Anti-Depressant Question
#107317 - 09/21/04 02:18 PM
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Okay, so I've done a ton of searching on these boards and on the web, and can't seem to make up my mind on anti-depressants. I know that stress and anxiety plays a huge role in my IBS attacks, and my constant worrying and obsessive compulsiveness doesn't help either.
I'm nervous about asking my doctor for anti-depressants because I'm already convinced that he humors me with half the stuff I talk to him about. Don't get me wrong - he's a great doctor. He fully explains things to me, even though I know what's going on half the time (its the thought that counts!  ).
I guess I'm just worried that he's going to tell me to go to a stress management class or something. I don't have the time or money to go, and I've tried the online class that my health care provider offers, but it hasn't worked either.
Any suggestions or how did those who are currently on anti-depressants ask their doctor?
- Jennifer
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- Jennifer
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I was nervous about bringing it up with my doctor, too, but she was wonderful about it. My situation was a little different, in that I had already been seeing a therapist for a month or so, and she WAS trying to teach me coping techniques, but it just wasn't enough. So that's what I told my doctor (who already knew my diagnosis from the therapist from a previous visit). She went on to explain the differences between the various anti-anxiety/anti-depressants, and then recommended one (Lexapro), and explained why. And that was that. 
If you know that stress and anxiety affects your IBS, and you know you worry all the time, you definitely have valid reasons for asking a doctor about meds. You can tell it to him just like that. You can also tell him that you tried a stress-management class - because you did, it's up to you if you want to say it was an online one - and that you feel like you need more help. I didn't go into details with my doctor, really, I just said, "I need faster relief for this than therapy can give me right now."
Good luck, if you decide to give it a try. The whole antidepressant experience is very fresh in my mind, because I just started mine on Sept. 1, so if you have any other questions, give a holler!
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You might be surprised by how many of your doctors' patients are on them. I know a pharmacist and I once commented on how I didn't know how teachers deal with the stress and he replied quite seriously than many of them are on ADs!!
My point is not that they are a cure all but that it's a common thing to take them and it's worth a shot. The worst thing that can happen is it doesn't help you; the best is you feel better.
It can take several weeks for an AD to kick in so be patient. Also, the first you try might not work for you. I tried two before I found a winner.
I strongly recommend you ease into the med slowly. Ask for pills to start with and take a quarter pill and add another quarter every 3-4 days and then you work up to a full dose and move to capsules instead of pills. Same thing for going off. Cold turkey is a bad thing with these meds.
Good luck!!
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Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
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Thanks Casey and Amo!
I actually struck up the nerve and called my health care provider to leave a message for my doctor, that way I could do it over the phone (easier!). The guy who took the message was great - when I explained what my question was, he goes, "Oh my sister is on antidepressants for her IBS and it helps her a lot." That made me feel lots better.
So hopefully the doctor will call me back before school starts tonight. Talking on the phone with him will be a lot easier.
Now convincing my boyfriend about them will be my next task..
- Jennifer
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- Jennifer
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Ditto to what Casey said.
Lene 
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God never promised life would be easy, but he did promise to provide a way out!
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Just ask him if he thinks that diabetics should be denied insulin!
IBS, depression, and anxiety all have physiological as well as mental foundations. It should be no more shameful to take medication for them than for a heart patient to take thinners or a diabetic to take insulin. The stigma associated with taking antidepressants is very unfair. My doctor says he is far more worried about his patients go off ADs than staying on them. They save a lot of s from s, and improve the quality of life for so many.
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Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
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Our cybersitter program deletes words like blood and suicide! It drives me crazy!! I tried to say that ADs save a lot of people from offing themselves. There. It hopefully won't edit that.
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Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
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That what I did. I just called and left a message. She called back and said no problem hon, I want you feeling better. I hope it goes ok. Keep us posted.
Good Luck
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Heather7476
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Jen, I'm not on them. Tried Elavil (5 mg) for a while and it did nothing...
But if I were you, I'd go to the research library and print out all the documented info on it to take to your doc, especially the info about the seritonin being taken up mostly by the gut. It never hurts to have back up documented studies.
Kandee
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I've been on Celexa for just over 2 weeks and have to say my IBS is SO MUCH better. I haven't had cramps in almost that amount of time and I have been having regular bm's too. The 2 spasmotics that I've tried did zip.
I think that IBS is so psycological in nature that an anti-depressant (even if you don't feel depressed) is a great idea.
Go for it! Just bring up the fact that certain AD's have a direct improvement in IBS symptoms. He or she should already know that.
Good luck!
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Read this:
Antidepressants
Your doctor may prescribe a low dose of antidepressants for IBS. This does not necessarily mean that you are depressed.
Antidepressants can block the brain's perception of pain in the gut, says Beth Schorr-Lesnick, MD, FACG, a gastroenterologist at Montefiore Medical Center in Bronx, N.Y.
There are different kinds of antidepressants, and doctors may choose one or the other, depending on whether you suffer from constipation-predominant IBS or diarrhea-predominant IBS.
For IBS patients with constipation, Schorr-Lesnick will sometimes prescribe small doses of SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) antidepressants such as Celexa and Paxil.
Other older antidepressants (called tricyclic antidepressants) tend to cause constipation. Doctors usually prescribe them for IBS patients with diarrhea. These drugs include Elavil, Pamelor, and Norpramine.
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