Prescription medication · Tricyclic Antidepressant (TCA)
nortriptyline
Also sold as Pamelor. Nortriptyline is used to relieve the symptoms of depression.
Data updated 2026-05-15
- 5,503
- FDA reportsLightly reported
- 8
- InteractionsFew interactions
- In shortage
- FDA status
What the data shows
nortriptyline (Pamelor) is a prescription Tricyclic Antidepressant (TCA), reported less often than most tracked drugs (5,503 FDA reports), with 8 documented drug interactions.
Reporting volume reflects how widely a drug is used and studied, not how dangerous it is, a FAERS report documents a temporal association, never proof of cause.
nortriptyline (Pamelor) is a prescription Tricyclic Antidepressant (TCA). Nortriptyline is used to relieve the symptoms of depression.
Nortriptyline (Pamelor) is a medicine used to treat depression. It can help improve your mood.
Verify with FDA → · CMS NADAC pricing →
Drug Shortage Alert
nortriptyline is currently listed as to be discontinued by the FDA. Affected manufacturer: Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc..
View all drug shortages →Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Generic Price
$0.30/unit
Generic Available
Yes (6 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
Nortriptyline is used to relieve the symptoms of depression.
Common side effects
Dry mouth, Blurred vision, Constipation
Key warnings
Antidepressants may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or actions in children, teenagers, and young adults.
The sections below are summarized in plain English from nortriptyline's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.
How It Works
Nortriptyline is a tricyclic antidepressant (TCA). It works by increasing the levels of certain natural chemicals in the brain. These chemicals help regulate mood.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 5,503 FDA adverse event reports.
Most-reported reactions
Adverse reactions in FAERS for nortriptyline, by number of reports
- Pain
Pain
695 reports
- Headache
Headache
679 reports
- Fatigue
Fatigue
593 reports
- Nausea
Nausea
513 reports
- Hyperhidrosis
Hyperhidrosis
485 reports
- Hypersensitivity
Hypersensitivity
460 reports
- Drug Hypersensitivity
Drug Hypersensitivity
430 reports
- Hypertension
Hypertension
396 reports
- Constipation
Constipation
395 reports
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid Arthritis
388 reports
What this shows Bars show how often each reaction was reported, not how likely it is to happen, a report records a temporal association, never proof that the drug caused it.
Reports over time
Adverse-event reports filed for nortriptyline each year to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).
Year-to-year volume tracks usage, prescribing, and scrutiny, not a change in per-patient risk. Source: FDA FAERS.
Where nortriptyline sits
nortriptyline has more FDA adverse-event reports than 26% of the drugs FAERS tracks. A high position reflects how widely a drug is used and watched, not how dangerous it is.
Percentile across all drugs PlainMeds tracks by FAERS report volume. The dot is nortriptyline; the line is the median (50th percentile).
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 5,503 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2004–2025.
Total Reports
5,503
Reports Mentioning Death
674
12.2% of reports — not proof of cause
Hospitalization Reports
1,439
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | PAIN | 695 |
| 4 | HEADACHE | 679 |
| 5 | FATIGUE | 593 |
| 6 | NAUSEA | 513 |
| 7 | HYPERHIDROSIS | 485 |
| 8 | HYPERSENSITIVITY | 460 |
| 9 | DRUG HYPERSENSITIVITY | 430 |
| 10 | HYPERTENSION | 396 |
| 11 | CONSTIPATION | 395 |
| 12 | RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS | 388 |
| 13 | HEPATIC ENZYME INCREASED | 383 |
| 14 | OVERDOSE | 374 |
| 15 | BACK PAIN | 365 |
| 16 | JOINT SWELLING | 361 |
| 17 | IMMUNODEFICIENCY | 358 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
Antidepressants may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or actions in children, teenagers, and young adults. Your doctor will monitor you closely for worsening depression or unusual changes in behavior. Families and caregivers should also watch for these changes.
Known Drug Interactions
( 7.1 ) Drugs metabolized by CYP2D6: Bupropion inhibits CYP2D6 and can increase concentrations of: antidepressants (e.g., venlafaxine, nortriptyline, imipramine, desipramine, paroxetine, fluoxetine, sertraline), antipsychotics (e.g., haloperidol, risperidone, thioridazine), beta-blockers (e.g., metoprolol), and Type 1C antiarrhythmics (e.g., propafenone, flecainide). Such drugs include certain antidepressants (e.g., venlafaxine, nortriptyline, imipramine, desipramine, paroxetine, fluoxetine, and sertraline), antipsychotics (e.g., haloperidol, risperidone, and thioridazine), beta-blockers...
Mechanism: Bupropion blocks the enzyme that clears nortriptyline from your body, which can cause nortriptyline levels to rise.
In addition, carbamazepine causes, or would be expected to cause, decreased levels of the following drugs, for which monitoring of concentrations or dosage adjustment may be necessary: acetaminophen, albendazole, alprazolam, aprepitant, buprenorphone, bupropion, citalopram, clonazepam, clozapine, corticosteroids (e.g., prednisolone, dexamethasone), cyclosporine, dicumarol, dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers (e.g., felodipine), doxycycline, ethosuximide, everolimus, haloperidol, imatinib, itraconazole, lamotrigine, levothyroxine, methadone, methsuximide, mianserin, midazolam,...
