopped taking it. After a few months, I started getting 4 or 5 headaches a week for the past 2 months. Got back on Nortrip about 10 days ago at only 10 mg. No headaches until yesterday. So, as of last night, I took it up to 20 mg. I didn't want to go past 30 mg but may have to. Vivid dreams that sometimes wake me, dry mouth are my side effects."

• Emm...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 22, 2017

For Migraine Prevention "I'm 33. I have been taking 25 mg for the past 4.5 years. I have been getting aura migraines since I was 13. They have always been unpredictable and I could never pin down particular triggers. In my early 20s, I took Sandomigran for a couple of years but found I gained too much weight and still got migraines. For the first 4 years-pretty much to the day-of taking nortriptyline, I didn't have a single migraine, normal headaches lessened, my irritable bowel syndrome and endometriosis improved, and then I got the dreaded aura and a terrible migraine. I have now had 3 migraines in the past 5 months and I am curious as to why it's not working as effectively as it used to. Side effects: no weight gain, I get a dry mouth all day, lowered libido, restless sleep."

• Anonymous
• March 3, 2015

For Migraine Prevention "I've had migraines with aura since my early 20s (I'm 45 now). Over the past few years, their frequency has increased. As of December 2013, I was having them about 2 times per week. I was put on Nortriptyline 50 mg/day. I have had only one migraine in the past 14 months (and the one I had was when I tried to reduce the dosage). The dry mouth and orthostatic hypotension have stopped. The only problem is that I really cannot drink very much alcohol."

• Hea...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 10, 2018

For Migraine Prevention "I was put on 10 mg initially for migraine and insomnia. After two weeks, my doc upped it to 25 mg, which I've been on for four weeks. I've had a number of side effects: blurry vision, dizziness, dry mouth, froggy voice, continuous migraine. After six weeks, I've started to taper off of nortriptyline, and it isn't going well. I still have my migraine, but add in chills, anxiousness, burning/tinglings arms and fingers. It was definitely not worth starting this medication."

• She...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 16, 2018

For Migraine Prevention "Headaches started after enduring head trauma from an auto accident and have progressed over the last few years. The headaches were a mixed bag of tension, temporal muscle spasm, pressurization, and migraine. I was prescribed Valium 2 mg prn for the temporal muscle spasms, which helped until the headaches worsened to 4-7 days/week, and Advil was not working (not a fan of taking pain meds). I scheduled in with a new neurologist who prescribed Pamelor 10 mg HS, and it has helped tremendously. Only a few breakthrough headaches have occurred, however, they seemed to possibly be triggered by lack of sleep or increased stress. Bottom line is: be aware of your triggers and manage the triggers in order to avoid headaches. The only side effect I have noticed is a little dry mouth, so I try to stay hydrated. Since it is a low dose, I have not experienced dizziness or sluggish feelings. It's so great to be able to have headache-free weeks!"

• vho...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 28, 2015

For Migraine Prevention "Have had migraines off and on since my teens in varying degrees. Within the last few years, they have become more regular and with a vengeance. Tried various meds with my GP, finally started Nortriptyline, 10 mg for a week, then up to 20, etc. until no headaches. I went up to 40 mg but experienced frequent night terrors and was scared down to back to 30 mg (for 18 mo, which is still effective and reduced night terrors). No heart palpitations, but do experience dry mouth. Recently, I thought I would titrate down to 20 mg. BAD mistake, I experienced the famous ice pick headache for two days. I am now back on my lovely 30 mg. I have to be careful to make sure I am going to get at least 7 hours of sleep or I am very groggy next a.m. for a few hours."