Nortriptyline Drug Information

ANTIDEPRESSANTS, TRICYCLIC (Systemic)

Some frequently used brand names are:

In the U.S.—

• Anafranil ³
• Asendin ²
• Aventyl ⁷
• Elavil ¹
• Endep ¹
• Norfranil ⁶
• Norpramin ⁴
• Pamelor ⁷
• Sinequan ⁵
• Surmontil ⁹
• Tipramine ⁶
• Tofranil ⁶
• Tofranil-PM ⁶
• Vivactil ⁸

In Canada—

• Anafranil ³
• Apo-Amitriptyline ¹
• Apo-Imipramine ⁶
• Apo-Trimip ⁹
• Asendin ²
• Aventyl ⁷
• Elavil ¹
• Impril ⁶
• Levate ¹
• Norpramin ⁴
• Novo-Doxepin ⁵
• Novopramine ⁶
• Novo-Tripramine ⁹
• Novotriptyn ¹
• Pertofrane ⁴
• Rhotrimine ⁹
• Sinequan ⁵
• Surmontil ⁹
• Tofranil ⁶
• Triadapin ⁵
• Triptil ⁸

Category

• Antibulimic—Amitriptyline; Clomipramine; Desipramine; Imipramine
• Anticataplectic—Clomipramine; Desipramine; Imipramine; Protriptyline
• Antidepressant—Amitriptyline; Amoxapine; Clomipramine; Desipramine; Doxepin; Imipramine; Nortriptyline; Protriptyline; Trimipramine
• Antienuretic—Amitriptyline; Imipramine Hydrochloride
• Antinarcolepsy adjunct—Imipramine; Protriptyline
• Antineuralgic—Amitriptyline; Clomipramine; Desipramine; Doxepin; Imipramine; Nortriptyline; Trimipramine
• Antiobsessive-compulsive agent—Clomipramine
• Antipanic agent—Clomipramine; Desipramine; Doxepin; Imipramine; Nortriptyline
• Antipruritic—Doxepin
• Antiulcer agent—Amitriptyline; Doxepin; Trimipramine

Description

Tricyclic antidepressants are used to relieve mental depression.

One form of this medicine (imipramine) is also used to treat enuresis (bedwetting) in children. Another form (clomipramine) is used to treat obsessive-compulsive disorders. Tricyclic antidepressants may be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

These medicines are available only with your doctor's prescription, in the following dosage forms:

• Oral
• Amitriptyline
  • Syrup (Canada)
  • Tablets (U.S. and Canada)
• Amoxapine
  • Tablets (U.S. and Canada)
• Clomipramine
  • Capsules (U.S.)
  • Tablets (Canada)
• Desipramine
  • Tablets (U.S. and Canada)
• Doxepin
  • Capsules (U.S. and Canada)
  • Oral solution (U.S.)
• Imipramine
  • Capsules (U.S.)
  • Tablets (U.S. and Canada)
• Nortriptyline
  • Capsules (U.S. and Canada)
  • Oral solution (U.S.)
• Protriptyline
  • Tablets (U.S. and Canada)
• Trimipramine
  • Capsules (U.S. and Canada)
  • Tablets (Canada)

• Parenteral
• Amitriptyline
  • Injection (U.S.)
• Imipramine
  • Injection (U.S.)

Before Using This Medicine

When deciding if it's worth using a medicine, the risk of taking it must be carefully weighed against the benifit it can do. This is the decision you and your doctor are to make together. Concerning tricyclic antidepressants, the following aspects should be taken into account:

Allergies—Inform your doctor if you have ever experienced any unusual or allergic reaction to any tricyclic antidepressant or to carbamazepine, maprotiline, or trazodone. Also tell your doctor if you are allergic to any other substances, like foods, preservatives, dyes.

Pregnancy—Studies have not been done in pregnant women. However, there have been reports of newborns suffering from muscle spasms and heart, breathing, and urinary problems when their mothers had taken tricyclic antidepressants immediately before delivery. Also, studies in animals have shown that some tricyclic antidepressants may cause unwanted effects in the fetus.

Breast-feeding—Tricyclic antidepressants pass into the breast milk. Doxepin has been reported to cause drowsiness in the nursing baby.

