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1) what type of IBS you have: C, D or C&D

I'm IBS-D.

2) which medication(s) you are currently taking or have taken in the past?

Currently take Effexor. Took Zoloft in the past.

3) what degree of improvement you experienced SPECIFICALlY in regards to your constipation or diarrhea symptom?

Both were slightly constipating which for me was a nice fringe benefit. (They were prescribed for depression not IBS.) However, eventually my IBS got bad enough that the slight side effect didn't even faze it!

4) what were the major side-effect(s), if any that you experience and were they significant enough to require you to stop taking the med or to swtich to another med?

Zoloft started giving me headaches which is why I switched to Effexor. Both cause some dry mouth but not too bad, both caused a little trouble starting to urinate when I first started taking them, but that wore off within a week or so. Both are slightly sedating, so I had to take them later in the day so they helped me sleep at night rather than at my desk in the office (!). And the Effexor raised my body temperature (really!) so I no longer feel cold all the time. It also accelerated my heart rate slightly (I was told to warn my personal trainer at the gym!) and raised my blood pressure slightly, which means if I don't take it right on time, my blood pressure drops and I have to quick eat something salty and drink some water to recover. I think that's all the wierd little things. Oh yeah and really vivid dreams, which is kind of fun, like little mini movies!! Having said that it would take a submachine gun wielding thug to get it away from me because it has helped me SO MUCH!!!

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