Grapefruit can be a healthy way to add vitamin C, fiber and potassium to your diet without also adding a lot of calories. Some people, however, should not consume grapefruit or grapefruit juice. It can interact with a number of medications, including Pamelor, so check with your doctor before changing the amount of grapefruit you consume to make sure it would be safe for you.
Pamelor
Pamelor, also called nortriptyline, is a medication used to treat depression. If you suffer from depression, some chemicals in your brain may be unbalanced, and tricyclic antidepressants like Pamelor help to correct this balance. Pamelor is not safe for everyone, so tell your doctor about other medications and supplements you are taking so she can check for possible contraindications.
Possible Interaction
Pamelor is one of the many medications that can interact with grapefruit. Enzymes present in grapefruit can slow down the breakdown of Pamelor so it stays in your body longer, possibly building up to dangerous amounts and causing serious side effects, according to MayoClinic.com. Signs of an overdose of Pamelor include agitation, confusion, extreme drowsiness, blurred vision, hallucinations, vomiting, fainting, muscle stiffness, feeling hot or cold, convulsions or coma.
Avoiding Interaction
Unlike some medication interactions which you can avoid by simply taking the medications a few hours apart from each other, staggering the times you take your medication and consume your grapefruit does not stop the interaction. You may need to avoid grapefruit altogether to prevent this interaction, since the enzymes involved can stay in your system for up to 72 hours, according to an August 2006 article in "American Family Physician."
Considerations
Talk to your doctor before either increasing or decreasing the amount of grapefruit or grapefruit juice you consume while taking Pamelor. If you want to consume grapefruit regularly, you may be able to switch to another medication that does not interact with grapefruit juice. It may also be possible to consume small amounts of grapefruit without a problem, but do not try this without speaking to your doctor first.
References
- "American Family Physician"; Management of Grapefruit-drug Interactions; Amy L. Stump, et al.; August 2006
- MayoClinic.com; Grapefruit Juice: Beware of Dangerous Medication Interactions; Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D.; November 2010
- Drugs.com: Pamelor
- University of Michigan Health System: Nortriptyline
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