Nortriptyline

Nortriptyline is a tricyclic antidepressant. It is also marketed under the brand names Aventyl and Pamelor.

Potential uses
Nortriptyline is licensed for use for clinical depression, and may be used off-label for anxiety, insomnia or sleep problems, nerve pain or chronic pain.

Evidence
A Cochrane review in 2015 found insufficient evidence to recommend nortriptyline for nerve pain in adults.

The medical practitioners' primer for the International Consensus Criteria of myalgic encephalomyelitis suggests nortriptyline may be useful for pain in patients with ME/CFS, but suggests other drugs for sleep problems and secondary depression. There is more evidence for the use of nortriptyline in fibromyalgia.

Risks and safety
Side effects can be severe.

Costs and availability
Nortriptyline is an inexpensive prescription-only medicine.

Learn more

 * Nortriptyline: MedlinePlus Drug Information
 * Nortriptyline - drugs.com