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Misc Nortriptyline - Any good medically?

OpiatEuphoria

OpiatEuphoria

Bluelighter
Joined
Jun 21, 2008
Messages
52
Location
Fresno, CA
So I went to my doctors today and got a script for 30mg Adderall twice a day. Klonopin 0.5mg twice a day, and Nortriptyline 25mg once a night. I am weaning off of klonopin eventually so that was the reason why they prescribed me that crap. I have Social Anxiety Disorder. Will thise medication help me at all. I take Suboxone 1mg Daily also, under the doctor's table.
 
Nortriptyline (Pamelor) is a TCA, a type of anti-depressant which works on serotonin and norepinephrine. TCA's, however, do not only inhibit the re-uptake of serotonin and norepinephrine, but also have anti-histamine, anti-psychotic, and other properties all of which make them do what they do. TCA's are generally sedating, especially when a patient first begins to use them, and in time the sedation seems to lessen. TCA's can help with depression, anxiety, sleep, pain, and more. They are drugs which can be of potential use. Whether or not Pamelor is a good option for you I do not know, but I am guessing it was prescribed to help you sleep for when you begin tapering off the Klonopin, and I would not prescribe it for this purpose. While TCA's like Pamelor can be sedating, they lower the seizure threshold, as does discontinuation of benzos like Klonopin. I am not saying it is definitely good or bad for you to take, because there could be other reasons such as your SAD that you were prescribed it. There is no recreational value in it, and if you do take it, take it as prescribed for TCA's can be somewhat dangerous at higher doses, although 25 mg is a rather low dose. You could try it for a week or two, and see how you feel. It might help with the anxiety. When you do start tapering off the Klonopin, do so slowly. Always taper very slowly when it comes to benzos, even though you aren't a very high dose.
 
It might. It's a tricyclic anti-depressant (TCA). If you've been prescribed it, seems sensible to try to it unless you have a good reason not to.

If you're going to take drugs that your doctor isn't aware of, I suggest you do some research into those which are contraindicated by TCA usage. I recall from my own usage that in general they have some activity at the 5HT receptors and inhibit the transport of the SERT, DAT and NET to varying degrees, but that specifically Nortriptyline's affinity at the transporter sites is fairly weak relative to other TCAs. Check this though as this is just from memory. Hopefully someone more knowledgeable can elaborate.
 
the tricky thing with all antidepressants is that brain chemistry differs widely from person to person, so these medications are basically a shot in the dark. i have a pretty pronounced anxiety disorder, coupled with unipolar depression, and i've literally been prescribed every class of antidepressant there is. only selegiline in combination with phenylalanine produced mild relief from depression. venlafaxine, which my psychiatrist described like it was the panacea to all my troubles just did... next to nothing. tcas just made me lethargic as fuck, and ssris fucked my gastro intestinal tract awefully, made sex a chore and induced chain smoking. my cousin for example though has had psychiatric disorders similar in severity and symptoms to mine, and was completely cured by sertraline. yes, i couldn't believe it either.
so, the point of this long winded post is, when it comes to psych meds, it's all trial and error.

also, i thought SNRI's and SSRI's were first line antidepressants for anxiety disorders? not that i advocate their use, i just find it strange that your doctor would prescribe a TCA
 
Yeah I thought it was weird too. It's a new doctor, I finally got good insurance. But yeah, I've been prescribed the Adderall for 5 years and the Klonopin for 3 1/2 - 4 Years. Now he says the benzos are mostly for short term use and the Nortriplyine would "calm my nerves" at night. He wants me to take 7 days of 25mg/once a night, then 50mg/once a night for the next week. Then I have a appointment with him in two weeks to seee how the medication is working. I DO NOT want to be on an anti-depressant and I certainly don't need an opiate, benzo AND anti-depressant dependance. And the doctor said it wouldn't cause a dependance or have a withdrawal from. Bullshit. These medications scare the shit outta me, but I don't want to take benzos my whole life and never be able to get off them. I have a bunch of 50mg and 100mg Zolofts sitting around. I would probably prefer that to taking this what the doctor said "old school" medication that could fuck me up worse. He said it was all trial and error so I'll probably end up staying on Klonopin or just eventually settling on the right pill.
 
