Nortriptyline

Bipolar disorder is one of the very confusing psychological disorders. Usually better known by its old name manic-depression, bipolar disorder is characterized by episode of extreme and unpredictable moods. From its old name, it is clear that the mood swings range from extreme mania to extreme depression. Fortunately, a number of drugs have been developed to deal with the symptoms of this disorder. One of these drugs is Nortriptyline.

So, what is Nortriptyline used for exactly? And how does it work? To start off, the popular brands for Nortriptyline are Aventyl HCl and Pamelor. Nortriptyline belongs to the drug group called tricyclic antidepressants. Based on the group’s name, it is clear that Nortriptyline is used to treat the depression side of Bipolar disorder. Nortriptyline increases the brain’s chemical activity needed to elevate or uplift the mood of the person. With bipolar, the patient’s chemical activity in the brain becomes unbalanced. The aim of Nortriptyline is to balance out the chemical activity in the brain, thus, treating the symptoms of depression. Yes, Nortriptyline & bipolar inevitably go hand in hand.

Ironically, if you are under eighteen years of age and you’re taking Nortriptyline, there’s a distinct possibility that your suicidal thoughts and depression will worsen. This is during the onset of your treatment. This is why minors are constantly monitored when taking Nortriptyline. Usually, your physician will be doing this for the first twelve weeks of the whole of your treatment. Your physician will also be doing this whenever your Nortriptyline dosage would be changed according to your progress. So, are there serious side effects to Nortriptyline? The answer to that question is clearly a Yes.

Look out for the following Nortriptyline side effects in the minor: severe mood changes, anxiety, insomnia, irritability, panic attacks, aggression, agitation, restlessness, suicidal thoughts, mania. If any of these side effects of Nortriptyline worsen, then there is indeed a need to see the physician right away.

There are certain medicines that will interact with Nortriptyline in a negative way. For starters, you should not take Nortriptyline if you have recently been using any kind of MAO inhibitor. Examples of MAO inhibitors are isocarboxazid, rasagiline, phenelzine, selegiline, and tranylcypromine. Just how recent this period is? Roughly within the past two weeks. To be sure, you should consult your physician to check if the components of MAO inhibitors have already been cleared out of your body. Fatal side effects can occur if the remnants of MAO inhibitors interact with Nortriptyline.

If you have had certain medical conditions as well, taking Nortriptyline might do you more harm than good. The medical conditions include heart disease, a history of seizures. schizophrenia, overactive thyroid, urination problems, glaucoma, and diabetes. Diabetes, in particular, is a very serious matter when you’re taking Nortriptyline. You see, Nortriptyline can cause a significant increase or decrease in blood sugar levels. If you take Nortriptyline and you have diabetes, the drug can cause an imbalance in your blood sugar levels. And this would complicate your condition even more.

When taking Nortriptyline, you should also be vigilant about the side effects you would be experiencing. It would be better if you inform your physician of any side effects that you notice yourself during your treatment.

If you’re pregnant, or you suspect you’re pregnant, then you should not take Nortriptyline at all. The drug can potentially cause birth defects in unborn babies. There are no definitive results as to Nortriptyline being transmitted through breast milk. So, if you are nursing, it would be better to discuss the situation with your physician.

Be sure to discuss any concerns you may have while undergoing Nortriptyline treatment with your physician. It would be better to understand every aspect of your treatment. This way, you yourself would know whether or not your condition is improving or not.