Pamelor
Pamelor (generic name: Nortriptyline) is an antidepressant medication of the tricyclic class. Medications in this class are often referred to as tricyclic antidepressants, or TCAs. Depression is an all-pervasive sense of sadness and gloom. In some patients with depression, abnormal levels of brain neurotransmitters (chemicals that the nerve cells use to communicate with each other) may be responsible for the depression. Nortriptyline elevates the mood (”anti-depresses”) by raising the level of neurotransmitters in brain tissue.
Pamelor exaggerates the effects of other medications and drugs that slow the brain’s processes, such as alcohol, barbiturates, benzodiazepines (e.g. lorazepam, Ativan), and narcotics. Reserpine, given to patients taking TCAs, can have a stimulatory effect. Nortriptyline and other TCAs should not be used with monoamine oxidase inhibiting drugs, for example, isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), tranylcypromine (Parnate), and procarbazine (Matulane). High fever, convulsions and even death can occur when these drugs are used together.
Cimetidine (Tagamet) can increase nortriptyline blood levels and possibly cause side effects. Other drugs which share this effect include propafenone (Rythmol), flecainide (Tonocard), quinidine (Quinidex, Quinaglute), and fluoxetine (Prozac).
Pamelor side effects
The most commonly encountered side effects associated with nortriptyline include fast heart rate, blurred vision, urinary retention, dry mouth, constipation, weight gain or loss, and low blood pressure on standing. Rash, hives, seizures, and hepatitis are rare side effects. Nortriptyline also can cause elevated pressure in the eyes of some patients with glaucoma. Overdose with nortriptyline can cause life-threatening abnormal heart rhythms or seizures.