Children—Children are especially sensitive to the effects of this medicine. It may increase the probability of having side effects during treatment. However, side effects in children taking this medicine for bedwetting usually disappear upon continued use. The most common of these are nervousness, sleeping problems, tiredness, and mild stomach upset. If these side effects continue or are bothersome, check with your doctor.

Antidepressants must be used with caution in children with depression. Studies have shown occurrences of children thinking about suicide or attempting suicide in clinical trials for this medicine. More study is needed to be sure antidepressants are safe and effective in children

Older adults—Drowsiness, dizziness, confusion, vision problems, dryness of mouth, constipation, and problems in urinating are more likely to occur in elderly patients, who are usually more sensitive than younger adults to the effects of tricyclic antidepressants.

Other medicines—Although some medicines should not be used together at all, there are cases when 2 different medicines maybe used together even if an interaction might occur. In such cases, your doctor may advise you to change the dose, or other precautions may be required. When you are taking a tricyclic antidepressant, it is essential to tell your health care professional if you are taking any of the following:

• Amphetamines or
• Appetite suppressants (diet pills) or
• Ephedrine or
• Epinephrine (e.g., Adrenalin) or
• Isoproterenol (e.g., Isuprel) or
• Medicine for asthma or other breathing problems or
• Medicine for colds, sinus problems, or hay fever or other allergies or
• Phenylephrine (e.g., Neo-Synephrine)—Using these medicines with tricyclic antidepressants may increase the risk of serious effects on the heart

• Antipsychotics (medicine for mental illness) or
• Clonidine (e.g., Catapres)—Using these medicines with tricyclic antidepressants may increase the CNS depressant effects and increase the chance of serious side effects

• Antithyroid agents (medicine for overactive thyroid) or
• Cimetidine (e.g., Tagamet)—Using these medicines with tricyclic antidepressants may increase the chance of serious side effects

• Central nervous system (CNS) depressants (medicine that causes drowsiness)—Using these medicines with tricyclic antidepressants may increase the CNS depressant effects

• Guanadrel (e.g., Hylorel) or
• Guanethidine (e.g., Ismelin)—Tricyclic antidepressants may keep these medicines from working as well

• Methyldopa (e.g., Aldomet) or
• Metoclopramide (e.g., Reglan) or
• Metyrosine (e.g., Demser) or
• Pemoline (e.g., Cylert) or
• Pimozide (e.g., Orap) or
• Promethazine (e.g., Phenergan) or
• Rauwolfia alkaloids (alseroxylon [e.g., Rauwiloid], deserpidine [e.g., Harmonyl], rauwolfia serpentina [e.g., Raudixin], reserpine [e.g., Serpasil]) or
• Trimeprazine (e.g., Temaril)—Tricyclic antidepressants may cause certain side effects to be more severe and occur more often

• Metrizamide—The risk of seizures may be increased

• Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor activity (isocarboxazid [e.g., Marplan], isocarboxazid [e.g., Marplan], phenelzine [e.g., Nardil], procarbazine [e.g., Matulane], selegiline [e.g., Eldepryl], tranylcypromine [e.g., Parnate])—Taking tricyclic antidepressants while you are taking or within 2 weeks of taking MAO inhibitors may cause sudden high body temperature, extremely high blood pressure, severe convulsions, and death; however, sometimes certain of these medicines may be used together under close supervision by your doctor

Other medical problems—The existence of other medical problems may influence the use of /tricyclic antidepressants. You should tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, in particular::

• Alcohol abuse (or history of)—Drinking alcohol may cause increased CNS depressant effects

• Asthma or
• Bipolar disorder (manic-depressive illness) or
• Blood disorders or
• Convulsions (seizures) or
• Difficult urination or
• Enlarged prostate or
• Glaucoma or increased eye pressure or
• Heart disease or
• High blood pressure (hypertension) or
• Schizophrenia—Tricyclic antidepressants may make the condition worse

• Kidney disease or
• Liver disease—Higher blood levels of tricyclic antidepressants may result, increasing the chance of side effects

• Overactive thyroid or
• Stomach or intestinal problems—Tricyclic antidepressants may cause an increased chance of serious side effects

Proper Use of This Medicine

To lessen stomach upset, take this medicine with food, even for a daily bedtime dose, unless your doctor has told you to take it on an empty stomach.

