Allegron® (Norpress® / Nortriptyline Hydrochloride) - 10mg (100 Tablets)

How does Norpress (Nortriptyline) work?

Allegron tablets contain the active ingredient nortriptyline, which is a type of medicine called a tricyclic antidepressant (TCA). This type of medicine acts on nerve cells in the brain.

In the brain there are numerous different chemical compounds called neurotransmitters. These act as chemical messengers between the nerve cells. Serotonin and noradrenaline are neurotransmitters and they have various functions that we know of.

When serotonin and noradrenaline are released from nerve cells in the brain they act to lighten mood. When they are reabsorbed into the nerve cells, they no longer have an effect on mood. It is thought that when depression occurs, there may be a decreased amount of serotonin and noradrenaline released from nerve cells in the brain.

Nortriptyline works by preventing serotonin and noradrenaline from being reabsorbed back into the nerve cells in the brain. This helps prolong the mood lightening effect of any released noradrenaline and serotonin. In this way, nortriptyline helps relieve depression.

It may take between two to four weeks for the benefits of this medicine to appear, so it is very important that you keep taking it, even if it doesn't seem to make much difference at first. If you feel your depression has got worse, or if you have any distressing thoughts or feelings in these first few weeks, then you should talk to your doctor.

Nortriptyline is also occasionally used for a completely different purpose - for the treatment of bedwetting in children. It works in this situation by blocking receptors called cholinergic or muscarinic receptors that are found on the surface of muscle cells in the wall of the bladder. This prevents a chemical called acetylcholine from acting on these receptors. Acetylcholine acting on these receptors normally causes the muscle in the bladder wall to contract, and the bladder to empty. By reducing this, nortriptyline helps the muscle in the bladder wall to relax. This reduces unstable, involuntary contractions of the bladder, and thereby increases the capacity of the bladder to hold urine. This in turn reduces the need to pass urine. When used for this purpose, nortriptyline should generally only be used for a maximum of three months, unless a full physical examination is given and the child is fully re-assessed.

What is Norpress (Nortriptyline) used for?

• Depressive illness
• Bedwetting (nocturnal enuresis) in children aged seven years and over
• Nerve pain (unlicensed use).

Norpress (Nortriptyline) Side Effects

• Dry mouth
• Drowsiness
• Blurred vision
• Constipation
• Nausea
• Difficulty in passing urine
• Drop in blood pressure when going from lying or sitting to sitting or standing, causing dizziness and lightheadedness (postural hypotension)
• Sweating
• Involuntary muscle movements such as tremors or twitching
• Rashes
• Confusion or delirium
• Headache
• Sexual problems
• Changes in behaviour
• Weight changes
• Taste disturbances
• Low blood pressure (hypotension)
• Disturbances in the normal numbers of blood cells in the blood
• Abnormal heart beats
• Faster than normal heart beat (tachycardia)
• Convulsions (fits)