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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Vera on February 26, 2004, at 13:43:00
Hi -
I'm wondering if anyone has had any experience with Pamelor?? I've been on Wellbutrin SR and currently take Wellbutrin XL, but I've had postural hypotension, elevated BP, and a couple of other things. I discussed with my PDoc trying something else (again!) as I'd been on Paxil, Elavil, Effexor, Zoloft, and all caused...shall we say...bathroom problems. I don't have that problem with Wellbutrin, but it is also very expensive with my HMO, and Pamelor is 75% less expensive. I was on it 2-3 years ago and I couldn't recall what, if any, side-effects I had with it. My medical Dr. preferred the "newer" drugs (I listed) but the Pdoc scoffed, and said the "older" ones are every bit as good.
So, if anyone has, or is, taking Pamelor, pleas share your experiences with me? Thanx!!
Posted by zeugma on February 26, 2004, at 17:35:05
In reply to From Wellbutrin to Pamelor???, posted by Vera on February 26, 2004, at 13:43:00
> Hi -
>
> I'm wondering if anyone has had any experience with Pamelor?? I've been on Wellbutrin SR and currently take Wellbutrin XL, but I've had postural hypotension, elevated BP, and a couple of other things. I discussed with my PDoc trying something else (again!) as I'd been on Paxil, Elavil, Effexor, Zoloft, and all caused...shall we say...bathroom problems. I don't have that problem with Wellbutrin, but it is also very expensive with my HMO, and Pamelor is 75% less expensive. I was on it 2-3 years ago and I couldn't recall what, if any, side-effects I had with it. My medical Dr. preferred the "newer" drugs (I listed) but the Pdoc scoffed, and said the "older" ones are every bit as good.
> So, if anyone has, or is, taking Pamelor, pleas share your experiences with me? Thanx!!By 'bathroom problems' I assume you mean constipation? Yes, Pamelor (nortriptyline) is constipating.
And I would be inclined to agree with your Pdoc. Nortriptyline is just as good as newer AD's, and in some ways it is better. It has worked for me for quite a while now.
>
Posted by Thereishope on February 26, 2004, at 18:55:50
In reply to Re: From Wellbutrin to Pamelor??? » Vera, posted by zeugma on February 26, 2004, at 17:35:05
Like many of these side effects does this one subside in time?
I plan to talk with my doctor about trying something else like Pamelor or Desipramine. Hopefully she will be open to trying the older ADs. I've found Paxil, Zoloft, Celexa, and Prozac only made my symptoms worst. Maybe the older ADs will be more "user friendly."
> By 'bathroom problems' I assume you mean constipation? Yes, Pamelor (nortriptyline) is constipating.
>
> And I would be inclined to agree with your Pdoc. Nortriptyline is just as good as newer AD's, and in some ways it is better. It has worked for me for quite a while now.
> >
>
>
Posted by zeugma on February 26, 2004, at 19:46:15
In reply to Re: From Wellbutrin to Pamelor??? » zeugma, posted by Thereishope on February 26, 2004, at 18:55:50
> Like many of these side effects does this one subside in time?
>It seemed to subside after a while. I added Strattera over the summer, because I also have severe ADHD, and so I was taking not one but TWO constipating meds. Plus I have combined type IBS, which means I have long spells of constipation anyway, and I honestly don't know what is due to the meds and what is the IBS. My gastroenterologist told me that it was likely the meds were exacerbating an already existing condition. I hope the treatments he has put me on start to work soon. But as I told him, there is no question of reducing dosages or changing meds at this point. The benefits are too great.
> I plan to talk with my doctor about trying something else like Pamelor or Desipramine. Hopefully she will be open to trying the older ADs. I've found Paxil, Zoloft, Celexa, and Prozac only made my symptoms worst. Maybe the older ADs will be more "user friendly."
