Nortriptyline and Nausea: What Users Say

• Tre...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 10, 2019

For Migraine Prevention "I have migraine-associated vertigo (1 year +). I forget how many meds I have tried, but 10 mg nortriptyline was fine. I was having good sleep. Dry mouth. My doctor increased it to 20 mg. I started feeling more dizzy and nauseous. In week 2, I experienced blurry vision and slurred speech. I declined further with mobility and strength. I was told to go to the ER and received migraine IV. I was slowly weaned off nortriptyline and thankfully had no more blurry vision or slurred speech. My doctor never talked about these side effects, and this was very frightening."

• The...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 1, 2017

For Migraine Prevention "After being diagnosed with vestibular migraines about a year ago, I resisted taking any medications. The dizziness and feeling unwell caused depression as I was afraid to go anywhere and get a major dizzy spell that would make me also have symptoms of a stroke (numb face and arm and difficulty speaking). I started taking Nortriptyline and stopped after a few days as I was so tired and felt nauseated. My doctor told me to give it a go for a solid month and I'm so glad that I did. After about three weeks I started feeling so much better. Less episodes and when they came on, they were very mild. I'm only taking 10mg but plan to increase to 20 to see if even more benefits are seen once I get the ok from my doctor."

• nor...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 13, 2016

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome "I suffered from debilitating IBS and was on the brink of having to leave my job on disability as a result. I also had developed severe anxiety. After over a year and many trips to a gastroenterologist, I went to a psychiatrist to treat my IBS-induced anxiety, who prescribed nortriptyline. It was a lifesaver. I have been on it for 2 years and am completely symptom-free. Truly a miracle drug for me. The only reason for a 9 is that on the two occasions when I forgot to take the medicine, I felt very sick. It must be taken EVERY day."

• gmo...
• February 2, 2016

For Migraine Prevention "I've had chronic headaches for 4-5 years and was treating symptoms with OTC meds, which eventually became ineffective. Started having severe migraines about once a week, for which I finally sought a more permanent treatment. Had some undesirable side effects to a few of the initial prescriptions: hair loss, nausea, insomnia, etc. I had a rough start with Nortriptyline. As I increased the dosage, I experienced prolonged drowsiness and some constipation. After a few weeks, the symptoms decreased and my headaches stopped being a daily occurrence. I have had a few migraines since starting, but these have also become less frequent. Maybe from once a week to once a month now. Hoping this works for me long-term and doesn't become ineffective."

• aa8...
• February 21, 2012

For Depression "I had no problem with Nortriptyline. I had to take it in conjunction with Lithium for depression. My problem was when I quit taking it. I'm dizzy, sick to my stomach, I have ringing in my ears, I'm irritated all the time, and I can't sleep. Just be prepared in case you stop taking it too."

• 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."

• kay...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 9, 2025

For Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome "Took many years of extreme episodes and being put on random (even harmful) drugs before finding this on Reddit. Requesting it changed my life. I've been on 50 mg of nortriptyline for years now. Went from 7-day intense episodes admitted in a hospital every other month, gathering many thousands in hospital bills to episode-free and finally able to hold a real career. I have bouts of nausea if I forget to take it for a few days (ADHD), and they have led me into full episodes at times, keeping them in your system is important. They may have made me gain weight in the beginning. I didn't consider them a cause but found out down the road that that can be a side effect. However, this year I lost all of the extra weight I gained over the years, so I think there's a possibility all the weight gain had much more to do with all the episodes of not eating for 7 days and losing 10+ lbs during each episode, and then binge/unhealthy eating when fully better because I'd gone so long without."

• 2dr...
• July 8, 2016

For Migraine Prevention "I have a love/hate relationship with this drug. When I take it, I am headache-free, but if I forget to take it just one time, I have the worst headache imaginable the next day. Like a hangover headache with nausea and dizziness. It is worse than the headaches I had before I started taking the medication. I've also noticed my energy levels are way lower, and I am super constipated every day. The doctor did advise me about the constipation but not the lack of interest in doing things. I am super slow and have literally no energy to do anything. So I am not sure if it is related. I want to try to get off the medicine, but the doctor advises against this. I am not sure what to do."

• 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."

• Wif...
• April 14, 2017

For Migraine Prevention "I've suffered from migraines since my daughter was born in 1967. I was prescribed Cafergot to take at the start of a headache. It worked well for each attack, but had a lot of side effects. I would get migraine episodes from once a week to 3 or 4 times a week. While employed, I would have to go to the ladies' lounge and rest for the period it took to alleviate the pain. Then my blood pressure got out of control, thereby creating another problem. I was having a lot of nausea and vomiting also. After retiring at 50, a new doctor prescribed Amitryptyline. Recently a new doc took me off it and migraines returned with a vengeance. I'm now taking Nortriptyline, and it has worked wonders! No more migraine at all."

• 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."

• 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."

• 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."

• ros...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 21, 2021

For Migraine Prevention "Lots of drowsiness, feeling sick after taking the medicine, headaches didn't stop, for a lot of people here with migraines, head pressure, neck pain, nausea, weakness. Please check with your doctor to see if you have TMJ disorder, occipital neuralgia that can be the cause of all your problems. It's awful, I feel sick constantly because of the TMJ and occipital neuralgia. Hope this helps."

• 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."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 19, 2015

For Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome "I began feeling nauseated years ago, out of nowhere. Whenever I ate, I got sick. Even times I wasn't eating, I'd feel nauseated. I'd get bad migraines that could bring it on or come after the vomiting. So nauseous to the point I was vomiting non-stop and in the ER at least once a month. YEARS went by, and nobody could figure it out. After being diagnosed by doctors at Riley Children's (once I turned 18, they stopped talking to me) and doctors at the Mayo Clinic, I began taking nortriptyline, and it has worked MAGIC. My ER visits are down to a few times a year versus every month."

• Mat...
• January 27, 2017

For Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome "I have had cyclic/chronic vomiting syndrome for 2 years now, and I've only just a few months ago got treatment for it. It works very well, but I still get nauseous sometimes, but haven't vomited since September."

• 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."

• Dan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 11, 2021

For Vulvodynia "Took the pain away immediately after suffering for years of undiagnosed vulvodynia. Side effects: awful, dizzy, nausea, constipation. Past after a week. However, started to get depressed and anxious. Was feeling suicidal. My heart rate elevated. Had to come off, pain returned, but moods improved."

• Jes...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 13, 2021

For Migraine Prevention "Had migraines every day. Started on nortriptyline, and it made me nauseous for two weeks, but then I got used to it, and it made me have a few migraines, like half of what I used to get. However, it took a good two to three months to kick in. Had to go off it, however, because it kept making my heart rate go up high. Coming off this medication was the worst. Nausea and vomiting for about a month due to withdrawals."

• DJ ...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 26, 2022

For Migraine Prevention "I have had a positive experience thus far. Currently taking this for migraines with vertigo symptoms and nausea. The migraines have subsided, as well as the vertigo symptoms. Highly recommended."