Nortriptyline
Also called demethylamitriptyline, desmethylamitriptyline and Pamelor.
A tricyclic antidepressant, also used for nerve pain. It is what the body turns amitriptyline into. Nortriptyline (C19H21N, 263 g/mol) is a tricyclic antidepressant dispensed on prescription.
Sources and notes
- The introductionfrom sourceMoleculeFinder curated
- Other namesfrom sourceWikidataIts English label and aliases on Wikidata.
- Formula and weightcomputedPubChem
- 2D drawingcomputedPubChem structure, drawn by RDKit
- 3D modelfrom sourcePubChem 3D conformerLoaded after the page has painted, and on a phone only when you ask for it; the 2D drawing shows until it arrives.
Where you encounter it
Dispensed on prescription, not sold on a shelf. Nortriptyline on the product labels we hold.
Medicines
Every product and list we hold
Sources and notes
- The product labels and their strengthsfrom sourceDailyMed (FDA label)Each label lists the molecule as an ingredient, and an active ingredient at the strength shown.
- How it gets therefrom sourceMoleculeFinder curatedEach mark is set by hand on our lists, never inferred; a label's ingredient is added by the maker. A row with no mark data says Not marked.
- The line abovefrom sourceMoleculeFinder curatedFrom the group the molecule belongs to.
Explore its structure
Choose a part to light it up.
A nitrogen carrying one or two hydrogens. Its spare pair of electrons can pick up a hydrogen ion, so an amine is a base.
From: standard chemistry.
Rings joined where they share atoms, or a single ring standing alone. Atoms in a ring are held in place, so this part keeps its shape while chains around it can bend.
From: standard chemistry.
Sources and notes
- The drawingcomputedPubChem structure, drawn by RDKitThe page's one shipped drawing, with the chosen part lit in amber under it.
- The partscomputedFound by ruleEach part is found by a chemical pattern, never picked by hand atom by atom; its words say where they come from.
Compare a related molecule
Amitriptyline
Nortriptyline
One methyl group apart.
Nortriptyline is amitriptyline minus one methyl group, made from it by the body, and it is the less sedating of the two tricyclics.
Amitriptyline vs Nortriptyline, side by sideSources and notes
- The sentencefrom sourceMoleculeFinder comparison notesThe pair's answer line.
- The two drawingscomputedPubChem structures, drawn by RDKitDrawn the same way round; the amber marks where the two differ.
- The captionfrom sourceMoleculeFinder curated
Properties and sources
Calculated by PubChem
- Molecular formula
- C19H21N
- Molecular weight
- 263.4 g/mol
- XLogP3octanol/water, log units
- 4.5
- Polar surface areatopological
- 12 Ų
- H-bond donors
- 1
- H-bond acceptors
- 1
- Rotatable bonds
- 3
- Complexity
- 307
Measured LD50, HSDB via PubChem
387 mg/kg pure nortriptyline, mouse, oral
An LD50 is an animal study measurement, not a dose for a person.
Reported Hazard label (GHS), ECHA, HSDB via PubChem
Warning Irritant pictogram (GHS07); hazard statements H302
Reported Licence
The US Food and Drug Administration licenses Nortriptyline for human use (ANDA 073556, authorized March 30, 1992). Drugs@FDA
Groups it belongs to
- Category
- Prescription medicine
- Elements
- Nitrogen
- Hazard classes
- Irritant, GHS Warning
CNCCC=C1C2=CC=CC=C2CCC3=CC=CC=C31PubChem CID 4543 · Wikidata Q61387 · InChIKey PHVGLTMQBUFIQQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N · Data refreshed
Questions
- What is Nortriptyline?
- A tricyclic antidepressant, also used for nerve pain. It is what the body turns amitriptyline into. Nortriptyline (C19H21N, 263 g/mol) is a tricyclic antidepressant dispensed on prescription.
- How toxic is Nortriptyline?
- The reported LD50 of Nortriptyline is 387 mg/kg (mouse, oral). An LD50 is an animal study measurement, not a dose for a person. Its GHS hazard label carries the signal word Warning and the hazard pictogram Irritant. from sourcefrom source
- What kind of molecule is Nortriptyline?
- Nortriptyline has the formula C19H21N and a molecular weight of 263.4 g/mol. MoleculeFinder files it under tricyclic antidepressants, in the prescription medicine group. from sourcefrom sourcefrom sourcefrom source
- What else is Nortriptyline called?
- Nortriptyline is also called demethylamitriptyline, desmethylamitriptyline and Pamelor. from source
- Who licenses Nortriptyline as a medicine?
- The US Food and Drug Administration licenses Nortriptyline for human use (ANDA 073556, authorized March 30, 1992). from source
Sources and notes
- Calculated valuescomputedPubChemComputed from the structure, so no laboratory conditions apply; complexity is PubChem's own structural score.
- LD50from sourceHSDB via PubChemOther values the sources report: mouse, intravenous, 17 mg/kg; rat, intravenous, 22 mg/kg; mouse, another route, 70 mg/kg. The page shows the one LD50 the site uses everywhere.
- Hazard labelfrom sourceECHA, HSDB via PubChemThe label combines these classifications.
- ECHAfrom sourceAttributionSource: European Chemicals Agency, echa.europa.eu.
- Licencefrom sourceDrugs@FDARead 2026-10-21.
- Data refreshedfrom sourceMoleculeFinder2026-11-09
Keep exploring
Sources and notes
- A group apartfrom sourceMoleculeFinder comparison captions
- The same kind of moleculefrom sourceMoleculeFinder curated groupsA structural neighbour in the same family or type group; the line names the group in its own words.
- Similar in shapecomputedRDKit Morgan/TanimotoNeighbours by structural fingerprint; the sentence names the chemical groups the two share.
- The drawingscomputedPubChem structures, drawn by RDKit