U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Divider Arrow National Institutes of Health Divider Arrow NCATS

Details

Stereochemistry ACHIRAL
Molecular Formula C19H21N
Molecular Weight 263.3767
Optical Activity NONE
Defined Stereocenters 0 / 0
E/Z Centers 0
Charge 0

SHOW SMILES / InChI
Structure of NORTRIPTYLINE

SMILES

CNCCC=C1C2=CC=CC=C2CCC3=CC=CC=C13

InChI

InChIKey=PHVGLTMQBUFIQQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N
InChI=1S/C19H21N/c1-20-14-6-11-19-17-9-4-2-7-15(17)12-13-16-8-3-5-10-18(16)19/h2-5,7-11,20H,6,12-14H2,1H3

HIDE SMILES / InChI
Nortriptyline is a second-generation tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) marketed as the hydrochloride salt under the trade names Sensoval, Aventyl, Pamelor, Norpress, Allegron, Noritren and Nortrilen. Nortriptyline is used in the treatment of depression and childhood nocturnal enuresis. Its off-label uses include treatment of postherpetic neuralgia, angioedema and smoking Cessation, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in some neurological disorders. It is believed that nortriptyline either inhibits the reuptake of the neurotransmitter serotonin at the neuronal membrane or acts at beta-adrenergic receptors. Nortriptyline is US FDA-approved for the treatment of major depression. In the United Kingdom, it may also be used for treating nocturnal enuresis, with courses of treatment lasting no more than three months. The most common side effects include dry mouth, sedation, constipation, and increased appetite, mild blurred vision, tinnitus, occasionally hypomania or mania. An occasional side effect is a rapid or irregular heartbeat. Alcohol may exacerbate some of its side effects. However, fewer and milder side effects occur with nortriptyline than tertiary tricyclic antidepressants such as imipramine and amitriptyline. For this reason, nortriptyline is preferred to other tricyclic antidepressants, particularly with older adults, which also improves compliance.

Approval Year

Targets

Targets

Primary TargetPharmacologyConditionPotency
6.3 nM [Ki]
0.04 nM [IC50]
Conditions

Conditions

ConditionModalityTargetsHighest PhaseProduct
Preventing
AVENTYL HYDROCHLORIDE

Approved Use

Nortriptyline hydrochloride capsules are indicated for the relief of symptoms of depression. Endogenous depressions are more likely to be alleviated than are other depressive states.

Launch Date

1964
Primary
AVENTYL HYDROCHLORIDE

Approved Use

Nortriptyline hydrochloride capsules are indicated for the relief of symptoms of depression. Endogenous depressions are more likely to be alleviated than are other depressive states.

Launch Date

1964
Primary
AVENTYL HYDROCHLORIDE

Approved Use

Nortriptyline hydrochloride capsules are indicated for the relief of symptoms of depression. Endogenous depressions are more likely to be alleviated than are other depressive states.

Launch Date

1964
Cmax

Cmax

ValueDoseCo-administeredAnalytePopulation
16.91 ng/mL
25 mg single, oral
dose: 25 mg
route of administration: Oral
experiment type: SINGLE
co-administered:
NORTRIPTYLINE plasma
Homo sapiens
population: UNKNOWN
age: UNKNOWN
sex: UNKNOWN
food status: UNKNOWN
36 nM
25 mg single, oral
dose: 25 mg
route of administration: Oral
experiment type: SINGLE
co-administered:
NORTRIPTYLINE plasma
Homo sapiens
population: HEALTHY
age: ADULT
sex: FEMALE / MALE
food status: FASTED
AUC

AUC

ValueDoseCo-administeredAnalytePopulation
767.28 ng × h/mL
25 mg single, oral
dose: 25 mg
route of administration: Oral
experiment type: SINGLE
co-administered:
NORTRIPTYLINE plasma
Homo sapiens
population: UNKNOWN
age: UNKNOWN
sex: UNKNOWN
food status: UNKNOWN
1591 nM × h
25 mg single, oral
dose: 25 mg
route of administration: Oral
experiment type: SINGLE
co-administered:
NORTRIPTYLINE plasma
Homo sapiens
population: HEALTHY
age: ADULT
sex: FEMALE / MALE
food status: FASTED
T1/2

