My daughter was prescribed nortriptyline to help with her nerve pain. She started taking it Friday night. Today, she feels really weak, and shaky. I'm waiting for a call back from the Dr. regarding these side effects Wondering if anyone has had similar experiences. I know they are listed as possible side effects. She is on the smallest does they have currently, 10mg. Wondering if they will go away, or if we will have to discontinue usage.

Hi Buffy,

It can take a week or sometimes longer to acclimate to a new med. It can also take some time to get relief with it.

I take 10 mg of nortriptyline since it is the lowest dose. My side effects are pretty negligible. At 25 mg I was unbearably dizzy and somewhat foggy feeling. Not good for driving! I weigh 115 lbs for comparison.

I don't know that a physician or pharmacist would agree with opening the capsules and dumping half out for a week to try titrating her dose but I did this to see if I could discontinue (I couldn't). Since this is not a time release medication opening the capsule doesn't present any problems other than not having the dose down to the microgram to start.

Nortriptyline does give nerve pain relief and is a med considered safe in the pediatric population of she can tolerate it.

Turns out Nortriptyline and my kiddo apparently don't get along. 3 days of missed school while it exited her system. Uncontrollable shaking and weakness. We're going to try a different drug soon. I think part of the problem was that the smallest dose it comes in is 10mg. Too much for her tiny self to start.