Take this medicine only as directed by your doctor , to benefit your condition as much as possible. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered.

Sometimes this medicine must be taken for several weeks before you begin to feel better . Your doctor should check your progress at regular visits.

To use doxepin oral solution :

• This medicine is to be taken by mouth even though it comes in a dropper bottle. The amount you should take should be measured with the dropper provided with your prescription and diluted just before you take each dose. Dilute each dose with about one-half glass (4 ounces) of water, milk, citrus fruit juice, tomato juice, or prune juice. Do not mix this medicine with grape juice or carbonated beverages since these may decrease the medicine's effectiveness.
• Doxepin oral solution must be mixed immediately before you take it. Do not prepare it ahead of time.

Dosing—The dose of tricyclic antidepressants will vary for different patients. Adhere to the orders of your doctor or the instructions on the label . The information below includes only the average doses of tricyclic antidepressants. If your dose differs, you should not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The number of capsules or tablets, or the amount of solution or syrup that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are taking tricyclic antidepressants .

• For amitriptyline
• For tablet dosage form:
  • For depression:
    • Adults—At first, 25 milligrams (mg) two to four times a day. Your doctor may increase your dose gradually as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 150 mg a day, unless you are in the hospital. Some hospitalized patients may need higher doses.
    • Teenagers—At first, 10 mg three times a day, and 20 mg at bedtime. Your doctor may increase your dose gradually as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 100 mg a day.
    • Children 6 to 12 years of age—10 to 30 mg a day.
    • Children up to 6 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
    • Older adults— At first, 25 mg at bedtime. Your doctor may increase your dose gradually as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 100 mg a day.
• For syrup dosage form:
  • For depression:
    • Adults—At first, 25 mg two to four times a day. Your doctor may increase your dose gradually as needed.
    • Teenagers—At first, 10 mg three times a day, and 20 mg at bedtime. Your doctor may increase your dose gradually as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 100 mg a day.
    • Children 6 to 12 years of age—10 to 30 mg a day.
    • Children up to 6 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
    • Older adults—At first, 10 mg three times a day, and 20 mg at bedtime. Your doctor may increase your dose gradually as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 100 mg a day.
• For injection dosage form:
  • For depression:
    • Adults—20 to 30 mg four times a day, injected into a muscle.
    • Children up to 12 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

• For amoxapine
• For tablet dosage form:
  • For depression:
    • Adults—At first, 50 milligrams (mg) two to three times a day. Your doctor may increase your dose gradually as needed.
    • Children up to 16 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
    • Older adults—At first, 25 mg two to three times a day. Your doctor may increase your dose gradually as needed.

• For clomipramine
• For capsule or tablet dosage forms:
  • For obsessive-compulsive disorders:
    • Adults—At first, 25 milligrams (mg) once a day. Your doctor may increase your dose gradually as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 250 mg a day, unless you are in the hospital. Some hospitalized patients may need higher doses.
    • Teenagers and children 10 years of age and over—At first, 25 mg once a day. Your doctor may increase your dose gradually as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 200 mg a day.
    • Children up to 10 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
    • Older adults—At first, 20 to 30 mg a day. Your doctor may increase your dose gradually as needed.

• For desipramine
• For tablet dosage form:
  • For depression:
    • Adults—100 to 200 milligrams (mg) a day. Your doctor may increase your dose gradually as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 300 mg a day.
    • Teenagers—25 to 50 mg a day. Your doctor may increase your dose gradually as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 100 mg a day.
    • Children 6 to 12 years of age—10 to 30 mg a day.
    • Older adults—25 to 50 mg a day. Your doctor may increase your dose gradually as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 150 mg a day.

• For doxepin
• For capsule or solution dosage forms:
  • For depression:
    • Adults—At first, 25 milligrams (mg) three times a day. Your doctor may increase your dose gradually as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 150 mg a day, unless you are in the hospital. Some hospitalized patients may need higher doses.
    • Children up to 12 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
    • Older adults—At first, 25 to 50 mg a day. Your doctor may increase your dose gradually as needed.

