Posted by sukarno on August 17, 2008, at 4:06:06
In reply to Re: Nortriptyline vs. Desipramine » bulldog2, posted by Phillipa on August 16, 2008, at 20:35:54
Desipramine (Norpramin) is the active metabolite of nortriptyline (Pamelor).
I was on 25mg of nortriptyline at bedtime and for the first few mornings I woke up feeling so tired that I did not want to get up out of bed. I think I slept at least 10 hours. I quickly developed a tolerance to the sedative effects though.
You might be a slow metabolizer if low doses of nortriptyline affect you adversely. I think I am because after a few weeks of taking 25mg q.h.s. I experienced irregular heartbeats along with tachycardia.
That said, it was very effective for my anxiety, panic attacks and depression and had fewer side effects than imipramine (Tofranil). It was also highly motivating and I could focus more easily on tasks, excelling in school. I have never been as motivated in my life as I was when I took nortriptyline. That was 19 years ago and I just wish I could tolerate that medication. Maybe if I would have taken a 10mg dose instead I could have avoided the adverse cardiac effects, but that episode of irregular heart action scared me to death and I just quit taking it at that point.
I have read that lofepramine has fewer side effects and it too is metabolized into desipramine by the liver. Lofepramine is the least toxic of the conventional tricyclic antidepressants and is available in the UK. It, like nortriptyline, inhibits the reuptake of norepinephrine.
I like Stablon, but maybe someday I'll try lofepramine if an online pharmacy will sell it to see if it gives me the results that nortriptyline did.
poster:sukarno
thread:846648
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20080814/msgs/846778.html