Patient/caregiver was educated on precautions to be exercised while taking Pamelor as follows:
- Pamelor use in expectant mothers could increase risk for pregnancy complications, such as, miscarriage. Newborns can also present with harmful side-effects of the medication. Pamelor can cross the placenta and enter the baby. Newborns exposed to Pamelor in the uterus can present with harmful side-effects of the medication, such as, respiratory depression, breathing difficulties, developmental delays, and other toxicity with the medication. After birth, newborns could also demonstrate symptoms of sudden withdrawal from the medication and present with listlessness, lack of energy, sleep disturbances, appetite changes, feeding difficulties, and seizures. So, Pamelor is cautiously administered with careful monitoring or avoided for an alternative drug during pregnancy and in women planning for pregnancy. Women in the child-bearing age group taking Pamelor must employ effective contraceptive measures in order to avoid getting pregnant.
- Blood work, labs for liver and kidney function could be periodically ordered while taking Pamelor. Observe compliance with all physician visits and periodical lab draws ordered, for an update on improvement/deterioration with symptoms of mood disorder and side-effects developed. This will also allow your physician to make appropriate changes in your plan of care, as needed.
- If you miss a dose, try taking it at the earliest notice of noncompliance. If it is time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take the dose scheduled. Do not take an extra dose to try making up for the missed dose, as it can lead to toxicity. Notify your doctor and other health care personnel regarding your dose noncompliance.