• For imipramine
• For tablet dosage form:
  • For depression:
    • Adults—25 to 50 milligrams (mg) three to four times a day. Your doctor may increase your dose gradually as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 200 mg a day, unless you are in the hospital. Some hospitalized patients may need higher doses.
    • Adolescents—25 to 50 mg a day. Your doctor may increase your dose gradually as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 100 mg a day.
    • Children 6 to 12 years of age—10 to 30 mg a day.
    • Children up to 6 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
    • Older adults—At first, 25 mg at bedtime. Your doctor may increase your dose gradually as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 100 mg a day.
  • For bedwetting:
    • Children—25 mg once a day, taken one hour before bedtime. Your doctor may increase the dose as needed, based on the child's age.
• For capsule dosage form:
  • For depression:
    • Adults—At first, 75 mg a day taken at bedtime. Your doctor may increase your dose gradually as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 200 mg a day, unless you are in the hospital. Some hospitalized patients may need higher doses.
    • Children up to 12 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
• For injection dosage form:
  • For depression:
    • Adults—Dose must be determined by your doctor. It is injected into a muscle. The dose is usually not more than 300 mg a day.
    • Children up to 12 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

• For nortriptyline
• For capsule or solution dosage forms:
  • For depression:
    • Adults—25 milligrams (mg) three to four times a day. Your doctor may increase your dose gradually as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 150 mg a day.
    • Teenagers—25 to 50 mg a day. Your doctor may increase your dose gradually as needed.
    • Children 6 to 12 years of age—10 to 20 mg a day.
    • Older adults—30 to 50 mg a day. Your doctor may increase your dose gradually as needed.

• For protriptyline
• For tablet dosage form:
  • For depression:
    • Adults—At first, 5 to 10 milligrams (mg) three to four times a day. Your doctor may increase your dose gradually as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 60 mg a day.
    • Teenagers—At first, 5 mg three times a day. Your doctor may increase your dose gradually as needed.
    • Children up to 12 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
    • Older adults—At first, 5 mg three times a day. Your doctor may increase your dose gradually as needed.

• For trimipramine
• For capsule or tablet dosage forms:
  • For depression:
    • Adults—At first, 75 milligrams (mg) a day. Your doctor may increase your dose as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 200 mg a day, unless you are hospitalized. Some hospitalized patients may need higher doses.
    • Teenagers—At first, 50 mg a day. Your doctor may increase your dose gradually as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 100 mg a day.
    • Children up to 12 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
    • Older adults—At first, 50 mg a day. Your doctor may increase your dose gradually as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 100 mg a day.

Missed dose—If you miss a dose of this medicine and your dosing schedule is:

• One dose a day at bedtime—Do not take the missed dose in the morning since it may cause disturbing side effects during waking hours. Instead, check with your doctor.
• More than one dose a day—Take the missed dose as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose, and go back to your regular dosing schedule. You should not double doses.

If you have any questions about this, check with your doctor.

Storage—To store this medicine properly, follow the instructions below:

• Keep out of the reach of children. Overdose of this medicine is very dangerous in young children.
• Store away from heat and direct light.
• Do not store the tablet or capsule form of this medicine in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down.
• Keep the liquid form of this medicine from freezing.
• Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.

Precautions While Using This Medicine

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to allow dosage adjustments and to help reduce side effects.

This medicine will add to the effects of alcohol and other CNS depressants (medicines that make you drowsy or less alert). Some examples of CNS depressants are antihistamines or medicine for hay fever, other allergies, or colds; sedatives, tranquilizers, or sleeping medicine; prescription pain medicine or narcotics; barbiturates; medicine for seizures; muscle relaxants; or anesthetics, including some dental anesthetics. Check with your medical doctor or dentist before taking any of the above while you are taking this medicine .

Antidepressants may cause some people to be agitated, irritable or display other abnormal behaviors. It may also cause some people to have suicidal thoughts and tendencies or to become more depressed. If you or your caregiver notice any of these adverse effects, tell your doctor right away.

