Nortriptyline and Dry Mouth: What Users Say (Page 3)

• Mig...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 27, 2013

For Migraine Prevention "I started Nortriptyline about 2 months ago. Doc started me on 10 mg/day and asked me to increase to 50 mg/day. Started taking it at night but was oversleeping, so started taking it in the morning. Missed one dose by 12 hours and immediately got a migraine that lasted for 4 days. However, after 2 months, the medicine doesn't seem to be working. I've started getting weekly migraines again that last 4-5 days. Have emailed my doc for help because I can't afford all the time off work and being a neglectful parent! I had dry mouth in the beginning, but that has gone away. I used to have an uncontrollable bladder, but the medication has cured that (thank goodness). Haven't noticed weight gain."

• Vis...
• April 19, 2012

For Migraine Prevention "Visual migraines since junior high. Incredible pain following the event, including vomiting. No one could help... internal medicine doctors, ophthalmologists, neurologists. At age 32, a foot doctor tells me that I am a victim of visual migraines and suggested nortriptyline. Went to the neurologist for medicine. I am on 50 mg taken each night before bed. Visual effects still occur intermittently, but the migraine is aborted. Still have a headache for three days, but the medicine keeps me from being incapacitated for days. I am now 50 years old and could not live without it. I have dry mouth, redness of skin, sensitivity to the sun, and problems urinating at times, but these issues are nothing compared to what I lived with for 20 years. I highly recommend the product!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 29, 2012

For Migraine Prevention "This medicine changed my life in a sense. I am on Latuda (an antipsychotic) and a lot of Wellbutrin, but I was still depressed and having migraines almost every day. I was put on only 30 mg a night to prevent headaches and to help me sleep. It certainly made me sleep a lot the first few nights. At first, I was afraid it was a dud, but then, 2 weeks later, my migraines were less frequent; after 2 months on it, I have about 20 percent of the migraines I used to have. I get great sleep, and the best (and most surprising) part was that, although it is a tiny dose, it was just what I needed to finally not be depressed and anxious. I only gave it 9 stars instead of ten because sometimes the dry mouth is unbearable at times."

• TDD...
• November 10, 2013

For Migraine Prevention "I have been on Nortriptyline for 4 weeks now. At first, I was so lethargic. That has improved greatly. My mouth dryness is also improving. Up until yesterday, I felt this med was 'the one.' I am new to migraines, had 2 that lasted greater than 7 days apiece. The second was so bad I was directly admitted from my first neurology appointment to the hospital for 14 DHE treatments (yuck). I have had at least 4 mild-moderate headaches a week, that too is improving. Yesterday, I started to have tingling from mid-calf to my 4 small toes. Has anyone else had that issue?"

• Sva...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 8, 2020

For Migraine Prevention "I was only able to try this drug for 3 days because I couldn’t handle the side effects. The dry mouth I could handle, but not the hot flash - I'd feel pressure and tightness around my body, then start sweating from my hands and feet. I also had insomnia from this! Could not sleep at all. Felt so awake throughout the night. The only reason why I'd end up falling asleep is because I’m so, so tired. But would still wake up in the middle of the night and feel awake. On one of the days, I woke up with a headache from this med. I wish it would’ve worked for me for my headaches, because I tried so many drugs already, but they never worked for me! (Tizanidine, baclofen, cyclobenzaprine). My doctor wants me to try venlafaxine next, but from reading the reviews I’m discouraged. This drug also wasn’t too pricy."

• Atc...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 10, 2025

For Panic Disorder "This drug pulled me out of a two-year anxiety cycle. It’s great! I tried at least six other drugs to stop the panic and a bunch of natural ways, and nothing helped. This is the only drug that worked for me other than a benzo. At first, I didn’t have much faith in taking it. But then I noticed starting at 10 mg that I was having to take my panic benzo less and less and thought, hey, we might be on to something. My doctor gradually increased the nortriptyline to my current 50 mg dose. The side effects I have are dry mouth in the morning and some grogginess as well. Nothing compared to the panic attacks and anxiety dread every day for two years. Not only did it help my anxiety, it has helped with motivation. I just feel more motivated and happy to do things. I’m so glad that I’m feeling better, my life was hell. Oh, I also suffered from bad headaches daily, and the nortriptyline has gotten rid of them as well. 10/10 great medicine!!"

