Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards

Hi there, that's interesting that you asked. I've been on and off Effexor XR for several years and except for when I was forced to go off of it cold turkey, it's one of the best meds - my previous PCP (when I had real health insurance) loved the stuff, too because it had such a small amount of side-effects, except for the withdrawal, of course) My last psychiatrist didn't like the stuff and wanted me weaned off of it (again when I had real health insurance). Now my Value Options psychiatrist actually told me at my appt a few days ago that Effexor can help with my IBS a bit. This is just my personal experience I'm relating to you, but I *never* noticed a worsening of my IBS while taking the highest dose of Effexor XR. I'm being put back on 75mg to start again. My body is trying to get used to it again, so I'm a bit shaky, but am also on Risperdal, to, Valium, and Depakote ER. That doesn't include the other meds I'm taking. I wish I'd had more time to ask my new psychiatrist how Effexor XR helps IBS, but we ran out of time. My guess is b/c of Effexor XR's affect on anxiety, stress, mood disorders, and other chemical imbalances in the brain. I don't know, it's just kind of an educated guess though. But anxiety and depression affect our bodies and also our digestion. Maybe talk to your doc about it? And, I hope I'm not getting too personal here, but is the Effexor helping your anxiety and depression? I know for me, it was the only psychiatric drug that lessened the mood swings. I still had them often, but they weren't as often and not so severe. My panic attacks were a bit less severe when they occurred, too. I hope I didn't offend you by prying. Good luck, I hope you feel better. I know what anxiety and depression are like - they are just as debilitating as IBS and they can both cause a vicious circle.

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XOXO from lil' ol' me.

(IBS-C, mood disorders, etc., etc.)

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