Been on nortriptaline for over 2 years for head/scalp nerve pain. Coming down slowly from 80mg now on 35mg. Feeling "rough" today, otherwise no symptoms coming down in dosage. I hope that my condition which is less frequent in the last year will not increase once I come off the nortiptaline. Tried all sorts of medication, gabapentin, pregabalin, topiramate to no avail.
I would like to manage without the nortriptaline so that my stomach pain and drowsiness would disappear and I would feel normal again.
I've been on 20 mg of Noritriptylene for about 8 years now . I've always had a fast resting heart rate while on it (that's why doc decreased from 40 to 20 mg). But I'm starting to have some tingliness in my toes and balance issues, so I'm wondering if it's the Nori. But I also have a disc issues in my cervical spine so was also thinking it could be that, which I pray is not! Anyway, wondering if anyone on this board has successfully weaned themselves off the Nori... Kind of worried that headaches will be more severe by tapering and getting off of it, because I think the Nori helped minimize of migraine pain, but worried about other problems the Nori might cause. Any feedback here is appreciated!
Hi, I've been on Nortriptyline for about 3 years for migraines. Recently I've been getting dizzy/fainting.
I don't know that I believe the Nortriptyline is the cause. My doctor had me stop taking Nortriptyline (25mg) abruptly back in November. This was prior to me finding out later I should have weaned off of it "slowly".
It's been nearly 2 months and my painful 4-5 day migraines are back. I called his office and his nurse told me to start taking it again but take half my normal daily dosage (12.5 mg) which is hard to do with a capsule. I just went back to my 1/day 25 MG capsules. It's been a week and I've had a horrible migraine every day since my body is now used to being "off of it" since early November.
I'd rather have the "occasional" dizzy feelings than the horrible migraines like the one I have right now going on Day 6.
I would give your doctor a call. It is unsafe to stop cold-turkey like that. You are playing with brain neuro-transmitters. They typically want to wean you off slowly so your body can adjust without trauma. Best to you.
I know it's been awhile since you've posted but hoping you might still see this... I took norti for the same thing (facial and jaw pain) for several years. It helped for awhile but lately it hadn't helped much (& I had all the heart racing, along with other side effects), so I recently stopped taking it. Just wondered if you had any success with any supplements to help alleviate the head and jaw pain?
Hello, everyone! I have been taking 175 mg of nortriptylin for at least a year with some success. It has been giving me anxiety and I now am in the process of weaning myself off of this dosage. My mother warned me of a few possible withdrawl symptoms, the main applying to me (so all I really remember) being a flu like feeling, dizziness or tunnel vision, and insomnia. These have all been occurring as a reduce my dosage and I've actually had to increase my dosage to slow down these effects. After reading through this forum, I can look back on days I felt similar symptoms and will definitely be more aware of what's happening now. Another interesting fact my family doctor told my mom is that the weaning process would take 3-4 months, maybe more. Hope this will be able to help someone! And if anyone has any questions, I can always ask my mom, she's a worrier and seems to have found every article ever written about nortriptylin, it's side effects, and withdrawl symptoms.
I have been on 50mg of Nortirptylene for Vestibular Migraine related symptoms for nearly a year, prior to that Amnitriptylene, but that would make me feel tired every morning. I have struggled with heart palpitations and am now reducing my dose by 5 mg per week. The doctor had prescribed gabapentin but I will not start that until fully off Nor so I can see the difference in side effects. I benefit from it for IBS too and have noticed coming off has increased symptoms but being careful with diet might help e.g. Low FODMAP. I also believe my hair is a lot thinner than before too. For the palpitation I have seen a few cardiologists, I actually ended up with Ventricular Tachacardia, too bit this may have been cause by other medications. Cardiologist don't believe there is a link but coming off the Nor will let me know. Side effects I have experienced, the random muscle spasms especially on the face, sharp head pain (though this is momentary), increased anxiety etc all common by the sounds of it. I am sure everyone will get through it, just don't rush reducing dosage, it isn't good for you.
