NEWS HIGHLIGHTSMedia Articles Related to Pamelor (Nortriptyline)
Promising Results In Reducing Neuropathic Pain With Combined Drug Treatment, Than With Either Drug Alone
Source: Body Aches News From Medical News Today [2009.09.30]
An article published Online First and in a future edition of The Lancet reports that combination treatment using gabapentin and nortriptyline reduces neuropathic pain more than either drug alone. This treatment could be used in patients that only partly respond to one drug or the other. The article is the work of Professor Ian Gilron, Director of Clinical Pain Research, Queen's University, and Kingston General Hospital, Kingston, Ontario, Canada, and colleagues.
Published Studies Related to Pamelor (Nortriptyline)
Sensory complaints of the upper extremities in multiple sclerosis: relative efficacy of nortriptyline and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. [2009.05]
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relative efficacy of nortriptyline and self-applied transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) in the treatment of pain and/or sensory complaints of the upper extremities in people with multiple sclerosis (MS)... This modest reduction in the intensity of pain and/or sensory complaints suggests that physicians should carefully weigh the risk and benefits of nortriptyline and TENS in people with MS with pain and/or sensory complaints.
Sexual function in postpartum women treated for depression: results from a randomized trial of nortriptyline versus sertraline. [2009.03]
CONCLUSIONS: In postpartum women, sexual concerns are primarily affected by remission of depression rather than side effects of either a tricyclic or serotonergic antidepressant.
Differential efficacy of escitalopram and nortriptyline on dimensional measures of depression. [2009.03]
CONCLUSIONS: The three symptom dimensions provided sensitive descriptors of differential antidepressant response and enabled identification of drug-specific effects.
[Association between polymorphisms of Val66Met in the BDNF gene and the response to escitalopram and nortriptyline treatment in the light of the neurodevelopmental hypothesis of depression] [2008.11]
CONCLUSIONS: The polymorphism of the BDNF gene is not likely to be associated with treatment response to escitalopram and nortriptyline in our group of patients with depression.
Continuation/maintenance treatment with nortriptyline versus combined nortriptyline and ECT in late-life psychotic depression: a two-year randomized study. [2008.06]
OBJECTIVE: The identification of effective continuation and maintenance strategies for elderly patients with psychotic depression is a critical issue that has not been fully explored. The aim of this study was to assess the tolerability and efficacy of continuation/maintenance electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in elderly patients with psychotic depression after acute ECT remission... CONCLUSIONS: This study supports the judicious use of combined continuation/maintenance ECT and antidepressant treatment in elderly patients with psychotic unipolar depression who are ECT remitters.
Clinical Trials Related to Pamelor (Nortriptyline)
Nortriptyline for Idiopathic Gastroparesis [Recruiting]
The principal objective of this multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled trial is to
evaluate whether treatment with nortriptyline will improve gastroparesis symptoms compared
with placebo.
Effect of Nortriptyline on Abdominal Pain/Discomfort and Quality of Life in Patients With Nonulcer Dyspepsia [Recruiting]
The purpose of this study is to determine if use of Nortriptyline will improve symptoms and
quality of life in patients who have nonulcer dyspepsia.
Preventing the Return of Depression in Elderly Patients [Completed]
The purpose of this study is to compare the effectiveness of two doses of nortriptyline in
elderly patients whose depression returned after stopping treatment. Nortriptyline is an
antidepressant.
This study enrolls patients who were treated for depression in an earlier research study and
whose depression has returned since stopping treatment. Patients are treated for 4 months to
bring the depression under control. Patients are then assigned randomly (like tossing a
coin) to receive either the full dose of nortriptyline or half the usual dose of
nortriptyline. Patients continue taking nortriptyline for 2 years or until a major
depression returns. Throughout the study, patients are monitored for symptoms of depression
and other side effects.
Combined Nortriptyline and Transdermal Nicotine for Smoking Cessation [Completed]
Treatment of smokers with a tricyclic antidepressant, nortriptyline, can reduce tobacco
withdrawal symptoms and increases long term cessation rates when combined with transdermal
nicotine and a behavioral cessation programs. The study is a placebo-controlled, randomized,
parallel group trial in which smokers aged 18-70 will be subject to the combination of oral
and patch treatments.
Pain Treatment for Sciatica [Completed]
This study will test the effectiveness of two drugs-nortriptyline and MS Contin (a type of
morphine)-to treat pain caused by lumbar radiculopathy, or sciatica. Sciatica results from
damage to the lumbar nerve roots, typically causing back pain and sharp, shooting pain down
one or both legs. Although sciatica is common, there are no good treatments for it.
Tricyclic antidepressants, such as nortriptyline, and opioids, such as morphine, have been
effective in treating other kinds of pain from nerve damage.
Patients between 18 and 65 years of age who have had sciatica pain daily for at least 3
months may be eligible for this study.
Participants will provide a medical history and occupational and other social information.
They will undergo a neurological examination, routine blood tests and an electrocardiogram
and will fill out three questionnaires providing information on daily functioning and
psychological well-being.
This "cross-over" study consists of several parts, including a baseline study and four
different treatment regimens. During each part, patients keep a daily log in which they rate
their pain, record other procedures they undergo, such as injections and manipulations, and
record medication side effects.
In the first week of the study, patients remain on their current medications. Any
antidepressants or opioids are stopped gradually before starting the drug trials. After the
first week, patients go through the following four drug trials in random order:
1. Nortriptyline and inert placebo-Patients take nortriptyline in doses ranging from 25 mg.
to 100 mg. and an inert placebo for morphine. (An inert placebo is a dummy pill; it
looks like the test drug but has no active ingredient.)
2. MS Contin (morphine) and inert placebo-Patients take MS Contin in doses ranging from 30
mg. to 90 mg. and an inert placebo for nortriptyline.
3. Nortriptyline and MS Contin-Patients take MS Contin and nortriptyline in the same dose
ranges as for each drug alone.
4. Active placebo and inactive placebo-Patients take an active placebo-in this case
benztropine-and an inert placebo. An active placebo is a drug that does not work for
the problem being studied but whose side effects are like those of the test drug-in this
case, slight sleepiness or dry mouth. Benztropine is given at one-third the recommended
dosage.
For each drug regimen, the medication dose is increased gradually over 5 weeks until the
maximum tolerated dose is reached. At the end of each regimen, patients are taken off the
study drugs over a 12-day tapering period and are off drugs completely for another 2 days.
Patients are seen by a doctor or nurse at the 7-week point in each study period. After all
the drug trials are finished, patients repeat the questionnaires they filled out at the
beginning of the study. Patients and their doctors will be informed of the medications that
were effective in each individual's care.
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