High blood pressure - nortriptyline or gabapentin

Posted , 6 users are following.

A month ago my blood pressure was 111/74, now it is 147/94 and first thing in the morning before I take any meds much higher at 154/111...scary.  I am thinking it is the nortriptyline.  I am on very low doses of both drugs but I have a history of drug sensitivity...very low tolerance, and lots of side effects.  I take gabapentin 100 mg in the morning and again at bedtime and also nortriptyline 10 mg also at bedtime.  The hypertension seems to have started shortly after I started the nortriptyline.  My blood pressure decreases during the day but not back down to where it should be.

Has anyone experienced this?  Thank you

1 like, 3 replies

3 Replies

  • Posted

    Hi Karen

    my blood pressure is ussually low to normal but I wonder now if it does fluctuate a bit with the Nortryptiline (as well as heart rate of course)I did experience times when I felt my heart would pound a bit.? (Could be BP)However under the care of my doctor and Neurologist they have me on a small dose of beta blocker  metoprolol CR (with the Nortryptiline )which lowers both heart rate and lowers BP. I must admit it has helped with those heart pounding feelings. I am on 30mg of Nortryptiline and have to adjust the beta blocker when I go up in dosage.

    i would check with your Doctor about the Blood pressure and if you can go on beta blockers ? along with the gabapentin? I don't know if that could work for you and only your doctor or neurologist will know.  I just can't take Nortryptiline without it and Nortryptiline only helps me with pain when I get over 25mg. Everyone is sooo different. Hope that helps?

  • Posted

    Hi Karen. I took nortriptyline for a few weeks for migrainouse vertigo. I stopped to nortriptyline because my blood pressure was high whilst on it. I was on 10mg for 2 weeks and my blood pressure was about the same as yours. I have read that it takes a while to get used to the side effects of nortriptyline but after 6 weeks or so it does start helping. I am considering asking the specialist for another go with nortriptyline.

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