I just came across this forum and noticed like yourself I have been on 25mg daily nortriptyline for over 8 years now. I had an acoustic neuroma removed from my inner ear in 2008 and my doctor (neurologist) prescribed this med for my severe migraines. As of 4 months ago I started getting breakthrough migraines and 2 weeks ago had a head concussion which put my body in constant migraine mode. I started looking at this drug and see I experience almost every side effect 😠 I am going to my doctor this coming Wednesday to look into weaning off this drug. I am currently experiencing major numbness and tingling in my hands and feet ,nauseous, stomach pain vomiting severe dizziness etc. And I think 8 years of buildup has taken it's toll...i was wondering since it's been 7 months since you posted this if you had successfully gotten off your 20mgs yet and if so how and are you finding relief? Thanks Tish ☺
I don't think a low dosage of 10 mg and being on it just a month would cause you similar withdrawal symptoms I experienced last fall. I'd check with your doctor to be safe.
My doctor didn't advise me at all to wean off of Nortriptyline slowly which caused my serious migraines to come back a month later. I sent him the message through his medical assistant and told him I'm going back on them. 25 mg - 1/day.
I am sorry you have to go back onto it Cindy what dose were you on when you stopped taking it .Think I will just try stopping and see hoow I go its a low dose and not been on it long so fingers crossed
i have been taking Nortrptyline for a few years, for nerve pain associated with my M-S. Was up to 90mg. Decided to reduce, but the local doctor I was under at the time, I had shifted doctors from when I first started taking. Had no idea of what it could do, if I reduced. So we cut the amount by half. Result, I completely lost contact with myself, for about 2min. This is a long time, when you find yourself in a busy train station not knowing what you are doing, why you are there or even who you are. I still didn't know it was the Nortrptyline. Changed Dr's yet again, for something else. When I did eventually read the side affects, it rang a lot of bells. So I approached this new Dr about coming off. Decided to do it slowly and carefully. Came gradually down to half a tablet every second day. Got a lot of pain in the knees, that woke me up at 5am, that I associate with the half tablet. I found meditation helped ease the pain, and within a few hours there wasn't any. Am off the medication completely 4 days ago. Still get early morning pain, but it is decreasing .
Hi Jac, it sounds like you have a CSF leak. I am currently going through treatment for mine and had to have a blood patch completed. Mine are not caused by typical means, so my situation is different, but many people get them after a spinal tap or epidural and don't know that they have them. They come with debilitating headaches and a ton of other stuff. Not sure if you're still suffering, but definitely something to look into. I was being treated for migraines when I really had this going on and am currently weaning off of my Notrip. Hope this reaches you.
Hi all, I've been following this link and it has helped enormously. I was on 10mg Nortrip for 8 months for facial nerve pain, decided to slowly cut down so went on 5mg and all hell broke loose with me ticking all withdrawal symptoms. 2 months on and down to 4mg and left with a residual dizzy/lightheaded, drunkish feeling and overwhelming exhaustion. Can you advise me if you had these leftover feelings even after two months. Pharmacist told me today keep going very slowly but warned me it could go bad again after I pop the very last 2mg. Thanks
I suffer from vestibular migraines. I also had significant hair thinning when I first started on Nortriptyline about one year ago. I was on 75mg everyday with sumatriptan as a rescue. I also experienced 20 pound weight gain, increased heart rate with palpitations, constipation, urination issues and was just tired and lazy 😂. However, it did help with frequency and intensity in the beginning. It stopped working and I knew all they were going to do is increase my daily intake again. Well, I’m not having it. I’m sick of being on pills that only slightly help and give me a dozen other issues on top of it. I started weaning myself off a few weeks ago and took my last this Tuesday. I’m still on the struggle bus and in withdraw. Thought I had the flu without the vomiting until I read all of your posts. If the 8.25 day estimate to clean your body of it, I’m almost there. I’ll just rely on my rescue med when I need it. I’m not dealing with all those side effects. Good Luck in your journey!
Hi Heather. I’m off the gear now but ended up halving the 10mg to 5 then shaving off scraps every day down to a crumb and didn’t have any withdrawals after I took the last scrap. But I did 4 to 0 over 6 weeks. I learned my lesson going from 10 to 5 without being aware of withdrawals. It has made me sooo weary of other meds. Good luck with it all and the reason you are taking allegron.