Posted by sfy on January 17, 2005, at 12:44:49
In reply to Re: Nortriptyline/Amitriptyline side effects » sfy, posted by jujube on January 16, 2005, at 13:23:00
> I have a few questions for you, if you don't mind. Could you please tell me if it is absolutely necessary to have blood tests done when on nortriptyline to check blood plasma levels? Have you found 50 mg sufficient to provide a good antidepressant effect, or is the 50 mg just a maintenance dose? And, what effect has nortriptyline had on anxiety (both social and general), if these were issues for you?
>
> Thnaks.My pdoc hasn't said anything to me about checking blood plasma levels though most things I've read about nort seem to indicate this is a good idea. One issue being that there is a therapeutic window for the plasma level at which nort is most effective.
I've been on the 50 mg. for about 5 weeks. At best it seems to have a subtle mood brightening effect but I can't necessarily attribute it to the nort. My mood has been fairly good in the past few months, I'm just trying to see if the nort will help my chronic low-level dysthymia. I just bumped up the dosage to 75 mg. a couple of days ago so I'll see if that provides any dramatic effect.
I have a lifelong history of social anxiety but I can't say that the nort has had any measurable pro-social effect. (My anxiety tends to manifest itself less in physical terms than in emotional terms.)
One other thing I didn't mention in my earlier post is that the nort is definitely helping with my chronic, early-awakening form of insomnia (which is most likely depression-related). I'm able to sleep through the morning without having to take anything else and with no morning hangover. For some, this sedation may be a benefit while for others this might be an unwanted side effect.
poster:sfy
thread:441500
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050113/msgs/443150.html