• Yog...
• March 9, 2015

For Migraine Prevention "Never really had headaches until after brain surgery for a cavernous malformation. After the surgery, was okay for about a month and then had headaches every day. I was just learning how to live with them, but some days I just needed to stay in bed. Had a neurologist try one med that knocked me out and switched to a new neurologist that put me on this med. After one week, I was a new person. Have been on it for several months with maybe one headache, and I think that trigger was lack of food. I am sold on this medication, it has been life-changing. I did notice there were lots of side effects and was nervous at first, but the benefits totally outweigh the dry mouth I get. Trying Biotine mouthwash for that. Sleeping well too."

• Son...
• June 2, 2011

For Migraine Prevention "I am 27 years old and suffered from horrible migraine headaches since I was 15. I had the kind of headaches that caused uncontrollable vomiting and kept me in a dark room for days. I felt like I couldn't have a normal life because I would always think twice about going out, fearing a migraine would ruin the day. I am currently on 75 mg/day, and it has made a significant difference. I no longer have the 9/10 severity migraines for 4-5 days at a time several times per month. I still get headaches, but they will go away with something as simple as resting for 20 minutes with my eyes closed. I'm not afraid to go out anymore. The side effects that I have struggled a bit with are weight gain and dry mouth, but I will take those any day over the migraines."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 24, 2015

For Migraine Prevention "I started getting vertigo during my last pregnancy, which transitioned to daily debilitating migraines with or without vertigo. After lots of testing, my neurologist put me on Nortriptyline, and it took about 6 months to get the dosage and migraines/vertigo under control, but I am still on 75 mg today for the past 7 years. I still have problems with dry mouth, and I personally think it makes me a little forgetful (short-term memory). I was a little lazy about taking it a few months ago and was wondering if it was still effective after 7 years, and yes it is. One week after not taking it, I got vertigo again, which I haven't had in 3 years. So I'll be on this for life. I only get breakthrough migraines during my period, for which I take a ketoprofen."

• ley...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 10, 2022

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome "I was around 35 when I was operated on for Crohn's. Then came depression. A doctor seeing I was seriously underweight prescribed Nortriptyline. I took that and sometimes the generic Aventyl. For the next 30 years, I had no Crohn's problems. But because of the dry mouth side effects, I decided to stop the med. Crohn's returned! Six months ago, I needed a second surgery. I lost weight until I looked like a skeleton. Then I remembered Aventyl and Nortriptyline. I decided to retake it to gain weight. I took just 2 pills. IMMEDIATELY all gut pain and symptoms got better. I can now eat almost anything. Only seldom do I have slight pain, which I expect will disappear when I go back to my higher/recommended dosage. I wish doctors/researchers would investigate the IBS and Crohn's connection. This could be a breakthrough."

• Roc...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 6, 2017

For Migraine Prevention "I went to my Dr. with severe eye pain and headache. I thought it was due to having the wrong reading glasses. I was very surprised with his diagnosis of migraine. I had been living with this for several years, but it had gotten much worse in the past two years. Pamilor took a few days to start working. About a week later, it occurred to me that the pain was gone! My migraines are very rare and mild when they do happen. I do experience dry mouth, but it's starting to subside now. Keep some hard candy on hand!"

• Anonymous
• November 17, 2011

For Migraine Prevention "I have been taking nortriptyline 10 mg for migraine prevention for about 6 weeks and have had only 2 headaches, both of which were controlled with just one dose of OTC pain reliever (Aleve). I was having headaches and other 'atypical' migraines 3-4 times a week. The only side effect I've noticed at this low dosage is dry mouth, and that's no big deal. So far, I'm very pleased with the positive results."

