A comprehensive review of nortriptyline (Pamelor) for the layperson, a tricyclic agent patented in 1962 and FDA-approved for the treatment of depression in the United States in 1964. This video reviews the major indications, including off-label, which are the majority, and although this first-generation agent has many more potential side effects than more modern medicines and is lethal in overdose, there is evidence to suggest that it may be more efficacious for some patients with treatment-resistant conditions. It can also be used successfully in combination with other medications in small doses at bedtime, particularly for patients suffering from insomnia, although for maximal efficacy one should take into consideration the fact that nortriptyline has an established “therapeutic window” of serum drug concentrations. Watch for this explanation and more fascinating insights!
