Pamelor

What is Pamelor?

Pamelor (nortriptyline) is a tricyclic anti-depressant which affects the balance of chemicals in the brain.

What symptoms does it treat?

Pamelor is used to treat symptoms of depression. However, like other anti-depressants it can also be used to treat IBS, and particularly the pain of IBS. It is generally given to IBS patients in lower doses than those given to depressed patients.

How is it taken?

Pamelor comes in tablet form.

REVIEWS OF PAMELOR

Review by H

First of all, my sympathy goes out to all IBS sufferers; I know first-hand how debilitating it can be. I left a very good-paying job after 28 years because of IBS. I went from a very conscientious employee to one who was constantly late for work. Finally I just tendered my resignation, and nobody really ever knew why.

I went to doctor after doctor, went through a multitude of medical tests, had the barium enema, the stool sample tests, a colonoscopy, and numerous other tests. At one time I was told I had diverticulitis and was prescribed antibiotics. Finally a doctor told me that because everything else had been ruled out and because I had classic symptoms of IBS he felt that that is what I had been suffering from all along.

By this time I had lost my job, undergone numerous tests, been prescribed numerous medications, and guess what? Ten or 15 years later I still had the same problem., and it was a major problem. It affected my ability to work, it affected my ability to plan things to do with my family, it affected my ability to even interact with my friends. I would be invited for lunch, or invited to go golfing, and I could never commit to anything because I never knew how I would be feeling.

I believe that stress is the most major component in my IBS, and it doesn't matter if you know that what you are stressing about is stupid, you are powerless to stop the IBS consequences that follow. For example, I could win a holiday for me and my wife to Hawaii, and while it would be exciting and a good kind of stress, it would still cause me major IBS symptoms. No matter how irrational that may be to most people, it is a reality to me, and I am powerless to change it.

I have tried Dicetel, 100mg three times a day, and it helps somewhat, but not completely. I have tried jogging for 30 minutes a day and it helps somewhat, but not completely...I have taken percocet and oxycodone for pain, and they help somewhat..One of the biggest helpers for me has been a small dosage of nortriptyline (an anti-depressant) even though I am not depressed. I started at 25mg per day, where the usual starting dose to treat depression would be 125mg per day. I now, after serveral months of treatment, take 50mg per day, and occasionally if I am having problems I will up that to 75mg per day.

I am not cured and I am not without symptoms, but for the most part, with the nortriptyline, the percocet for pain, the Dicetel, lots of bulk fiber (I use Prodiem), and exercise, 30 minutes per day, I seem to be able to manage a bit better than before. Only somebody who has had this experience this can truly appreciate how awful it is and how adversely it can affect your life. If this helps anybody out there then it has been worthwhile.