Nortriptyline and Insomnia: What Users Say (Page 2)

• 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."

• I...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 18, 2022

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome "I’ve struggled with gut issues my entire life, and a decade ago it was made worse after my pancreas was damaged during an emergency surgery. I was diagnosed with IBS-D and have tried a host of medications with no success. My GI doctor suggested I try a low dose of nortriptyline, but I had to have my rheumatologist prescribe it. The medication helped, almost too well at times, where I had to take a laxative. I had increased gas and pain with my colon. Then my neurologist decided to increase the dosage to 25 mg to help with my neuropathy, and that’s when the side effects became too much for me. Come to find out, you should not take this medication if you have bipolar disorder. The constant restless sleep caused me to go hyper manic, which made me hypersexual. I actually wouldn’t have stopped the medication, but then I realized that my creativity had disappeared. Made me into an artist with zero motivation. Not for me."

• Ner...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 28, 2022

For Pain "Only taken it for a few days. GP gave it to me because they thought I had nerve pain in my face. The side symptoms are weird to this drug, tingling getting worse, can't sleep, mega low, feel irritated, and I have tingling all in my head. And constant ear ringing. I was on amitriptyline and never had any of this. I mean, I don't know if it's my body getting used to it, but I don't like the side effects, itching like I got fleas on a regular basis. Tempted to ask the GP to swap me back to amitriptyline."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 16, 2024

"I take nortriptyline 50 mg. When the manufacturer changed at the pharmacy from Tero to TEVA, I had extreme insomnia. Now I’m struggling to find a pharmacy that is not contracted with TEVA, so I can start on this. Possibly having to taper off."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 7, 2025

"I started on 10 mg then 20 mg and coped OK. The pain was still there, but I slept like a baby. Increased to 25 mg and still no relief, so was told to increase by 10 mg every few weeks until 45 mg. I was a mess! The insomnia and vivid dreams started, dry mouth, depression, blurred vision, etc. I just couldn't get the relief I desperately needed and had terrible side effects. I am about to go back to the doctor to find out what next?"

• 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."

• Pun...
• August 31, 2016

For Migraine Prevention "It helps with my migraines. The only problem I have is weight gain and waking up in the middle of the night. I started taking it in March. I weighed 130, it's now August, and I weigh 156."

• Cit...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 18, 2022

For Migraine Prevention "I was prescribed nortriptyline for vestibular migraine. After just three days on 10mg, I began to feel very spaced out and was not able to function properly, I had difficulty in trying to sleep."