Anyone else prescribed antidepressants?
#103177 - 09/01/04 12:02 PM
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Hello, I have just been prescibed the antidepressant Zoloft for treatment of my IBS. The nurse at my GI told me that a lot of women use them as a treatment. To verify, I got a second opinion from a Psychiatrist, and she said the same thing. The problem is, I am in no way depressed. I do have a little anxiety in public places due to the problems with my IBS, but emotionally, I am fine. I am a little hesitant about this, I am sort an antimedicine girl. Anyone else have any experience with this?
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I hear that it helps numb the pain receptors in the digestive tract. I am going to ask to try anit-depressants. But I do think that I might be depressed as a result of health problems.
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Yes - and I'm a true convert!!
I spent a year telling myself it was just food intolerances. My doctor basically sat me down and told me that all my symptoms were typical of anxiety and depression and I should start taking the meds. I didn't belive him, but took them anyway - then had a total breakdown!!
The result is, however, that now the meds are working I feel loads better, can eat much more food and am in a position to deal with the stress and anxiety issues.
Obviously life still isn't perfect, but it's loads better. Three days ago I was posting the boards saying how ill I felt and the meds were not working, two weeks in to the treatment and I am enjoying life again ... so I would suggest trying them for a while (as a short term not long term solution).
Best of luck
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Tons of us take antidepressants. Some of us take it for depression, but it's also a very effective medication for IBS, which has nothing to do with whether you're depressed or not. They've learned that certain medicines that were developed for one purpose are also very helpful for other things, like IBS. So it doesn't mean your doctor thinks you're depressed. As far as being antimedicine, sure, none of us like taking pills, but diabetics don't like taking insulin either. Sometimes our bodies just don't make enough of what we need to stay healthy. If you had pneumonia you'd take penicillin wouldn't you? If you had asthma you'd use your inhaler right? Same difference. Just a little helping hand for our bodies to cope.
Let us know how it goes, okay??!!
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Laura
Keep it simple!
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I am also an anti-medicine girl. I was prescribed Librax. It's an anti-anxiety med. I had 4 days of D because of it so my doctor told me to stop taking it. I think I'm just going to try and relax and continue my counseling. I don't know if that helped at all. Sorry 
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My Doctor also gave me Zoloft for the IBS and depression. I am getting ready to start the second week. I agree with what LauraSue said, if it was Diabetes we take are meds. So I will keep trying this and hope to have good results.
Good Luck and let us know how it goes.
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Heather7476
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I got prescribed them yesterday (I mentioned this on another thread so sorry if you are reading it for the 2nd time) I got prescribed Cipramil/citalopram 20mg by my GI specialist as the antispasmodic I have been taking was not relieving my symptoms at all and I was following this diet strictly too.
He was very nice and gave me a big explanation that he didn't think I was depressed but that research had shown that low dosage of antidepressants had proved useful for the treatment of IBS etc (he mentioned brain-gut axis, Heather has some info on this on the site) He obviously has patients who are very sensitive about taking an antidepressant, so he was extra cautious about telling me that he didn't think I was depressed at all and that if I was the dosage would not be effective anyway. I'll let you know how they work out for me.
Sinead
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S.
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VERY well said LS!! 
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www.facebook.com/shell.marr
www.myspace.com/shellmarr
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Yes, I just started my second week of Prozac which my doctor said is helpful for predominant C symptoms. It says right on the bottle that it is prescribed for IBS. Given that most of our seratonin is in our intestines, instead of our brain, it is no surprise that anti-depressants have an impact on this problem. I'm very hopeful that it will help.
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Thanks for the responses guys! After I wrote earlier today, I made up my mind not to take them. My doctor told me that the neurotransmitters and their receptors that cause IBS are similar to the ones that cause depression. This made sense, but I had never heard of anyone taking these for IBS only and I was afraid that she was just one of those doctors that push pills on everyone. But hearing that you all have tried or are thinking of trying them helps. I won't expect miracles, but considering my upcoming 3 day weekend, I guess it may be worth a try. My husband and I are pretty fed up with IBS!! Thanks for all of your support and I will update you. Please keep me updated also!
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I know exactly what you're saying. I'm the same way. Why take an antidepressant when I don't have a problem with stress and am not
depressed or anxious. In Feb. my reg doc put me on Librax and it took me
a long time to even try it. But I did and didn't get many positive results, so I quit. Then this past Monday saw the GI and he put me on Elavil which is another antidepressant. I was bound and determined I wasn't going that route
again, but alas! I've decided to give it another try. Plus, my GI assured me that the low dosage the he prescribed is definitely not labeled an antidepressant. So, I would advise you to give it a try. I'm willing to try ALMOST anything once to see if it would get me stable. And the brain/gut idea does make sense. Good Luck!
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Just because a drug is used primarily for one condition doesn't mean it isn't prescribed and used for other things. This is very common! (it's called an "off label use") For instance, most of the medications now used for bipolar are actually meds for epileptic seizures.
Just because a GI doctor prescribes an anti-depressant for you does not mean he thinks you are depressed. The teeny-tiny dose prescribed to help alleviate IBS symptoms wouldn't do a thing to help depression!!!!
I don't know why so many IBS'ers are fighting trying something that could help alleviate their symptoms and get their life back under control. I guess it's the stigma of taking an antidepressant.
Sorry to vent but I just get sick and tired of hearing so many of the IBS'ers whine about there being nothing that can help them----and when a doctor suggests an anti-depressant, they throw their hands up and say, "No, I'm not taking that!"
And no, taking an antidepressant for 2-3 days will not give you an idea if it's gonna work. Most of them take TIME---even several months---to work.
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I feel that it is a large step for someone to take a medication which has the possibility to cause various side effects, which could be for IBS or any other health condition. I don't feel that I am whining. I feel that I am trying to gain information from other sufferers. I appreciate the forum I am given through the internet to receive support from people who understand what I am going through and can give feedback to various treatments. I enjoy researching medicines, whether conventional or alternative, that I may use to ensure that I am making the best or most informed choices for myself, and I believe that this forum is perfect for that type of dialogue. Thanks to everyone for all of their support!!
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Taconno
#103624 - 09/03/04 06:48 AM
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BL
Reged: 06/01/03
Posts: 3522
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I apologize for coming on so strong in my post yesterday. I did not mean to offend you. I agree with you ---taking a medicine is a personal decision and should not be taken lightly.
Patience is not one of my virtues! I guess it just ticked me off that the SAME question keeps popping up over and over again on this board. It seems like every day someone asks, "Why is the GI doctor prescribing an anti-depressant when I'm not depressed?" This question has been answered so many times. I forget that we have a lot of new people on the board who may not have seen the research articles on this.
Heather has info on this very subject in the next forum (the IBS library), including a very informative article from the UNC Center for Functional GI& Motility Disorders entitled "The Use of Antidepressants in the Treatment of IBS." That might be a good source for those who are considering the use of an antidepressant.
I will try to be more patient in the future! Sometimes I just need a good slap on the hand! Thanks for reminding me why we are all here---to help each other.
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I tried an antidepressant. My dr. said that antidepressants work for some people by blocking pain receptors, so if you have major cramping problems, it might help. I found that I had major side effects (could not concentrate, extreme fatigue) that were just not worth it BUT I often have problems with medications. I also used to use Lotronex before it was taken off the market. It worked wonders for IBS-D, but I'm afraid to start taking it again now that it's back on the market. Too many dangerous side effects! I have more success with managing my diet, stress reduction, and now that I've found this list, I'm going to try some of the fibers suggested.
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