Pamelor

Generic name: Nortriptyline
Drug class: Tricyclic antidepressants

Usage of Pamelor

Pamelor is a tricyclic antidepressant that is used to treat symptoms of depression.

Pamelor may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Pamelor side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic Reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Report any new or worsening symptoms to your doctor, such as: mood or behavior changes, anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, or if you feel impulsive, irritable, agitated, hostile, aggressive, restless, hyperactive (mentally or physically), more depressed, or have thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself.

Pamelor may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor at once if you have:

blurred vision, tunnel vision, eye pain or swelling, or seeing halos around lights;

restless muscle movements in your eyes, tongue, jaw, or neck;

a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;

seizure (convulsions);

new or worsening chest pain, pounding heartbeats or fluttering in your chest;

sudden numbness or weakness, problems with vision, speech, or balance;

fever, sore throat, easy bruising, unusual bleeding;

painful or difficult urination; or

jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Seek medical attention right away if you have symptoms of serotonin syndrome, such as: agitation, hallucinations, fever, sweating, shivering, fast heart rate, muscle stiffness, twitching, loss of coordination, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.

Common side effects of Pamelor may include:

increased blood pressure;

numbness or tingling in your hands or feet;

dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite;

blurred vision;

rash, itching; or

breast swelling (in men or women).

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking Pamelor

You should not use Pamelor if:

you are allergic to Pamelor or similar medicines (amitriptyline, amoxapine, clomipramine, Desipramine, doXepin, Imipramine, protriptyline, trimipramine);

you are allergic to certain seizure medications (Carbamazepine, eslicarbazepine, oxcarbazepine, rufinamide); or

you recently had a heart attack.

Do not use Pamelor if you have used an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur. MAO inhibitors include isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, tranylcypromine, and others.

Tell your doctor if you have used an "SSRI" antidepressant in the past 5 weeks, such as citalopram, escitalopram, fluoxetine (Prozac), fluvoxamine, Paroxetine, Sertraline (Zoloft), trazodone, or vilazodone.

Tell your doctor if you also take stimulant medicine, opioid medicine, herbal products, or medicine for depression, mental illness, Parkinson's disease, migraine headaches, serious infections, or prevention of nausea and vomiting. An interaction with Pamelor could cause a serious condition called serotonin syndrome.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

unexplained fainting spells;

a genetic heart condition called Brugada syndrome;

a family history of unexplained death at younger than 45 years old;

heart disease;

a heart attack or stroke;

a seizure;

bipolar disorder (manic-depression);

schizophrenia or other mental illness;

a thyroid disorder;

problems with urination;

narrow-angle glaucoma; or

if you are receiving electroshock treatment.

Some young people have thoughts about suicide when first taking an antidepressant. Your doctor should check your progress at regular visits. Your family or other caregivers should also be alert to changes in your mood or symptoms.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Not approved for use by anyone younger than 18 years old.

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How to use Pamelor

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

Measure liquid medicine with the supplied syringe or a dose-measuring device (not a kitchen spoon).

Tell your doctor if you have a planned surgery.

You may have withdrawal symptoms if you stop using Pamelor suddenly. Ask your doctor before stopping the medicine.

Your symptoms may not improve for a few weeks.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Keep the bottle tightly closed when not in use.

Warnings

Some young people have thoughts about suicide when first taking an antidepressant. Stay alert to changes in your mood or symptoms. Report any new or worsening symptoms to your doctor.

What other drugs will affect Pamelor

Using Pamelor with other drugs that make you drowsy can worsen this effect. Ask your doctor before using opioid medication, a sleeping pill, a muscle relaxer, or medicine for anxiety or seizures.

Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, especially:

medicine to treat depression, anxiety, mood disorders, or mental illness;

cold or allergy medicine (Benadryl, Sudafed, and others);

a stimulant medicine, such as diet pills or ADHD medicine;

medicine to treat Parkinson's disease;

medicine to treat stomach problems, motion sickness, or irritable bowel syndrome;

medicine to treat overactive bladder; or

bronchodilator asthma medication.

This list is not complete. Other drugs may affect Pamelor, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

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