I have never tried an AD. Any. SSRI's, MAOI's, etc. None of them, too scared. But now I'm thinking they would actually help. I'm 21 with no job, car and a pregnant girlfriend. I feel lethargic, ambition-less and almost no motivation everyday. Constant anxiety also. Wondering if 6 months or so of using this medication will help me de-cloud my head and push me in the right direction like getting a job, car and feeling good day after day. Any thoughts?
 
well, most antidepressant really are mild in the withdrawal they produce, nowhere comparable to benzos. with the exception of venlafaxine. that has withdrawal symptoms right up there with hard drugs. generally, like i've said so very often, there is no reason to take benzos daily, unless you really want to become physically addicted.
by rule of thumb, antidepressants are not a tenth as scary as benzos. trust me on this.
also, should you have trouble sleeping, TCAs usually are quite useful as a sleep aid, so there's always that.
i cannot stress this enough, no GABA agonist should be taken daily, regardless of what a doctor might say. keep the clonazepam as a last resort for when your anxiety levels become unmanageable and realize that benzodiazepines are among the most addictive substances on earth. generally, i'd say at least try a few antidepressants, you really have nothing to lose. if they don't work, well, fuck it, and if they do all the better. like i said, my cousin really experienced 100% remission from sertraline so it can't hurt to at least try a few, see if one improves your overall mental state.
i'd stay away from venlafaxine though.
 
That sounds real. Yeah I'm going to try and head into town today and pick up all my meds, including the Nortriptyline. I am going to try it, hopefully today. I want to start this medication ASAP so I can find out all the pros/cons of it. I don't want to be on it forever, nor the klonopin or suboxone. But I am starting to enjoy a small dose of Adderall and I think I'm going to start taking that med again. Basically, I think taking about 15mg Adderall, 0.5mg Klonopin and 1mg Suboxone in the morning, then take the same dose of Adderall and Klonopin once again in the afternoon, then take the Nortriptyline 25mg before I go to bed. Probably won't keep taking the Adderall everyday, just a few times a week. I don't like taking that everyday, even years and years ago when I did take it for about a week out of every month I got the script, I din't really like it after the 2nd or 3rd day. So hopefully this new drug will help me slowly taper off of the Suboxone and then in a few months the Klonopin taper will begin. I honestly just want to feel better and get off the drugs they started me on a while ago. Anyone have any good experience with Nortriptyline? I've been researching TCA's and Nortriptyline on Erowid, Wiki, Bluelight and anywhere else that seems good sourced. I basically want to feel fine everyday. Not in a constant small amount of anxiety all day, along with lethargic-ness and pure boredom. I want motivation and ambition back!!! But not through getting high. Been trying that for 4 or 5 years. Doesn't work at all. Thanks for all the advice and everything Bluelighters! Hope to keep hearing things from this thread. I want to get every bit of information on this before the pills go down the tube.
 
Btw, he mentioned venlafaxine but that's Effoxor. FUCK THAT. Never. I hate ADs anyway, that is like the worst one. Then again I've never taken an ADs so I can't fairly say I hate them. Just fear of what they might do to me long term or addiction to them or anything that might hurt me mentally or physcially when I'm a 21 year old that doesn't really have any problems besides drug addiction and anxiety (Yes, before the drug addiction settled in). So I think taking the AD short term will help push me in the right direction and start doing something constructive with my life so I can live without the pills. I love this forum. Been reading it for over 5 years and I finally started posting a few months ago and it was totally worth it.

Also, I found a bunch of other AD pills in my drawers. I have about a month supply of Celexa and Zoloft each. And topamax, which I read a while ago kinda helps benzo withdrawal. I'd rather have the doctor script me lyrica or gabapentin for the withdrawal from klonopin. I can get Nuerotin and Lyrica on the street btw, in case I should stock up on those for the Klonopin taper.
 
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So I've been on Nortriptyline for 4 days now. Don't feel much change. Wanting to take another 25mg dose to make it 50mgs tonight. Think it's a good idea. I start my 50mg a night dosage in two days so I think it wouldnt hurt anything too much. I have noticed a change in body temp but that's it. Otherwise things have been pretty good. I feel less anxiety but not too much better than I thought.
 
well off course you won't. it's not how they work. a certain amount of the drug has to accumulate for it to have any effect. they usually start to work around 4-6 weeks, but it's a bit different for everyone.
also, while i agree that venlafaxine is a cruel joke and not a useful medication, antidepressants can help, for me they usually don't, and a 100% remission like with my cousin is also pretty rare. for most people it falls between that, i still use high dose mirtazapine and even though the antidepressant effect they have on me is rather small, they've pretty much cured my insomnia. and they're benign in WD, didn't have any for a few days last month and aside from feeling a bit more down and sad than usual i was pretty much okay.
really, i'd rather take tranylcypramine than venlafaxine again.
 
