WHAT ARE AMITRIPTYLINE and NORTRIPTYLINE? Amitriptyline and Nortriptyline are from a group of medicines called tricyclic antidepressants. The body converts amitriptyline to nortriptyline, therefore the effects of both medicines are similar.

What is the difference between nortriptyline and amitriptyline?

Amitriptyline is the drug of choice in treatment of depression when the side effect of mild sedation is desirable. Nortriptyline is used when its stimulatory side effect is considered to be of clinical advantage.

Is nortriptyline more potent than amitriptyline?

In animal studies using response to a painful stimulus, amitriptyline was more potent than nortriptyline, imipramine, and desipramine. Amitriptyline was judged to be approximately 70 times more potent than aspirin as an analgesic.