Nortriptyline and Fatigue: What Users Say

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 27, 2014

For Migraine Prevention "10 mg at night for chronic tension headaches. The first few days were horrible: extremely fatigued, grumpy, felt like a really bad hangover. But by the fourth or fifth day, all of that was gone, and my headaches went too. I'm glad I stuck it out, because I had had headaches that interfered with my daily life. It made me very drowsy at first, and still does act as a bit of a sedative, so I only take it if I plan to sleep very soon. Also, it really lowered my alcohol tolerance, so watch out for that."

• LFu...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 21, 2016

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome "This medicine has changed my life. I went a solid 10+ years living in pain and with constant diarrhea. My life revolved around going to the bathroom. I started taking nortriptyline and after a few days, the pain subsided. Then, after a few months and increasing to a max dose of 40 mg, I now have normal bowel movements. This medicine is a miracle. It also prevents my migraines, which were occurring up to several times a month. I only experienced side effects of dry mouth, fatigue, and brain fog for the first couple of months. I now have no negative effects. Thank you, nortriptyline, for giving me a normal life."

• Mis...
• September 22, 2016

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome "The medication has changed my life!!! I can finally focus on my goals, and I feel great! No more pain, no more bathroom sneak attacks (thank you!!) and no more bloating! For the longest time, it looked like I had a belly, but it was all bloating! I can see a significant change in the decrease of bloating. The first couple of days after taking the medicine at night would result in a little fogginess in the morning and fatigue. Now that my body has gotten used to nortriptyline, I have much more energy and honestly a whole new outlook on life. I don't even want to think about how I felt every single day before nortriptyline. I owe my doctor big time!! :)"

• 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."

• jaz...
• April 4, 2013

For Migraine Prevention "I have been having headaches every day for the past 4 years. Doctors have put me on several different medicines that did not help until I started seeing a new neurologist. I was prescribed nortriptyline. The side effects for me were extreme fatigue, but that did go away. I feel better than I have been in the past years."

• Nik...
• July 28, 2019

For Migraine Prevention "It definitely helps with the migraine, but I can’t stay on it because it makes me dizzy, causes low blood pressure, fatigue, and foggy-headedness. I might take it occasionally. Oh yeah! And it made me feel depressed."

• Nic...
• April 20, 2011

For Migraine Prevention "Started taking nortriptyline for migraine prevention after 10 years of going to 6 different neurologists and taking countless medications. The first 3 weeks were great because I had gone from 2-3 days a week of migraines to not a single episode. It was very hard to deal with the daytime fatigue, and this was only on a 25 mg dose, but two cups of coffee took care of that. I stopped taking it suddenly after 1.5 months due to a change in mood/angry/depressed feelings which I've never experienced, and sure enough, I was in bed for 3 days with a migraine. So, I'm back on the medicine, have been almost migraine-free for 3 months, the fatigue has gone away, and as long as I remember to read my 'positive thoughts/positive things in my life' when I feel a little depressed (this medicine or at least 25 mg a day hasn't helped depression), I'm fine. I'm 31 years old, healthy, and now I can finally live my life not worrying about migraines! Thank you to my neurologist for finally finding an answer to my pain, and thank you nortriptyline."

• Spi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 26, 2019

For Depression "Felt horrible on nortriptyline during the 5 weeks I took it and never took more than 25 mg. Had depression, anxiety, fatigue, dizziness, and it sent my BP up. I tapered off, and I am day 16 off of it. My headaches are horrible. Does anything help with these side effects? I’ve been to the doctor twice this week, and he says it’s out of my system."

• 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."

• Bea...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 3, 2015

For Migraine Prevention "I was offered this as an alternative to amitriptyline because it made me so drowsy I was struggling to function in the morning. I went to a neurology clinic, ended up in tears explaining how daily headaches were making me feel. So the neurologist prescribed me the 25 mg twice a day to increase to 50 mg twice a day, which to me was scary. I don't have depression, I have a headache! My pharmacist advised me to try half a tablet once a day (12.5 mg effectively), and it's day 5 now. I can honestly say I haven't felt this level of pain in my head since I was admitted to the hospital for a migraine back in January. I can't concentrate on anything, my vision is blurry, and my head feels too heavy to be supported by my neck. I have zero energy and no balance! Good luck."

• dar...
• August 27, 2009

For Neuralgia "Even though I had lots of side effects from this medication, including oversleeping, daytime fatigue, and nausea, it still helped me get a decent night's sleep and helped with the nerve pain when combined with Cymbalta. I'm taking a lower dose (50 mg), and as time goes by, the side effects are lessening."