T1/2

ValueDoseCo-administeredAnalytePopulation
32.75 h
25 mg single, oral
dose: 25 mg
route of administration: Oral
experiment type: SINGLE
co-administered:
NORTRIPTYLINE plasma
Homo sapiens
population: UNKNOWN
age: UNKNOWN
sex: UNKNOWN
food status: UNKNOWN
29.3 h
25 mg single, oral
dose: 25 mg
route of administration: Oral
experiment type: SINGLE
co-administered:
NORTRIPTYLINE plasma
Homo sapiens
population: HEALTHY
age: ADULT
sex: FEMALE / MALE
food status: FASTED
Funbound

Funbound

ValueDoseCo-administeredAnalytePopulation
8.35%
NORTRIPTYLINE plasma
Homo sapiens
population: UNHEALTHY
age: ADULT
sex: FEMALE / MALE
food status: UNKNOWN
Overview

Overview

CYP3A4CYP2C9CYP2D6hERG



OverviewOther

Other InhibitorOther SubstrateOther Inducer



Drug as perpetrator​

Drug as perpetrator​

TargetModalityActivityMetaboliteClinical evidence
yes [Ki 450 uM]
Drug as victim

Drug as victim

TargetModalityActivityMetaboliteClinical evidence
major
likely (co-administration study)
Comment: Concomitant use of tricyclic antidepressants with drugs that can inhibit cytochrome P450 2D6 may require lower doses than usually prescribed for either the tricyclic antidepressant or the other drug
minor
minor
yes
Tox targets

