Noritren
Noritren is an antidepressant that helps balance brain chemicals to treat depression.
How to Use
Dosage
For adults, typically 25 mg two or three times a day. Your doctor may slowly increase this dose. For older adults (over 65), the starting dose is usually 10 mg two or three times a day.
Method
Swallow the tablets whole with water. Do not chew them. At first, you might take Noritren two or three times a day. For long-term treatment, you can take it once in the morning.
The maximum daily dose for adults is generally 150 mg. For older adults, it can be up to 100-150 mg.
Possible Side Effects
- •Sweating
- •Headache
- •Shaking of hands (tremor)
- •Dizziness (especially when standing up quickly)
- •Blurred vision
- •Dry mouth (can increase risk of tooth decay, brush teeth more often)
- •Constipation
- •Nausea (feeling sick)
- •Pounding or fast heartbeat
- •Numbness or tingling in arms and legs
- •Confusion (more common in elderly)
- •Weight gain
- •Tiredness or fatigue
- •Severe eye pain, blurred vision with rainbow halos around lights (could be glaucoma) - Stop taking Noritren and see a doctor immediately.
- •Severe constipation, swollen belly, fever, and vomiting (could be a paralyzed bowel) - Stop taking Noritren and see a doctor immediately.
- •Yellowing of skin or whites of the eyes (jaundice), which could mean liver problems - Stop taking Noritren and see a doctor immediately.
- •Easy bruising, bleeding, pale skin, persistent sore throat, and fever (could be signs of blood problems) - Stop taking Noritren and see a doctor immediately.
- •Rash, itching, swelling of face or tongue
- •Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
- •Seizures
- •Mood changes, including increased anxiety or agitation, trouble sleeping, nightmares
- •Diarrhea, vomiting
- •Increased blood pressure
- •Difficulty urinating (more common in elderly men)
- •Hair loss
- •Increased skin sensitivity to sunlight
- •Loss of appetite
- •Delirium (confusion, especially in elderly), hallucinations
- •Swollen salivary glands
- •Weight loss
- •Breast enlargement
- •Abnormal or irregular heartbeat
Important Warnings
- Do not take if you are allergic to nortriptyline or any other ingredients in Noritren.
- Do not take if you have recently had a heart attack, or have certain heart rhythm problems or heart disease.
- Do not take if you are currently using certain other antidepressants called MAO inhibitors.
- Talk to your doctor if you have epilepsy, trouble urinating, an enlarged prostate, an overactive thyroid, glaucoma (high eye pressure), or diabetes.
- If you have thoughts of harming yourself or suicide, contact a doctor or go to a hospital right away.
Show 3 more warnings
- Do not stop taking Noritren suddenly, as this can cause unpleasant withdrawal symptoms like headache, nausea, or irritability. Your doctor will advise you on how to stop safely.
- Avoid alcohol while taking Noritren, as it can increase drowsiness and calmative effects.
- This medicine is not for children or adolescents under 18 years old.
Use in Elderly Patients
Avoid use in older adults. Anticholinergic. Sedative. Serotonergic. Risk of QT prolongation. Significant adverse effects include confusion, cognitive impairment, arrhythmias and orthostatic hypotension. Increases risk of falls. Consider the numerous potential interactions. Reduces the effectiveness of drugs for Alzheimer’s disease. (updated 12.2.2024)