Nortriptyline

From MEpedia, a crowd-sourced encyclopedia of ME and CFS science and history

Nortriptyline is a tricyclic antidepressant.[1] It is also marketed under the brand names Aventyl and Pamelor.[1]

Theory[edit | edit source]

Potential uses[edit | edit source]

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.[2][3]

Evidence[edit | edit source]

A Cochrane review in 2015 found insufficient evidence to recommend nortriptyline for nerve pain in adults.[4]

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.[5]

Risks and safety[edit | edit source]

Side effects can be severe.[5]

Costs and availability[edit | edit source]

Nortriptyline is an inexpensive prescription-only medicine.

Learn more[edit | edit source]

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]