Tox targets

TargetModalityActivityMetaboliteClinical evidence
PubMed

PubMed

TitleDatePubMed
Palmitate increases the susceptibility of cells to drug-induced toxicity: an in vitro method to identify drugs with potential contraindications in patients with metabolic disease.
2012-10
Genetic variants in the serotonin transporter influence the efficacy of bupropion and nortriptyline in smoking cessation.
2012-01
Profiling of a prescription drug library for potential renal drug-drug interactions mediated by the organic cation transporter 2.
2011-07-14
Development of a list of potentially inappropriate drugs for the korean elderly using the delphi method.
2010-12
Identification of human Ether-à-go-go related gene modulators by three screening platforms in an academic drug-discovery setting.
2010-12
Early-life stress and antidepressants modulate peripheral biomarkers in a gene-environment rat model of depression.
2010-08-16
Which xenobiotic(s) could be responsible for the radiologic findings below? Answer: any proconvulsant xenobiotic, in this case tramadol, bupropion, and nortriptyline.
2010-03
Current treatment options in smoking cessation.
2010-02
An overview of Indian research in anxiety disorders.
2010-01
A new strategy for antidepressant prescription.
2010
Spontaneous hypothermia on intensive care unit admission is a predictor of unfavorable neurological outcome in patients after resuscitation: an observational cohort study.
2010
3D-QSAR design of new escitalopram derivatives for the treatment of major depressive disorders.
2009-12-21
Nortriptyline-induced hepatic failure.
1996-02
Depression following smoking cessation in women.
1996
Mixed mania: apparent induction by a tricyclic antidepressant in five consecutively treated patients with bipolar depression.
1995-01-01
Nortriptyline-induced fulminant hepatic failure.
1995-01
Recurrent hypotension immediately after seizures in nortriptyline overdose.
1994-07
The cardiovascular effects of bupropion and nortriptyline in depressed outpatients.
1994-06
Sleep in bereavement-related depression during and after pharmacotherapy with nortriptyline.
1994-04-01
Midodrine for TCA-induced orthostatic hypotension.
1993-11
High initial nortriptyline doses in the treatment of depression.
1993-02
Downregulation of serotonin receptor subtypes by nortriptyline and adinazolam in major depressive disorder: neuroendocrine and platelet markers.
1993
Simulated home treatment of depression with nortriptyline.
1991
Myoclonus caused by a tricyclic antidepressant.
1990-04
Naproxen reversal of nortriptyline-induced orthostatic hypotension.
1989-09
Treatment-emergent depression with antidepressants in panic disorder.
1989-05-01
Tryptophan antagonism of stimulant-induced tics.
1989-02
Use of yohimbine to counteract nortriptyline-induced orthostatic hypotension.
1989-02
The effects of mood changes and antidepressants on the cognitive capacity of elderly depressed patients.
1989
A placebo-controlled comparison of the effect of nortriptyline and phenelzine on orthostatic hypotension in elderly depressed patients.
1987-12
Occurrence of myoclonus in patients treated with cyclic antidepressants.
1987-03
Comparative efficacy and safety of MAOIs versus TCAs in treating depression in the elderly.
1986-10
The antiarrhythmic effect of nortriptyline in cardiac patients with ventricular premature depolarizations.
1986-06
Psychosis after discontinuation of nortriptyline.
1984-04
Marked sinus tachycardia resulting from the synergistic effects of marijuana and nortriptyline.
1983-05
The clinical efficacy and side-effects of mianserin and nortriptyline in depressed out-patients: a double-blind randomized trial.
1982
Atrial flutter with amoxapine: a case report.
1981-11
Comparison of imipramine- and nortriptyline-induced orthostatic hypotension: a meaningful difference.
1981-09
Hoarseness and tricyclic antidepressants.
1980-05
Slow tricyclic antidepressant metabolism, polypharmacy, and cardiac arrest.
1980-01
Hoarseness and aphonia as a side effect of tricyclic antidepressants.
1979-12
Cardiovascular side effects of long-term therapy with tricyclic antidepressants in the aged.
1979-05
[Double blind clinical study of mianserin and nortriptyline (author's transl)].
1978-09-01
[The extrapyramidal symptoms in the combination of lithium long-term lithium therapy with nortriptyline. A case report on the formation of a pathogenesis hypothesis].
1976-01
Urinary retention in a neonate secondary to maternal ingestion of nortriptyline.
1972-09
Ototoxic reaction associated with use of nortriptyline hydrochloride: case report.
1972-06
Ophthalmological effects of nortriptyline--relationship to plasma level.
1972
Tricyclic antidepressants and monoamine oxidase inhibitors.
1971-06
Correlation of subjective side effects with plasma concentrations of nortriptyline.
1970-10-03
Amitriptyline and heart block.
1967-07-29
Patents

