Aventil: Drug Information

Generic name: Nortriptyline

Brand Name: Nordep, Nortin, Promox, Sensival, Aventyl

Drug Class: Tricyclic, Antidepressant

Uses of Aventil:

Aventil is a tricyclic antidepressantthat is used to treat various mental disorders such as depression, psychosis and neurotic depression. It works by inhibiting the activity of chemicals such as histamine, 5-hydroxytryptamine and acetylcholine at nerve terminals in the brain. It is known to increase the effect of norepinephrine and reduce the effect of phenethylamine.

Dosage and Indication:

You must take Aventil as prescribed by your doctor and must not take an overdose as the medicine is highly sedative in nature. It is best to swallow the medicine as whole in tablet form preferably with food in order to avoid stomach upset. Do not stop taking the medicine all of a sudden as it might have adverse effects. You must quit gradually by decreasing the dosage as directed by your physician.

Warning and Precautions:

Tell your doctor if you are allergic to any medicine, food or synthetic dyes.

You must notify your doctor if you are pregnant or lactating prior to taking the medicine.

Aventil should not be given to patients with a history of mania, hypersensitivity, epilepsy and recent MI.

This medicine is not meant for children below the age of 6 years.

If you have a history of cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, closed angle glaucoma, thyroid disorder, brain tumor, asthma or any other major illness, you must tell your doctor as special precautions and monitoring of the dose will be required under these conditions.

Drug Interactions:

Phenothiazines should not be co administered with Aventil as they raise blood levels and interfere with the anticonvulsant control of the medicine.

Aventil may cause severe hyper pyretic reaction with mono amine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). Hence, should not be used along with or within 2 weeks of stopping MAOIs.

Aventil potentates the hypersensitive effect of non-adrenaline and anticoagulant action of coumarins.

Side effects of Aventil:

Some of the most common side effects of the medication include dry mouth, blurred vision, increased heart rate, confusion, urinary retention, nocturia, skin rash, nausea, fatigue, excitement, flushing, drowsiness, weight gain, alterations in appetite, constipation, peripheral neuropathy, decreased conduction, urinary retention, jaundice (rare) and insomnia.

Overdose:

In case of an overdose of the medication, you must report to your doctor at the earliest or contact your local poison control center.