Mechanism: Carbamazepine speeds up how your body breaks down nortriptyline, which can lower the amount of medicine in your blood.
Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs): amitriptyline, desipramine, imipramine, nortriptyline ↑ amitriptyline ↑ desipramine ↑ imipramine ↑ nortriptyline Use a lower dose of the tricyclic antidepressants and trazodone due to potential increased adverse events such as nausea, dizziness, hypotension and syncope.
Mechanism: Darunavir slows down the body's ability to get rid of this antidepressant, leading to higher levels in your blood. This can cause side effects like nausea, dizziness, and fainting.
Examples: amitriptyline, desipramine, doxepin, imipramine, nortriptyline.
Mechanism: Nortriptyline makes the body more reactive to dopamine's effects. This can result in a much stronger effect on your blood pressure than intended.
Amitriptyline, nortriptyline : Fluconazole increases the effect of amitriptyline and nortriptyline. 5-Nortriptyline and/or S-amitriptyline may be measured at initiation of the combination therapy and after 1 week. Dosage of amitriptyline/nortriptyline should be adjusted, if necessary.
Mechanism: Fluconazole slows down how the body breaks down nortriptyline, which causes the drug to stay in the system longer.
This is a plain-language summary of FDA-label interaction records and does not provide individual medication-combination directions.
Common Questions
Can children take nortriptyline?
What should I do if I experience side effects?
Can I take nortriptyline with other medications?
How long does it take for nortriptyline to work?
Can I stop taking nortriptyline suddenly?
What is serotonin syndrome?
Can nortriptyline cause weight changes?
Can nortriptyline affect my heart?
Can nortriptyline cause confusion?
Is it safe to drive while taking nortriptyline?
What are the common side effects of nortriptyline?
Does nortriptyline interact with other medications?
What drug class is nortriptyline?
What pregnancy or breastfeeding source fields are listed for nortriptyline?
Is nortriptyline currently in shortage?
Related Medications in Tricyclic Antidepressant (TCA)
Other drugs grouped near nortriptyline - same-class peers and common alternatives.
acamprosate
Campral
Acamprosate is a medicine that can help you stay away from alcohol if you are alcohol-dependent and have already stopped drinking.
Compare with nortriptyline →
alprazolam
Xanax
Alprazolam (Xanax) is a medication that can help you with anxiety and panic disorders.
Compare with nortriptyline →
amitriptyline
Elavil
Amitriptyline is a medicine used to treat depression.
Compare with nortriptyline →
amphetamine/dextroamphetamine
Adderall, Adderall XR
Adderall XR is a stimulant medicine.
Compare with nortriptyline →
aripiprazole
Abilify
Aripiprazole (Abilify) is a medicine used to treat certain mental disorders and mood problems.
Compare with nortriptyline →
Compare beyond drug class
Nationwide peers by FAERS volume & death-report share
Two PlainMeds-derived comparison paths for nortriptyline: nearest FDA FAERS report volume and nearest death-report share among drugs with at least 1,000 logged reports, excluding same-class neighbors listed above. Counts reflect reporting volume, not proven individual harm.
Similar FAERS report volume
Nearest drugs by total FAERS reports. This record: 5,503.
Similar death-report share
Nearest drugs by FAERS death-report share. This record: 12.25%.
- diclofenac Δ 0.01 pts · 82,165 reports · Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID) 12.23%death share
- benzonatate Δ 0.02 pts · 15,513 reports · Antitussive (Non-Narcotic) 12.23%death share
- hydralazine Δ 0.07 pts · 28,498 reports · Vasodilator 12.32%death share
- carvedilol Δ 0.08 pts · 130,791 reports · Beta-Blocker (Alpha/Beta) 12.17%death share
Medication Guides
Understanding Drug Interactions
How CYP450 enzymes, inhibitors, and inducers affect your medications
Generic vs Brand Name Drugs
FDA requirements, cost savings, and when the difference matters
Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs
FDA bioequivalence and label-record context for narrow therapeutic index medicines
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
Save on nortriptyline
Compare prices and find discounts at pharmacies near you. Free coupons can save up to 80% on prescriptions.
Disclosure: This link may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. See our terms.
What the FDA Data Shows for nortriptyline
The FDA label for nortriptyline (sold under brand names such as Pamelor) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Tricyclic Antidepressant (TCA) class. Nortriptyline is used to relieve the symptoms of depression. Official labeling lists 10 commonly reported side effects, including Dry mouth, Blurred vision, Constipation.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 5,503 voluntary reports. The database also lists 8 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated minor severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $0.30.
Report counts do not establish causation, a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information are separate source-record fields. This page is a public FDA/CMS registry and does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC). Shortage status: FDA Drug Shortages Database.
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. This registry does not provide medication decisions.
Last updated: January 13, 2026
PlainMeds is rendered directly from FDA openFDA/FAERS extracts, DailyMed labels, and CMS drug-pricing files, no number is typed in by an editor. FAERS counts, recalls, shortages, and price figures on this page are queried live from those federal extracts. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-05-15. Primary sources: openFDA / FAERS, DailyMed and CMS Part B ASP.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled from the source snapshot dated . See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a data issue.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book - approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed - NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) - post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm - standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files - federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database - current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages