ABSTRACT
This chapter describes trade name, classification, approved indications for psychological disorders, usual dosage and administration, relative contraindications, clinically significant drug interactions, adverse drug reactions and overdosage of Nortriptyline. Nortriptyline pharmacotherapy during pregnancy has been associated with a neonatal distress syndrome characterized by hypertonia, respiratory distress, and urinary retention. Avoid prescribing nortriptyline pharmacotherapy to women who are pregnant. Blood concentrations may be useful for monitoring the patient’s ability to manage his or her nortriptyline pharmacotherapy or possible overdosage. Concurrent nortriptyline pharmacotherapy may decrease the antihypertensive action of clonidine. Concurrent nortriptyline pharmacotherapy may decrease the neuronal uptake of guanethidine and, thus, decrease its antihypertensive action. Concurrent nortriptyline and MAOI pharmacotherapy may result in an increase in the therapeutic action and toxic effects of both drugs. Signs and symptoms of nortriptyline overdosage are similar to those observed with overdosages involving other TCAs. As with other TCA overdosage, emergency symptomatic medical support of body systems is required with attention to increasing nortriptyline elimination.