Sample Use Guides

25mg PO q6-8hr. No more than 150 mg/day
Route of Administration: Oral
Two cell lines and eight primary cell cultures from metastatic melanoma deposits were exposed to three tricyclic drugs, amitriptyline, nortriptyline and clomipramine, at concentrations ranging from 200 to 6.25 µmol/l in the ATP-based tumour chemosensitivity assay. All three drugs showed activity, although nortriptyline was more active than clomipramine or amitriptyline in both cell lines and primary cell cultures, with an IC50 of 9, 27 and 33 µmol/l, respectively.
Name Type Language
NORTRIPTYLINE
INN   MI   VANDF   WHO-DD  
INN  
Official Name English
NORTRILEN
Preferred Name English
NORAMITRIPTYLINE
Common Name English
NSC-757234
Code English
SESAVAL
Common Name English
NORTRIPTYLINE [VANDF]
Common Name English
3-(10,11-DIHYDRO-5H-DIBENZO(A,D)(7)ANNULEN-5-YLIDENE)-N-METHYLPROPAN-1-AMINE
Common Name English
1-PROPANAMINE, 3-(10,11-DIHYDRO-5H-DIBENZO(A,D)CYCLOHEPTEN-5-YLIDENE)-N-METHYL-
Systematic Name English
LUMBECK
Common Name English
AVENTYL
Brand Name English
Nortriptyline [WHO-DD]
Common Name English
nortriptyline [INN]
Common Name English
AMITRIPTYLINE HYDROCHLORIDE IMPURITY C [EP IMPURITY]
Common Name English
NORTRIPTYLINE [MI]
Common Name English
NCI-169453
Code English
DESITRIPTILINA
Common Name English
10,11-DIHYDRO-N-METHYL-5H-DIBENZO(A,D)CYCLOHEPTENE-D(SUP5,.GAMMA.)-PROPYLAMINE
Common Name English
Classification Tree Code System Code
NCI_THESAURUS C94727
Created by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:52:45 GMT 2025 , Edited by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:52:45 GMT 2025
LIVERTOX NBK548526
Created by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:52:45 GMT 2025 , Edited by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:52:45 GMT 2025
WHO-ATC N06AA10
Created by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:52:45 GMT 2025 , Edited by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:52:45 GMT 2025
NDF-RT N0000175752
Created by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:52:45 GMT 2025 , Edited by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:52:45 GMT 2025
WHO-VATC QN06AA10
Created by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:52:45 GMT 2025 , Edited by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:52:45 GMT 2025
Code System Code Type Description
NSC
757234
Created by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:52:45 GMT 2025 , Edited by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:52:45 GMT 2025
PRIMARY
LACTMED
Nortriptyline
Created by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:52:45 GMT 2025 , Edited by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:52:45 GMT 2025
PRIMARY
INN
1328
Created by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:52:45 GMT 2025 , Edited by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:52:45 GMT 2025
PRIMARY
FDA UNII
BL03SY4LXB
Created by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:52:45 GMT 2025 , Edited by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:52:45 GMT 2025
PRIMARY
HSDB
3371
Created by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:52:45 GMT 2025 , Edited by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:52:45 GMT 2025
PRIMARY
EPA CompTox
DTXSID9023384
Created by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:52:45 GMT 2025 , Edited by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:52:45 GMT 2025
PRIMARY
CAS
72-69-5
Created by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:52:45 GMT 2025 , Edited by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:52:45 GMT 2025
PRIMARY
IUPHAR
2404
Created by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:52:45 GMT 2025 , Edited by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:52:45 GMT 2025
PRIMARY
ECHA (EC/EINECS)
200-788-8
Created by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:52:45 GMT 2025 , Edited by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:52:45 GMT 2025
PRIMARY
WIKIPEDIA
NORTRIPTYLINE
Created by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:52:45 GMT 2025 , Edited by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:52:45 GMT 2025
PRIMARY
MERCK INDEX
m8074
Created by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:52:45 GMT 2025 , Edited by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:52:45 GMT 2025
PRIMARY Merck Index
DRUG CENTRAL
1971
Created by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:52:45 GMT 2025 , Edited by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:52:45 GMT 2025
PRIMARY
NCI_THESAURUS
C62060
Created by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:52:45 GMT 2025 , Edited by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:52:45 GMT 2025
PRIMARY
ChEMBL
CHEMBL445
Created by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:52:45 GMT 2025 , Edited by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:52:45 GMT 2025
PRIMARY
RXCUI
7531
Created by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:52:45 GMT 2025 , Edited by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:52:45 GMT 2025
PRIMARY RxNorm
DAILYMED
BL03SY4LXB
Created by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:52:45 GMT 2025 , Edited by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:52:45 GMT 2025
PRIMARY
MESH
D009661
Created by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:52:45 GMT 2025 , Edited by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:52:45 GMT 2025
PRIMARY
EVMPD
SUB09380MIG
Created by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:52:45 GMT 2025 , Edited by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:52:45 GMT 2025
PRIMARY
DRUG BANK
DB00540
Created by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:52:45 GMT 2025 , Edited by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:52:45 GMT 2025
PRIMARY
CHEBI
7640
Created by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:52:45 GMT 2025 , Edited by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:52:45 GMT 2025
PRIMARY
SMS_ID
100000083622
Created by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:52:45 GMT 2025 , Edited by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:52:45 GMT 2025
PRIMARY
PUBCHEM
4543
Created by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:52:45 GMT 2025 , Edited by admin on Wed Apr 02 07:52:45 GMT 2025
PRIMARY