For some people, the older AD's are. Since tricyclics have a different mechanism of action than the SSRI's, it makes a lot of sense to try one. And I should add that even though nortriptyline hasn't helped my constipation, it has been very effective in relieving the almost daily nausea and abdominal pain that was causing terrible misery. My GI specialist told me that he thinks that Elavil (amitriptyline) is the best medication there is for IBS, and uses it extensively in his practice.
>
>
> > By 'bathroom problems' I assume you mean constipation? Yes, Pamelor (nortriptyline) is constipating.
> >
> > And I would be inclined to agree with your Pdoc. Nortriptyline is just as good as newer AD's, and in some ways it is better. It has worked for me for quite a while now.
> > >
> >
> >
>
>
Posted by Thereishope on February 26, 2004, at 21:27:30
In reply to Re: From Wellbutrin to Pamelor??? » Thereishope, posted by zeugma on February 26, 2004, at 19:46:15
Like yourself I also have the IBS-C. So I was wondering how my digestive system would react to this med. Do you have any experience with Desipramine?
Thanks
> > Like many of these side effects does this one subside in time?
> >
>
> It seemed to subside after a while. I added Strattera over the summer, because I also have severe ADHD, and so I was taking not one but TWO constipating meds. Plus I have combined type IBS, which means I have long spells of constipation anyway, and I honestly don't know what is due to the meds and what is the IBS. My gastroenterologist told me that it was likely the meds were exacerbating an already existing condition. I hope the treatments he has put me on start to work soon. But as I told him, there is no question of reducing dosages or changing meds at this point. The benefits are too great.
>
> > I plan to talk with my doctor about trying something else like Pamelor or Desipramine. Hopefully she will be open to trying the older ADs. I've found Paxil, Zoloft, Celexa, and Prozac only made my symptoms worst. Maybe the older ADs will be more "user friendly."
>
>
> For some people, the older AD's are. Since tricyclics have a different mechanism of action than the SSRI's, it makes a lot of sense to try one. And I should add that even though nortriptyline hasn't helped my constipation, it has been very effective in relieving the almost daily nausea and abdominal pain that was causing terrible misery. My GI specialist told me that he thinks that Elavil (amitriptyline) is the best medication there is for IBS, and uses it extensively in his practice.
> >
> >
> > > By 'bathroom problems' I assume you mean constipation? Yes, Pamelor (nortriptyline) is constipating.
> > >
> > > And I would be inclined to agree with your Pdoc. Nortriptyline is just as good as newer AD's, and in some ways it is better. It has worked for me for quite a while now.
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>
Posted by Vera on February 27, 2004, at 11:50:10
In reply to Re: From Wellbutrin to Pamelor??? » zeugma, posted by Thereishope on February 26, 2004, at 18:55:50
Aaahhh, actually, no...diarrhea has always been the problem with EVERY one I'd tried, until Wellbutrin. It's a bit clogging! :-) I didn't think I had D. with Pamelor previously, just couldn't remember. C. I can deal with - D. severely compromises ones life. Thanx - it's comforting to know that there is agreement with my Pdoc re: 'older drugs'. Do you have any other side effects that are bothersome?
Posted by zeugma on February 27, 2004, at 16:02:18
In reply to Re: From Wellbutrin to Pamelor???, posted by Vera on February 27, 2004, at 11:50:10
people's sensitivity to the side effects of tricyclics varies greatly. A lot of people can't deal at all with anticholinergic effects- others (myself included, probably) actually benefit in some ways from them. Similarly, some people can't deal with any degree of sedation, but I'm one of those insomniac depressives who never got a decent night of sleep in his life without meds. As for the sexual side effects that are a ubiquitious feature of the newer, 'better-tolerated' (and far more expensive) AD's, they are lower in general for TCA's, and I have not come across a single report on this forum of sexual s/e caused by nortriptyline. Desipramine, yes (which I've never tried), but not nortriptyline. [I'll stand corrected if somebody posts with an experience to the contrary.]
This is the end of the thread.
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