Nortriptyline Side Effects

The drug is the outcome of continued depression and symptoms connected with it and have several nortriptyline side effects associated with it. It acts by affecting the chemicals in the brain that may at times become unbalanced. Although depression is found among people of all ages except for children the drug may have negative side effect if given to persons below 18 years.

The medication is prescribed by the doctor after taking into consideration the patient’s condition and the capacity of the body to take such powerful dose. The patient has to be under the scrutinizing eyes of his or her family members or caretakers otherwise it may lead to symptoms that can be fatal.

The effectiveness of nortriptyline as a cure for depression

Nortriptyline is mainly used for treating symptoms of depression. The drug has strong potential as it acts on the central nervous system of the body. Like all antidepressants the medication has mild to severe and in some cases critical side effects.

The medication is actually a powerful dose and is given to patient who has developed severe disorder. It leads to committing suicide or there is a tendency for suicide which the patient is sure to act at one or other circumstances if it is not checked or prevented. This occurs usually in the age group below 24 years as per the studies that have been undertaken in different parts of the world.

Nortriptyline side effects are manageable if they are detected during their earlier stages or should be under strict observation if it is really severe. There are chances of worsening mood swings and behavioral changes if the patient is not hospitalized when his or her symptoms are showing serious signs of becoming critical.

There can be acts of aggression on self or on other people if the patient is not treated with sedatives. In some cases the hostility is to one or two people whom the patient was attached to.

Is Hospitalization a must for anxiety and panic disorders?

There can be slight or significant behavioral changes brought about by the treatment of this medication on the patient. In cases where there is violence or threat of hostility the patient is to be hospitalized and kept under observation. As its acts on the chemicals in the brain it can derail the entire mental balance of the patient.

The patient can show signs of aggression, hyper-activeness which can be either mental or physical or harbor thoughts of suicide or hurting oneself. Some patients undergoing treatment of nortriptyline has become more depressed and this is a sure sign of severe side effects.

Nortriptyline side effects are extremely notorious and they may appear when the patient or the doctor is least expecting. This is because the brain controls all the activities of the human body and when that very portion is affected then it derails the normal functioning of the rest of the parts.

It is usually seen that in almost all cases of medication of this drug the patient has to regularly undergo periodical checkups for the first twelve weeks. This could be extended depending upon the severity of the disorder. Alcohol is one of the fatal substance that can complicate things even more and render all medication carried on so far as hopeless. Hence, the doctor might stop the medication if the patient takes alcohol regularly. Further, the treatment can be hampered if the patient drinks grape fruits juice as this may impede the person’s thinking and reactions.

In this type of disorder the patient is hardly ever left alone as there is always a strong tendency to commit suicide or harm another person physically. Thus, it is imperative on the part of the family or the caretaker to be alert and not let the patient go out of sight.

What are the main Nortriptyline side effects

In a previous post, I have discussed the digoxin side effects. The nortriptyline drug is to be avoided if there are side effects like severe depression, panic attacks or feeling impulsive to carry out any idea that can cause injury to the patient or others. The drug is also avoided during surgery as other medications may not go well with nortriptyline. The person under the treatment should not drive any vehicle nor should work on a machine or involve in any activities that require a lot of physical movements.

Some of the serious side effects of the drug are uneven heart beats or fast pounding heart beats, chest pain and vomiting sensation. In the case with chest pain at first the pain is felt on the chest and then slowly is spreads to arms, shoulder and other parts of the body.

The drug can cause confusion to a lot of patients while some may experience nightmares or hallucinations.

In some cases there are headaches, convulsions and easily getting bruised or sudden bleeding if the body touches a sharp metal or glass piece. Many patients have complained about not being able to pass sufficient urine or not even a drop of it. There are other nortriptyline side effects which the patient or family members ought to look into and promptly seek medical attention for the person.

In the next post, I will talk about the berocca side effects.