Pamelor vs. Xanax

• Are Xanax and Pamelor the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Pamelor?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Xanax?
• What Is Pamelor?
• What Is Xanax?
• What Drugs Interact with Pamelor?
• What Drugs Interact with Xanax?
• How Should Pamelor Be Taken?
• How Should Xanax Be Taken?

Pamelor (nortriptyline HCl) and Xanax (alprazolam) are used to treat different mental illnesses.

Pamelor is used to treat depression.

Xanax is prescribed to treat panic attacks and anxiety disorders. Xanax may be used to treat anxiety associated with depression.

Pamelor and Xanax belong to different drug classes. Pamelor is a tricyclic antidepressant and Xanax is a benzodiazepine.

Side effects of Pamelor and Xanax that are similar include blurred vision, dry mouth, constipation, weight changes, dizziness, weakness, poor balance or coordination, nausea, or decreased sex drive.

Side effects of Pamelor that are different from Xanax include fast heart rate, urinary retention, tingly feeling, unpleasant taste, ringing in your ears, breast swelling (in men or women), impotence, or difficulty having an orgasm.

Side effects of Xanax that are different from Pamelor include drowsiness, tiredness, sleep problems (insomnia), memory problems, slurred speech, trouble concentrating, irritability, diarrhea, increased sweating, headache, vomiting, upset stomach, appetite changes, swelling in your hands or feet, or stuffy nose.

Both Pamelor and Xanax may interact with alcohol, other drugs that make you sleepy or slow your breathing (sleeping pills, narcotics, muscle relaxers, or medicines for anxiety or seizures), other antidepressants or medications to treat mental illness, cimetidine, or St. John's wort.

Pamelor may also interact with reserpine, terbinafine, bladder or urinary medicines, bronchodilators, cold or allergy medicines that contain an antihistamine, medications for Parkinson's disease; medications to treat excess stomach acid, stomach ulcer, motion sickness, or irritable bowel syndrome; decongestants, diet pills, stimulants, or heart rhythm medications.

Xanax may also interact with birth control pills, cyclosporine, dexamethasone, ergotamine, imatinib, isoniazid, antibiotics, antifungals, barbiturates, heart or blood pressure medications, or HIV/AIDS medicines.

Do not stop using Pamelor or Xanax suddenly, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms.

Common side effects of Pamelor include:

• fast heart rate,
• blurred vision,
• urinary retention,
• dry mouth,
• constipation,
• weight gain or loss,
• dizziness upon standing (orthostatic hypotension),
• tingly feeling,
• weakness,
• lack of coordination,
• unpleasant taste,
• nausea,
• ringing in your ears,
• breast swelling (in men or women),
• decreased sex drive,
• impotence, or
• difficulty having an orgasm.

Common side effects of Xanax include:

• Drowsiness
• Tiredness
• Dizziness
• Sleep problems (insomnia)
• Memory problems
• Poor balance or coordination
• Slurred speech
• Trouble concentrating
• Irritability
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Increased sweating
• Headache
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Upset stomach
• Blurred vision
• Appetite or weight changes
• Swelling in your hands or feet
• Muscle weakness
• Dry mouth
• Stuffy nose
• Loss of interest in sex

Pamelor (nortriptyline HCl) is an antidepressant that is used to treat mental/mood problems such as depression.

Xanax (alprazolam) is indicated for the management of anxiety disorders and the short-term relief of symptoms of anxiety in adults. Xanax is also indicated for the treatment of panic disorder in adults with or without a fear of places and situations that might cause panic, helplessness, or embarrassment (agoraphobia).

Pamelor may interact with narcotic pain medicines.

Pamelor may also interact with other drugs that make you sleepy or slow your breathing (sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, or medicines for anxiety, depression, or seizures), bupropion, cimetidine, reserpine, St. John's wort, terbinafine, other antidepressant or medication to treat mental illness, bladder or urinary medicines, bronchodilators, cold or allergy medicines that contain an antihistamine, medications for Parkinson's disease; medications to treat excess stomach acid, stomach ulcer, motion sickness, or irritable bowel syndrome; decongestants, diet pills, stimulants, or heart rhythm medications.

Do not stop using Pamelor suddenly, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms.

Xanax may interact with cold or allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, medicine for depression or anxiety, antibiotics, antifungal medicines, antidepressants, and barbiturates. Xanax may also interact with birth control pills, cimetidine, cyclosporine, dexamethasone, ergotamine, imatinib, isoniazid, St. John's wort, heart or blood pressure medications, HIV/AIDS medicines, and seizure medications.

Do not take Xanax if you are allergic to alprazolam, other benzodiazepines, or any of the ingredients in Xanax. See the end of this Medication Guide for a complete list of ingredients in Xanax. you are taking antifungal medicines including ketoconazole and itraconazole.

Do not stop using Xanax without first talking to your doctor, even if you feel fine. You may have increased seizures or unpleasant withdrawal symptoms if you stop using Xanax suddenly.

Pamelor is administered orally in the form of capsules or liquid. Lower than usual dosages are recommended for elderly patients and adolescents.

Take Xanax exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to take it. Your healthcare provider will tell you how much Xanax to take and when to take it. If you take too much Xanax, call your healthcare provider or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away.

Xanax is a benzodiazepine medicine. Taking benzodiazepines with opioid medicines, alcohol, or other central nervous system depressants (including street drugs) can cause severe drowsiness, breathing problems (respiratory depression), coma and death.

Xanax can make you sleepy or dizzy, and can slow your thinking and motor skills.

Do not drive, operate heavy machinery, or do other dangerous activities until you know how Xanax affects you.

Do not drink alcohol or take other drugs that may make you sleepy or dizzy while taking Xanax without first talking to your healthcare provider. When taken with alcohol or drugs that cause sleepiness or dizziness, Xanax may make your sleepiness or dizziness much worse.

Do not take more Xanax than prescribed.