Really? So I take a pill for over a month, basically to where I develop a dependence to it, then it might start to work by then? That sucks. I feel changes such as less anxiety, my suboxone dose is lessened now because it has been too much to take 2mgs of Suboxone with Nortriptyline, it potentiates it quite a bit. Overall I feel better than I did and no side effects yet except for the body temp change which isn't anything and I really don't feel it today and vivid dreams. Last night I dreamt I had a bottle of 30mg Roxi's that the pharmacist gave me instead of my Klonopin. Was AWESOME, until I woke up : ( But it was so vivid that I actually saw the imprints and everything. It was extremely detailed. But anyway, I'm glad the side effect profile is next to nothing but when I double my dose in a few days I'm sure it will change. My Social Phobia symptoms are fading away slowly too. I didn't take the additional 25mg pill last night. Just feel asleep and woke up feeling refreshed. I have higher hopes for these pills but this is the first AD I've ever taken. So I'm just taking it day by day.
 
TCA's are actually quite a bit quicker in treating depression than SSRI's, and can demonstrate significant improvement within a week, and even more improvement with another week or so. This is not to say give up on them after two weeks, but I am saying it is quite possible you are already benefiting from the drug. You don't need to increase to 50 mg, but can. It still is a relatively low dose for a TCA like Pamelor, but doses as low as 25 mg/day can help, too. I say wait a week on the 25 mg/day, and judge for yourself whether or not an increase would help you. If it is too much, you can always go back to 25 mg.
 
mirtazapine also gives me the weirdest fucking dreams. but antidepressants really are nothing compared to the dependence on suboxone and clonazepam. i never took that TCA but i took amitryptiline, which made me incredibly lethargic and mirthless.
the only antidepressant i can recommend from personal experience is selegiline. combined with phenalalanine (a supplement). that had a pretty good effect on me and opposed to what my psychiatrist said had no adverse reactions combined with mirtazapine at MAOb selective doses (nothing higher than 10mg a day). i'd gladly take it still, but no one will prescribe it. MAOIs aren't exactly popular anymore. but generally speaking, there's a chance the antidepressants might help you overcome your dependences and anxiety problems. if that one doesn't work try another one. personally i hate SSRIs but i know quite a few people that take them with pronounced positive effects.
 
Thanx Alex. Yeah I started noticing the benefits of Nortriptyline yesterday evening. I was in a euphoric stupor for about 30-40 minutes at my girlfriend's house, then I was extremely talkative the entire rest of the day, and today also. I have a strip of Suboxone left but I decided to try out some Methadone and 5mgs got me good today. So overall it's been about 5 days or so, and I am extremely talkative now, very energetic, but not jittery energy, the strong euphoria yesterday that was different than opiates, sleeping much better, nice dreams last night and I'm almost never anxious anymore. I wish I was put on this drug first before they just threw Klonopin at me years ago right away. Didn't even try an AD on me. I can concentrate better also. Also I was kinda depressed with my girlfriend getting pregnant 4-5 months ago, no job, no car, drug addiction, sleep problems, etc. But now I'm excited about the kid coming, I'm up and doing things like hustling hard again making money which is making me happy, my relationship is getting better, my mother, girlfriend and a few friends yesterday asked if I was high or they said I seemed happy again. And I am. Because I also realize that I've barely been on this drug. And I'm already loving the benefits. But I know that this is barely the beginning of the benefits. Something tells me I'll be getting even more better everyday as it feels that way. I feel better than I have this entire year and I really appreciate all you bluelighters for the help. It's been wonderful reading all the posts and threads all these years but as soon as I started posting things got even better because I can get specific to my situation answers from people who actually knows what's up. Thanks again everybody. It's it's cool I'll probably have more questions about the Nortriptyline and I also want to post how it's working on me. It really helps to be honest. And yes, opioid dependence sucks and doesn't help my anxiety at all, but as you can see, the worst I've done in about a year is take methadone besides my Suboxone, which I don't have scripted. It can be stressful but about 90% of the time I have Klonopin and Suboxone around me so getting the drugs isn't a problem really.
 
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