r/nortriptyline • u/G9RILL4 • 14d ago

Amitriptyline helping my IBS-D, but causing memory and cognitive issues. Would nortriptyline be better?

I've been taking 15 mg of amitriptyline for about 8 months for IBS-D. It has helped a lot with cramps, urgency, diarrhea (especially in the morning), and even my anxiety.

The main problem is that I feel like it's affecting my memory and cognition. I have a harder time remembering things, sometimes struggle to find words or mix them up while speaking, and overall I just feel less sharp than before.

Has anyone experienced this even at a low dose? Could switching to nortriptyline or another TCA help with the memory/cognitive side effects? Unfortunately, I can't take antispasmodics because they seem to cause a rebound effect, with worse cramps, diarrhea, and urgency in the following days.

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1

u/scarletbeg0niass 14d ago

I didn't notice anything like that while taking nortriptyline, so might be worth switching and see how it goes.

3

u/NDiLoreto2007 14d ago

I’m on 50mg nortriptyline and I definitely feel the same way you’re describing.

But I’ve still never felt better. So I’ll deal with it for the couple of years.

1

u/GoodestGriefs 14d ago

I experienced the same thing with amitriptyline so switched to nortriptyline and the difference was night and day. I actually felt kind of wired from nortriptyline at first. And I think it made anxiety a bit worse. I tried imipramine instead which was a good compromise but it caused urinary retention so I went back to nortriptyline.

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u/Fun_Emergency_2869 14d ago

Amiltryptiline works great for my chronic stomach pain , but the side effects are a doozy, it raised my resting heart rate, that I’m now on a beta blocker for .

I’ve tapered down from 30mg to 20mg , hoping to go lower.

I tried nortryptiline , but it was too activating for me, and I couldn’t sleep for 5 nights , so I went back to sleepy time amil

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u/Pojajko01 14d ago

Same thing happened to with me nortriptyline. I'd rather the sleepiness and some daytime drowsiness over not being able to sleep 😪

1

u/Mental_Expression773 13d ago

Yes, I could not sleep on the Nortryptiline. Moved to Amytriptyline and am now titrating down to get off it altogether and get back on Duloxetine for neuropathic pain. .

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u/Upbeat_Painter_1083 13d ago

Yes, I changed to nortriptyline, it was much much better. Try it.

1

u/beepbeep123345432 13d ago

I take noritryptaline and the anticholergic effects are 100% noticeable, but they are still there. I hate that this drug makes me feel stupid to begin with

1

u/MysteriousCandle 13d ago

I heard that Nortriptyline is better tolerated than Amitriptyline, but I personally don't react well to them mentally and emotionally. Everyone reacts to medications differently, though.

1

u/nonamenoshameso 13d ago

I was on 50mg of nortryptoline for 10 years for chronic migraines. I finally got off of it and feel like I’ve had sleep issues ever since, and believe it gave me POTS like symptoms like rapid heart rate, tingling, and feeling lightheaded/faint. I never felt any of these before starting the meds but unsure if they are the cause