Nortriptyline (Trade names: Pamelor, Aventyl) is a tricyclic antidepressant. It has the lowest anticholinergic (and least hypotensive) burden of the TCA class, and is therefore useful in geriatric depression.[1]
Nortripyline can be started at 10mg daily and be titrated up by 10-25 mg every 2 weeks, up to a maximum recommended dose of 150 mg (target dose range: 75mg to 100 mg). It can be given as a single daily dose, or in divided doses.
Nortriptyline has a curvilinear (i.e. - nonlinear) relationship between its levels and therapeutic response.[2]
Pharmacokinetics
Tmax = 4-8 hours
Half-life = 15-20 hours
Nortriptyline is a metabolite of amitriptyline
Indications
Insomnia: 10-75mg
Plasma Levels
Most individuals have an optimal response to nortriptyline with serum levels between 70 and 170 ng/mL.[3]