Nortriptyline

About nortriptyline

Nortriptyline is a medicine used for treating nerve pain.

Occasionally, it's also used to treat depression and bedwetting in children (nocturnal enuresis) .

Nortriptyline is available on prescription. It comes as tablets.

Key facts

Who can and cannot take nortriptyline

Most adults can take nortriptyline. Teenagers aged 12 to 17 years can take it for depression.

Children aged 6 to 17 years old can also take it for bedwetting but other medicines are used first which have less side effects.

Nortriptyline is not suitable for some people. Check with your doctor before starting to take nortriptyline if you:

How and when to take nortriptyline

You'll usually take nortriptyline once a day. If you take it once a day, it's best to take it before you go to bed as it can make you feel sleepy. If you find that it's affecting your sleep, you could try taking it earlier in the evening.

This medicine does not usually upset your stomach. You can take it with or without food.

Swallow the tablets whole, with a drink of water. If you chew them, they taste bitter.

Dosage and strength

Nortriptyline tablets come in 3 different strengths, 10mg, 25mg or 50mg.

The usual dose to treat nerve pain in adults is 10mg a day. This can be increased if necessary. The maximum dose of nortriptyline for treating pain is 75mg a day, but this is only under the supervision of a pain specialist.

For depression in adults, the dose is increased gradually to between 75mg and 100mg a day. It can be increased to a maximum dose of 150mg a day if a specialist prescribes it.

For depression in teenagers (12 to 17 years), the dose is usually increased gradually to 30mg to 50mg a day, but higher doses may be needed.

What if I forget to take it?

If you forget a dose, take it as soon as you remember, unless it's nearly time for your next dose. In this case, just leave out the missed dose and take your next dose at the usual time.

Never take 2 doses at the same time to make up for a forgotten dose.

If you often forget doses, it may help to set an alarm to remind you. You could also ask your pharmacist for advice on other ways to help you remember to take your medicine.

What if I take too much?

Contact 111 for advice now if:

  • you take more than your usual dose of nortriptyline

Go to 111.nhs.uk or call 111

Taking too much nortriptyline can cause serious side effects such as a change in your heartbeat, or you may have a seizure or fit.

Side effects

Like all medicines, nortriptyline can cause side effects in some people, but many people have no side effects or only minor ones.

Some of the common side effects of nortriptyline will gradually improve as your body gets used to the medicine.

Common side effects

Doses of nortriptyline for pain are lower than the doses for depression. This means the common side effects tend to be milder and go away within a few days.

Keep taking the medicine but talk to your doctor or pharmacist if these side effects bother you or do not go away:

Serious side effects

It happens rarely, but some people have a serious side effect after taking nortriptyline.

Contact a doctor if:

Call 999 or go to A&E if:

  • you have weakness on one side of your face or body, trouble speaking or thinking, loss of balance or blurred eyesight – these can be signs of a stroke
  • you have a seizure or fit
  • you get severe chest pain – this can be a sign of a heart attack

Serious allergic reaction

In rare cases, it's possible to have a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to nortriptyline.

These are not all the side effects of nortriptyline. For a full list see the leaflet inside your medicines packet.

How to cope with side effects of nortriptyline

What to do about:

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Nortriptyline and pregnancy

You may be advised to continue taking nortriptyline during pregnancy, especially if you take it to treat depression.

Speak to your doctor if you become pregnant while taking nortriptyline. Do not stop taking your medicine unless your doctor tells you to.

Your doctor can explain the risks and benefits of taking nortriptyline and will help you choose the best treatment for you and your baby.

Nortriptyline and breastfeeding

If your doctor or health visitor says your baby is healthy, you can use nortriptyline while breastfeeding.

Notriptyline passes into breast milk in very small amounts so it's unlikely to cause any harm to your baby.

If you are being treated for depression it's important to continue taking nortriptyline to keep you well. Breastfeeding will also benefit both you and your baby.

If you notice that your baby is not feeding as well as usual, or seems unusually sleepy, or if you have any other concerns about your baby, then talk to your health visitor or doctor as soon as possible.

For more information about how nortriptyline can affect you and your baby during pregnancy, read this leaflet on the Best Use of Medicines in Pregnancy (BUMPs) website.

Cautions with other medicines

Many medicines taken with nortriptyline can affect each other and increase the chance of side effects.

Always check with your doctor or a pharmacist before starting any new medicine while you are taking nortriptyline.

Taking opioid-based medicines, like codeine, morphine or oxycodone, together with nortriptyline can increase your risk of becoming very drowsy and having breathing problems.

Tell your doctor if you have ever taken any medicines for depression. Some antidepressants can affect the way nortriptyline works and cause very high blood pressure. This can happen even after you have stopped taking them.

Mixing nortriptyline with herbal remedies and supplements

Do not take St John's wort, the herbal remedy for depression, while you are being treated with nortriptyline. It will increase your risk of side effects.

There's very little information about taking nortriptyline with other herbal remedies and supplements. They are not tested in the same way as medicines.

Common questions about nortriptyline

How does nortriptyline work? How long does it take to work? How will nortriptyline make me feel? What if I do not feel better? How long will I take nortriptyline for? Can I take nortriptyline long term? Is nortriptyline addictive? What will happen when I stop taking it? Can I take nortriptyline with other painkillers? Will it affect my sex life? How is nortriptyline different to other medicines for nerve pain? How is it different to other antidepressants? Will I gain or lose weight? Can I drink alcohol with it? Are there foods and drinks I should avoid? Will it affect my contraception? Will it affect my fertility? Can I drive or ride a bike? Will recreational drugs affect nortriptyline?