ChemistryExperiment Posted November 29, 2009 Share Posted November 29, 2009 I'm going to be starting Nortriptyline for Chronic Pain.... As an add on to my 100000 other medications.... What should I be leery of? my psych meds are: Paxil Topamax Strattera Risperdal Klonopin PRN And I'm on a bunch of physical health meds.... but I read something about Nortriptyline and Paxil interphering on one website but I couldn't find anything else to back it up on any other website.... is that just like a Serotonin syndrome type warning? And Did you like Nortriptyline? What didn't you like? Did any of you take it for chronic pain or notice a decrease in pain? :/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver Posted November 29, 2009 Share Posted November 29, 2009 It was a lovely antidepressant and it completely shut down my migraines. I didn't have bad rheumatoid arthritis pain at that point, but it did help with what I had. They can check a serum level to make sure it's not overly high. It will give you an amazingly dry mouth. It's best started low and inched up a little bit at a time if used for pain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChemistryExperiment Posted November 29, 2009 Author Share Posted November 29, 2009 My GP is starting me off low.... that was the thought..... and sending me to a pain clinic... this is just the prelude.... to hopefully having my pain managed!!! HURRAY!!!! Manageable pain sounds so nice right now... as I'm laying on the floor practically crying in pain... I think its time to go down something.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest joe k Posted February 25, 2010 Share Posted February 25, 2010 I'm going to be starting Nortriptyline for Chronic Pain.... As an add on to my 100000 other medications.... What should I be leery of? my psych meds are: Paxil Topamax Strattera Risperdal Klonopin PRN And I'm on a bunch of physical health meds.... but I read something about Nortriptyline and Paxil interphering on one website but I couldn't find anything else to back it up on any other website.... is that just like a Serotonin syndrome type warning? And Did you like Nortriptyline? What didn't you like? Did any of you take it for chronic pain or notice a decrease in pain? :/ Let me first say that I am no doctor, but if I had not researched all of the treatments and meds I was getting when I was in the hospital for a mitral valve repair I dont think I would be doing as well as I am today. I was taking Strattera for ADHD and in the hospital for a mitral valve repair (major open heart surgery). The docs (3 very well know cardios) were not able to get my heart rate within a good range with a combo of beta and alpha blockers as well as a few others... Well lets look at what they were doing... read up on beta blockers... they block the interaction of norepinephrine with the heart... what does Strattera do? increases norepineprine in the body... anybody see a problem / conflict here??? I stopped the Straterra and surprise, blood pressure and heart rate stabilize... Why does all if this matter to you? Nortriptyline is a tricycllic anti depressant. It increases Seratonin, and blocks acetylcholine but its primary effect is as a norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor... which increases norepinephrine... Strattera is in the same class. If you havent seen a cardiologist in a while, I would see one now and get a base line echocardiogram done to monitor your heart function. Generally norepinephrine seems to be safe for people with healthy hearts, but for people with any type of strutural defects, (which would be fine on their own) i.e. small holes, murmurs, etc... There is anecdotal evidence that suggests, elevated levels of norepinephrine can be damaging. as in my case... I went from a very small heart murmur for the first 34 years of my life to very suddenly being admitted to the hospital with 'heart attack like' symptoms and having major open heart surgery almost immediately... be your own advocate... doctors are caring and smart but they have a lot of patients to care for.... just my very lengthy 2 cents. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cetkat Posted February 25, 2010 Share Posted February 25, 2010 My GP is starting me off low.... that was the thought..... Wait.. GP? This is definitely something that your pdoc should be handling - or at least be approved by. There are possible issues with both Serotonin (Paxil + Risperdal + Nortriptyline) and Norepinephrine (Strattera + Nortriptyline). You may need some adjustment of your dosages. You definitely need to be cautious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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