Nortriptyline is an effective drug given against depression.
Belonging to a group of drugs known as Tricyclic Antidepressants, Nortriptyline acts on the chemicals in the brain that affects the mood change.
You should never deviate from the doctor’s prescription. You have to maintain the right amount of the dosage. Never take more amounts of Nortriptyline or use the medicine for longer periods without your doctor prescribing it. The drug should never be stopped without consulting the doctor. Never stop the drug if you do not see the results in the first few days as the symptoms only improve after a few weeks. If Nortriptyline is stopped in the middle of a course, you may come across unpleasant side effects. If you feel that your symptoms have not improved even after a few weeks, you have to consult your doctor.
You should also keep a tab on the doses. Never miss a dose and in case a dosage is missed, take it as soon as you realise it. But you should never take the missed dose if your scheduled time is near. Do not mix any two doses of Nortriptyline. Well, you should also be aware of the overdose symptoms. If you come across extreme drowsiness, muscle stiffness, agitation, blurred vision, hallucinations, vomiting, feeling hot or cold and seizure, you should have to stop the drug and contact your doctor without any delay.
You have to be under the constant watch of your doctor as there is a possibility of developing thoughts of suicide while taking the drug. If there is a need of any surgery, you have to tell your surgeon about Nortriptyline medication as he may stop the drug for a brief period before the surgery.
You should also tell your doctor about all your medical conditions before Nortriptyline is prescribed. Discuss with your doctor if you have any allergic reactions to any food, medicine or any substance, including the ingredients of Nortriptyline. Do frankly tell the physician if you have any of these following conditions; heart disease, stroke, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, diabetes, overactive thyroid and glaucoma. If you have these health conditions, the doctor may go for dosage adjustments or for specific tests.
Pregnant women should avoid taking Nortriptyline as the drug causes birth defects in unborn babes. It is better not to get pregnant when you are on Nortriptyline medication. Though it is not known if the drug passes into breast milk, breast feeding women should not feed unless talked with their doctor. Elderly persons should also use the drug with caution as they are more risky to the side effects. The drug is not prescribed for children below 18 years of age.
Alcohol, grape fruit and grape juice should be avoided during the medication as they can cause serious side effects. Do not take cold medicines, muscle relaxers, seizure medicines.
You should also be cautious of the serious side effects that come with Nortriptyline. If you feel any uneasiness, never delay in contacting the doctor.