Pamelor (Nortriptyline) for Alzheimer's

Overview
Pamelor is a prescription medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of depression. Pamelor is also known by its drug name, Nortriptyline. Pamelor is sometimes prescribed to treat sleep problems in people with Alzheimer’s disease when non-drug approaches have failed to address the symptom. Since the FDA has not approved Pamelor specifically for this usage, it is considered “off-label.”

Pamelor is a tricyclic antidepressant. It is believed that Pamelor works by changing the balance of neurotransmitters in the brain.

How do I take it?
Pamelor is generally taken one or more times a day.

Pamelor is available in capsule and liquid forms.

Side effects
The FDA-approved label for Pamelor lists common side effects including increased heart rate, weakness, clumsiness, weight changes, nausea, constipation, trouble urinating, low blood pressure, sexual dysfunction, and blurred vision.

Rare but serious side effects listed for Pamelor include the worsening of depressive symptoms.