• log...
• February 19, 2015

For Migraine Prevention "I started having episodic migraines when I was 8, and it turned into chronic migraine when I was 16 (I'm 18 now). Untreated, I usually have a migraine every day. After playing with a few different treatment options, my doctor put me on Pamelor: 50 mg for the first two months and then 100 mg for the second two. Almost as soon as I started taking it, I started experiencing the adverse side effects: dry mouth, light-headedness, exhausted 24/7. But the worst were the nightmares: vivid, every night. I would wake up screaming. I stopped the medicine two weeks ago, but the nightmares still haven't stopped. And the medicine made absolutely no difference in my migraines. Still had them every day."

• Sal...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 29, 2020

For Depression "I’ve taken SSRIs for many years to control anxiety but got depression the past year after a few stressful events. My doctor couldn’t increase my SSRI anymore as I’m on the max dose, so she added nortriptyline, as apparently the combo is really good. I started on 20 mg but was still struggling with insomnia from my depression, so it was increased to 40 mg. It’s wonderful, and I no longer feel any depression. However, the side effects of TCAs are much more noticeable to me than SSRIs, which is really frustrating. I get constipated, dry mouth, bad sunburn, and sun sensitivity and cannot tolerate any more than two alcoholic drinks. It doesn’t make summer holidays very fun, lol. However, it does work very, very well. I’d say better than SSRIs. So I’m going to stay on it, but I do hope to come off it one day, unlike my SSRI (escitalopram), which I will happily stay on as I get no side effects."

• Sav...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 29, 2021

For Pain "I started taking 10 mgs of nortriptyline every night in 2018. At first, I had some issues with very dry mouth to the point of feeling like I had strep throat. But, I buckled down and bought some cough drops, and I'm glad I did. I was on the medication for 3 years and just recently got off. I forgot how much of a miracle drug it was for me and how much it really was helping me. I got off due to trying to get pregnant (per doctor's recommendation). However, after doing research of my own, I have found that it is considered safe. I have been on every other kind of medication out there for anxiety and depression and have had some terrible symptoms such as suicidal thoughts. I'm terrified of trying anything else and have decided to just get back on my miracle drug. My pain from my fibro is pretty high right now and I haven't been sleeping well, which has been leading to worse and worse anxiety and depression. All I can say is that I can't wait to get back on my medication."

• Obs...
• October 23, 2020

For Migraine Prevention "I have been on this medication since 2016. I used to take it in conjunction with Topamax, but recently stopped taking that in early 2019. Since being on only Nortriptyline, my migraines have been reduced, and I have gained about 15 lbs. or so (Topamax caused severe loss of appetite). I’m still averaging about 6-8 a month, but that is so much better than what I was having previously. The only side effect that really bothers me is the dry mouth. My mouth gets insanely dry that I feel like I’m constantly reaching for my water bottle (which isn’t such a bad thing). I have been taking 30 mg at night, but just went to a different neurologist who upped my medication to 50 mg per night. Hoping my migraines become lessened. I do not feel overly exhausted when I’m at work, but I do notice that I feel very exhausted after my 9-hour workday. I also notice that lately, I have been able to fall asleep faster, but I have tons of trouble falling back asleep during the night if I happen to wake up."

• Dom...
• June 15, 2015

For Migraine Prevention "I had a headache almost every day for over a year, and when I was at the neurologist for a concussion, the daily headaches were finally addressed, and I was put on a medication I was told was often tried before or after nortriptyline. He said that if this one didn't work, it was likely that nortriptyline would. I was soon prescribed nortriptyline: 25 mg at night for the first week and 50 mg after that. Dry mouth was a side effect, but it went away shortly. When taking 25 or 50 mg in the morning, I didn't notice it making me drowsy like I had been warned it would. Bad headaches occurred when stopping the drug for a few days. Subtle dry mouth would happen with the start again. Still taking it, haven't gone 40 days headache-free quite yet."