This medicine may cause some people to become drowsy. If this occurs, do not drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are not alert .

Dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting may occur , especially when you get up from a lying or sitting position. Getting up slowly may help. If this problem continues or gets worse, check with your doctor.

This medicine may cause dryness of the mouth. For temporary relief, use sugarless gum or candy, melt bits of ice in your mouth, or use a saliva substitute . However, if your mouth continues to feel dry for more than 2 weeks, check with your medical doctor or dentist. Continuing dryness of the mouth may increase the chance of dental disease, including tooth decay, gum disease, and fungus infections.

Tricyclic antidepressants may cause your skin to be more sensitive to sunlight than it is normally. Exposure to sunlight, even for brief periods of time, may cause a skin rash, itching, redness or other discoloration of the skin, or a severe sunburn. When you begin taking this medicine:

• Stay out of direct sunlight, especially between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., if possible.
• Wear protective clothing, including a hat. Also, wear sunglasses.
• Apply a sun block product that has a skin protection factor (SPF) of at least 15. Some patients may require a product with a higher SPF number, especially if they have a fair complexion. If you have any questions about this, check with your health care professional.
• Apply a sun block lipstick that has an SPF of at least 15 to protect your lips.
• Do not use a sunlamp or tanning bed or booth.

If you have a severe reaction from the sun, check with your doctor .

Before you have any medical tests, tell the medical doctor in charge that you are taking this medicine. The results of the metyrapone test may be affected by this medicine.

Before having any kind of surgery, dental treatment, or emergency treatment, tell the medical doctor or dentist in charge that you are using this medicine . Taking tricyclic antidepressants together with medicines used during surgery or dental or emergency treatments may increase the risk of side effects.

For diabetic patients :

• This medicine may affect blood sugar levels. If you notice a change in the results of your blood or urine sugar tests or if you have any questions, check with your doctor.

Do not stop taking this medicine without first checking with your doctor . Your doctor may want you to reduce gradually the amount you are using before stopping completely. This may help prevent a possible worsening of your condition and reduce the possibility of withdrawal symptoms such as headache, nausea, and/or an overall feeling of discomfort.

The effects of this medicine may last for 3 to 7 days after you have stopped taking it . Therefore, all the precautions stated here must be observed during this time.

For patients taking protriptyline :

• If taken late in the day, protriptyline may interfere with nighttime sleep.

Side Effects of This Medicine

Alongside with its expected effects, any medicine may be the cause of some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may happen, if they do happen they may require medical attention.

Other side effects that may occur generally do not require any medical attention. These side effects may disappear in the course of treatment as your body gets used to the medicine. Nevertheless, inform your doctor if any of the side effects below persist or became annoying:

Certain side effects of this medicine may occur after you have stopped taking it. Check with your doctor if you notice any of the following effects:

Other side effects not listed above also may occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor.

Additional Information

Once a drug has been approved for marketing for certain cases, experience may show that it can also be applied to treatment of some other medical problems. Although these uses are not included in product labeling, tricyclic antidepressants are used in certain patients with the following medical conditions:

• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (hyperactivity in children) (desipramine, imipramine, and protriptyline)
• Bulimia (uncontrolled eating, followed by vomiting) (amitriptyline, clomipramine, desipramine, and imipramine)
• Cocaine withdrawal (desipramine and imipramine)
• Headache prevention (for certain types of frequent or continuing headaches) (most tricyclic antidepressants)
• Itching with hives due to cold temperature exposure (doxepin)
• Narcolepsy (extreme tendency to fall asleep suddenly) (clomipramine, desipramine, imipramine, and protriptyline)
• Neurogenic pain (a type of continuing pain) (amitriptyline, clomipramine, desipramine, doxepin, imipramine, nortriptyline, and trimipramine)
• Nicotine dependence (as an aid to other smoking cessationn therapy) (nortriptyline)
• Panic disorder (clomipramine, desipramine, doxepin, nortriptyline, and trimipramine)
• Stomach ulcer (amitriptyline, doxepin, and trimipramine)
• Urinary incontinence (imipramine)

There is no additional information concerning proper use, precautions, or side effects for these uses other than the above.