Posted by SLS on July 7, 2008, at 4:27:02
In reply to Desipramine vs. Nortriptyline, posted by fachad on July 6, 2008, at 22:57:27
Thanks for reminding me that receptors also come into play. I would have not considered it otherwise. I prefer the "feel" of nortriptyline over desipramine. It feels like it promotes a lessening of anhedonia superior to that of desipramine. I currently take 150mg of nortriptyline along with other drugs. I found nortriptyline to be soporific during the first 1-2 weeks, after which it displayed no such tendency. I would say that nortriptyline feels cleaner than desipramine because desipramine evokes much greater sympathetic tone. Desipramine causes my heart to race with palpitations. In addition, my mouth was dryer and a few other side effects that appear similar to anticholinergia because of the imbalance in sympathetic / parasympathetic activation.
> Desipramine is much more potent - in theory - as a noradregenic reuptake blocker.
>
> However, for all the other (i.e. non-target) receptors nortriptyline is much more potent.
>
> So you can expect more sedation, weight gain, dry mouth, constipation, dizziness on standing up, etc from nortriptyline.
>
> Nortriptyline is a much more "dirty" drug, although it is much cleaner than the parent TCA drugs (amitriptyline/Elavil is the parent for nortriptyline and imipramine/Tofranl is the parent for desipramine).
>
> > > No, desipramine is unique. It is a VERY potent noradrenergic drug, and has the FEWEST side effects of any of the TCAs.
> > >
> > > So it is likely to make you fell racey, but other TCAs are more likely to give you dry mouth, drowsiness, etc.
> >
> > How would you compare desipramine to nortriptyline?
> >
> >
> > - Scott
>
>
poster:SLS
thread:838229
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20080706/msgs/838565.html