Posted by Ritch on January 10, 2003, at 13:25:25
In reply to Nortriptyline-Need some support!, posted by hopko on January 10, 2003, at 9:20:28
> HI all,
>
> I have depression, anxiety, OCD and insomnia. I was taking 7.5mg of remeron and .5mg of klonopin at bedtime and had good help with my sleep but had to withdraw due to some side effects of the remeron (and yes, there was a withdrawal syndrome for me!) As soon as I went off remeron I basically quit sleeping. Talk about return of my depression! If I don't sleep I am depressed!
>
> I upped the klonopin to 1.5mg and my p-doc started me on nortriptyline. I have tried all of the SSRI's and cannot tolerate any of them.
>
> I am only at 40mgs as we are increasing the dose very slowly. I sleep about 5 hours (I am sure due to the klonopin), wake up at 3am and that is it. I cannot do this much longer. Will an increased dose of nortriptyline help my sleep eventually?
>
> Ambien only helps me sleep about 4 hours and if I take it at 3am I am wasted for the entire next day.
>
> I have tried valerian when I wake at 3 but it has not helped.
>
> I am curious to know if anyone out there has had help with their sleep taking nortriptyline. (Someone please say yes!!!) And also, any ideas for a temporary solution so that I can sleep longer while the dose is building up?
>
> Thanks.Consider switching to amitriptyline instead. It is much much better for sleep, and you will get more serotonergic activity which may be more helpful for your OCD symptoms. The amitrip.'s primary metabolite is nortriptyline anyhow. You could also consider taking the nortriptyline in the daytime only (since it isn't near as sedative) at the dose you are currently at and just add 10mg of amitriptyline (possibly more) at nighttime to get you to sleep. I have read a few posts here where people were doing that so they could get the benefit of the sleep from the amitrip., but have fewer side effects and sedation overall by using a mix. hope this helps.
poster:Ritch
thread:135174
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030106/msgs/135199.html