Suicide/suicidal thoughts or clinical worsening
Depression is associated with an increased risk of suicidal thoughts, self-harm and suicide (suicide-related events). This risk persists until significant remission occurs. As improvement may not occur during the first few weeks or more of treatment, patients should be closely monitored until such improvement occurs. It is general clinical experience that the risk of suicide may increase in the early stages of recovery.
Patients with a history of suicide-related events, or those exhibiting a significant degree of suicidal ideation prior to commencement of treatment are known to be at greater risk of suicidal thoughts or suicide attempts, and should receive careful monitoring during treatment. A meta-analysis of placebo- controlled clinical trials of antidepressant drugs in adult patients with psychiatric disorders showed an increased risk of suicidal behaviour with antidepressants compared to placebo in patients less than 25 years old.
Close supervision of patients and in particular those at high risk should accompany drug therapy especially in early treatment and following dose changes. Patients (and caregivers of patients) should be alerted about the need to monitor for any clinical worsening, suicidal behaviour or thoughts and unusual changes in behaviour and to seek medical advice immediately if these symptoms present.
Withdrawal symptoms, including insomnia, irritability and excessive perspiration, may occur on abrupt cessation of therapy.
The use of nortriptyline in schizophrenic patients may result in an exacerbation of the psychosis or may activate latent schizophrenic symptoms. If administered to overactive or agitated patients, increased anxiety and agitation may occur. In manic-depressive patients, nortriptyline may cause symptoms of the manic phase to emerge, for this reason nortriptyline should not be given to these patients (see section 4.3).
Cross sensitivity between nortriptyline and other tricyclic antidepressants is a possibility.
Patients with cardiovascular disease should be given nortriptyline only under close supervision because of the tendency of the drug to produce sinus tachycardia and to prolong the conduction time. Myocardial infarction, arrhythmia and strokes have occurred. Great care is necessary if nortriptyline is administered to hyperthyroid patients or to those receiving thyroid medication, since cardiac arrhythmias may develop. Cardiac arrhythmias are likely to occur with high dosage. They may also occur in patients with pre- existing heart disease taking normal dosage.
QT interval prolongation
Cases of QT interval prolongation and arrhythmia have been reported during the post-marketing period. Caution is advised in patients with significant bradycardia, in patients with uncompensated heart failure, or in patients concurrently taking QT-prolonging drugs. Electrolyte disturbances (hypokalaemia, hyperkalaemia, hypomagnesaemia) are known to be conditions increasing the proarrhythmic risk.
Serotonin Syndrome
Concomitant administration of Nortriptyline Colonis 10mg/ 5ml Oral Solution and buprenorphine and buprenorphine, naloxone may result in serotonin syndrome, a potentially life-threatening condition (see section 4.5). If concomitant treatment with buprenorphine and buprenorphine, naloxone is clinically warranted, careful observation of the patient is advised, particularly during treatment initiation and dose increases.
Symptoms of serotonin syndrome may include mental-status changes, autonomic instability, neuromuscular abnormalities, and/or gastrointestinal symptoms.
If serotonin syndrome is suspected, a dose reduction or discontinuation of therapy should be considered depending on the severity of the symptoms.
The use of nortriptyline should be avoided, if possible, in patients with a history of epilepsy. If it is used, however, the patients should be observed carefully at the beginning of treatment, for nortriptyline is known to lower the convulsive threshold.
The elderly are particularly liable to experience adverse reactions, especially agitation, confusion and postural hypotension.
Troublesome hostility in a patient may be aroused by the use of nortriptyline.
If possible, the use of nortriptyline should be avoided in patients with narrow angle glaucoma or symptoms suggestive of prostatic hypertrophy.
The possibility of a suicide attempt by a depressed patient remains after the initiation of treatment. This possibility should be considered in relation to the quantity of drug dispensed at any one time.
When it is essential, nortriptyline may be administered with electroconvulsive therapy, although the hazards may be increased.
Both elevation and lowering of blood sugar levels have been reported. Significant hypoglycaemia was reported in a Type II diabetic patient maintained on chlorpropamide (250mg/day), after the addition of nortriptyline (125mg/day).
Anaesthetics given during tricyclic antidepressant therapy may increase the risk of arrhythmias and hypotension. If possible, discontinue this medicinal product several days before surgery; if emergency surgery is unavoidable, the anaesthetist should be informed that the patient is being so treated (see section 4.5).
Nortriptyline should be used with caution in patients with urinary retention, pylorus stenosis or paralytic ileus.
Hyperpyrexia has been reported with tricyclic antidepressants when administered with anticholinergic or with neuroleptic medications, especially in hot weather.
Use in children and adolescents under the age of 18
Nortriptyline should not be used in the treatment of depression in children and adolescents under the age of 18 years. Studies in depression of this age group did not show a beneficial effect for class of tricyclic antidepressants. Studies with other classes of antidepressants (SSRI's and SNRI's) have shown risk of suicidality, self-harm and hostility to be related to these compounds. This risk cannot be excluded with nortriptyline. In addition, nortriptyline is associated with a risk of cardiovascular adverse events in all age groups. Furthermore, long term safety data in children and adolescents concerning growth, maturation and cognitive and behavioural development are not available (see also section 4.8 and section 4.9).
Warnings: as improvement may not occur during the initial weeks of therapy, patients, especially those posing a high suicidal risk, should be closely monitored during this period.
Nortriptyline Colonis 25mg/5ml Oral Solution contains sodium benzoate and sodium.
This medicine contains 0.50 mg sodium benzoate in each ml.
This medicine contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per 30ml oral solution, that is to say essentially 'sodium-free'.