• Lil...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 8, 2022

For Pain "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, and the uvula was 3 times normal size. Be very cautious taking this drug."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 6, 2017

For Migraine Prevention "Works pretty well for my migraines related to various triggers (e.g., food allergies, strong scents, etc.). Side effects are present at times but not overwhelming, including stiff muscles, dry mouth, nausea."

• sas...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 9, 2013

For Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy "Severe side effects - extreme dry mouth, extreme dizziness, extreme weakness. No real help for the neuropathy. Could not figure out why I was feeling so poorly until I did some research online and discovered nortriptyline has a negative interaction with four of the other medications I take. Stopped taking nortriptyline and felt so much better almost instantly."

• Sul...
• August 2, 2010

For Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome "Took the edge off the pain. Did boost my mood, and the tiredness took a day or two to adjust to. The worst was the dry mouth - I couldn't go anywhere without a bottle of water - and my blood pressure dropped to a dangerous low. When my doctor took me off it, I ended up in the ER with a flare-up I hadn't experienced since being on the medicine."

• One...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 2, 2017

For Dysautonomia "Rx for dysautonomia and possible neuropathic pain. Immediate reaction was an extreme dry mouth. So bad that talking my lips stuck to my teeth. Then the urinary pain and pressure. I thought I had a UTI, so I went to Dr. UTI test normal. As we were discussing possible kidney stones, he read I just started this drug. Told me to stop and come back if no change. 2 days later, those symptoms cleared."

• bun...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 23, 2021

For Pain "Nortriptyline is not for me! I take it for both cervical radiculopathy and sciatica. Although it helps with some of the pain, for such a low dose of 20 mg, I have so many side effects! Ever since I've been on it, I've been having severe mood shifts between anxiety and depression, uncontrollable panic attacks, insomnia, nightmares, a very dry mouth with excessive thirst, dizziness, nausea, and constipation. I can't get off of it because I'll be in unbearable, screaming pain without it. I let my doctor know that this was happening, and she didn't believe the nortriptyline was causing my mood problems. Someone else told me to wait out the side effects for a couple of months, and it will get better, but it only got worse. Gabapentin made me gain too much weight, causing the sciatica and causing mood problems, so I don't want to get back on that. I'm caught between a rock and a hard place because I've talked to about seven doctors, and no one seems to know what to do."

• Jus...
• February 12, 2021

For Migraine Prevention "I was having auras every day, so the doctor had me take nortriptyline 10 mg and increase until I hit 50 mg. Side effects like dryness, dry mouth, even dry eyes and sensitivity to light affected me for 2 weeks but eventually went away. You don't see the difference right away because it will take a couple of months (in my case). 70% of my aura and migraines gone! Oh, also my memory is so bad when I'm on it. THERE ARE OTHER SIDE EFFECTS FOR LONG-TERM USE: dandruff (7th-8th month), eczema and acne (8 months), ***HAIR THINNING*** (noticed after 9 months and STILL THINNING). Started off with thick hair and now really thin. Thins on the right side more than left, including lashes and fingers! I'm getting off after 1.5 years, but it DID greatly improve my migraines and auras. Main side effects: (initial) dryness of EVERYTHING, FORGETFULNESS. (months or a year later): HAIR THINNING/LOSS, eczema, dandruff, acne."

• Ald...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 26, 2022

For Migraine Prevention "I had sudden onset, daily, and intense migraines that started a couple of years ago. I couldn't go to work because they'd come over me at about 10 a.m. every morning. I had severe pain and terrible auras, which affected my vision, gave me body tingling and numbness, and sometimes gave me mental confusion and aphasia/loss of speech. I was taken to the emergency twice for the most severe symptoms. My doctor tried nortriptyline at 10 mg to start. It didn't work very well, so we increased it to 20 mg. Within a couple of weeks, my migraines stopped completely! I would still feel migraines trying to 'break through' (the best way I can describe it) for about a year, but I think I only had one in that first year. Now I have none at all. I experienced dry mouth for a few months, which then passed. I experience deep sleep and need to get 7-8 hours minimum or feel pretty groggy the next day. I know nortriptyline doesn't work for everyone, but I'm so happy it worked so well for me."