• Kit...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 6, 2025

For Depression "I’ve had debilitating treatment-resistant MDD for three years. I tried almost every SSRI and mood stabilizer with no improvement. After my psychiatrist said she had no other ideas, I found a new one who prescribed nortriptyline about six months ago. I started off with 25 mg, then 50, and now I have been on 75 mg for several months. The doctor checked my blood and found the nortriptyline was at a therapeutic level. My mood improved, but it didn’t help with fatigue and motivation. Plus, I was having horrible cognitive issues. My doctors said that the brain fog will get better as time goes on, but it has been getting much worse. BTW, I am 52 years old and I am in perimenopausal hell, which is also contributing to my brain fog. I now have another new psychiatrist who upped my dosage to 100 last month. My memory got even worse, have heartburn every day, and am very agitated. I didn’t make the connection until yesterday I read that this drug can cause all of these things. So now what?"

• Cla...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 16, 2016

For Migraine Prevention "So far, started treatment a week ago. Already experiencing horrible side effects: ongoing ringing ears; constantly nauseous; sluggish, tired during the day; lightheaded throughout the day; rapid heartbeat; had 2 nightmares in which I woke up catching my own breath because I thought I was dying. That same night, I had that dream twice; still cannot sleep more than 4 1/2, pushing 5 hours of sleep, with 10 mg. Still having migraines. Called my doctor's office 2 days ago and have not received a call back yet. I am supposed to go up to 30 or 40 mg. But with these side effects, I just want to get off of 10 mg."

• Ale...
• April 28, 2017

For Depression "Negative: took the full dose of 125 mg (Allegron) for 3+ months for depression. No effect whatsoever. Started to taper off about a month ago, went fully off about two weeks ago: very annoying withdrawal side effects: night sweating, and now all of a sudden also stomach problems (minor but very annoying) and mysterious dizziness, uneasy feeling in the whole body, palpitations, and overwhelming fatigue and numbness. Would not recommend at all."

• Get...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 17, 2021

For Pain "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 bedbound for 4 hours during the day. I needed 16 oz Red Bulls 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 daytime and not at night as prescribed. I read the reviews about this drug before agreeing to try it. Never again."

• Pat...
• March 15, 2022

For Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy "Have tried almost everything else, and they either did not relieve pain, or the side effects were terrible. Amitriptyline once worked and then didn't. Nortriptyline (20 mg) keeps the life-degrading pain away (idiopathic neuropathy). Sure, it's still there (never too far away), but at least I can sleep at night. And with the low dose, there is room for upward movement if needs be. Only side effect is malaise. But then compared to other side effects ... this is OK."

• Kzm...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 9, 2022

For Migraine Prevention "I was on Pamelor for about two weeks. It did do its job to stop my headaches, and I’m scared to stop because I don’t want them to come back, but I had to stop taking it because it put me in the ER. I had stomach pain for the last 4 days. Every time I stood up from sitting or laying down, I couldn’t see, and it took me a few seconds to come to. I was dizzy, nauseous, feeling like I was going to faint. No energy at all. I never got the dry mouth like most people, but I got everything else. I know everybody’s bodies are different, but I couldn’t bear the side effects. I couldn't do daily tasks because of them."

• Har...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 26, 2023

For Migraine Prevention "Hell to the nooo. Hell to the no, no, no! Took it for two nights, besides the other common side effects-fatigue, brain fog, etc. I had a level 10 migraine the day after my second dose, one of the worst ones I have ever had. Wasn’t informed that headaches are a side effect. Don’t even bother trying unless you want to spend your weekend in bed. The pharmacist said I could discontinue after being on it for a few days and wondered why I am trying all these old drugs with huge side effect profiles. I regret taking this, the half-life is extremely long, and I hope it is out of my system sooner than later."

• Esh...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 26, 2022

For Pain "I was put on this for dizziness, chronic fatigue, and muscle ache. This drug is toxic. I am just 24, it has destroyed my life. I lose my emotions, rather, I was too sensitive and loving, but now I have lost my personality. It's now 4 months since I quit this drug, and I am still not able to sleep at night nor enjoy my life as I used to. I recommend young people aged between 18-25 not take these drugs unless you really need them."

• 555...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 19, 2024

For Vulvodynia "I noticed at 20mg the Aventyl worked better than at 10mg. For my vulvodynia/vestibulitis. Helped reduce the burning, stabbing chronic pain in the vulvar region including the pelvic area as well. Side effects I experience are fatigue and dizziness. Definitely, this medication is worth a try."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 8, 2025

For Pain "I have had four attempts at this drug for fibromyalgia pain and ineffective esophageal dysmotility. My issue is severe, I get severe insomnia. I have tried everything and am only getting between 2 and a maximum of 4 hours of sleep. The drug seems to make my brain operate in an overdrive situation. It is absolutely shocking. So today I’m starting to get off it. I only take 10 mg for goodness' sake! I have had falls and walked into things as I’m so tired. I do not like this medication at all, or more to the point, it doesn't like me."