Nortriptyline absorption in short bowel syndrome.

Severe short bowel syndrome usually requires a period of parenteral nutrition support until gastrointestinal hypertrophy occurs. Because of the shortened length of the gastrointestinal tract, oral drug therapy can be compromised secondary to decreased absorption. In the case presented, a patient with short bowel syndrome who required parenteral nutrition was able to achieve therapeutic nortriptyline serum concentrations while receiving the drug via the oral route.