NCIt definition : The hydrochloride salt form of nortriptyline, a tricyclic antidepressant agent used
for short-term treatment of various forms of depression. Nortriptyline blocks the
norepinephrine presynaptic receptors, thereby blocking the reuptake of this neurotransmitter
and raising the concentration in the synaptic cleft in the CNS. Nortriptyline also
binds to alpha-adrenergic, histaminergic and cholinergic receptors. Long-term treatment
with nortriptyline produces a downregulation of adrenergic receptors due to the increased
stimulation of these receptors.;