Need an antidepressant!

Ginny · Post by **Ginny** » Wed Oct 26, 2011 1:19 pm

I am looking for everyone's advice or who has tried one. I know there are some out there that can promote constipation

; that's the one I'm looking for!!

I have been fighting this for three years and am too skinny to fight it anymore. I've used some Chinese herb remedies before and they are helpful at times.

So looking for advice. I see my doc tomorrow.

Thanks to you all, Ginny

Lesley · Post by **Lesley** » Wed Oct 26, 2011 3:06 pm

I wouldn't take one for that reason. They are very difficult to wean from.

maestraz · Post by **maestraz** » Wed Oct 26, 2011 7:17 pm

Ginny,
I'm not an expert, but I find it hard to believe you would find a doctor who would be willing to prescribe you an anti-depressant as a diarrhea remedy. While it's true that some A-Ds may have constipation as a side effect, they are NOT to be used casually. I know this because I take one. Having weaned off one thought to aggravate MC in favor of another, I echo Lesley that it isn't easy.

FWIW, I have recently been having good results from a Renew Life probiotic.

Lesley · Post by **Lesley** » Wed Oct 26, 2011 8:09 pm

I am on 2 antidepressants, also not given to me for depression, because I wasn't - depressed. I was exhausted all the time, so they gave me a serotonin stimulator - Effexor. And I was having horrible migraines, so they gave me Nortryptiline, which does help migraines, but makes you dependent and getting off is horrible.
Right now I can't even THINK about weaning off them because I am too sick. I have just weaned off prednisone and that was horrible.

Ginny, don't take them for getting constipation. I know you are desperate. I am right there with you. Mine is taking a different course, but feeling is the same nevertheless.

Post by **tex** » Wed Oct 26, 2011 9:54 pm

Suze wrote:I'm not an expert, but I find it hard to believe you would find a doctor who would be willing to prescribe you an anti-depressant as a diarrhea remedy. While it's true that some A-Ds may have constipation as a side effect, they are NOT to be used casually. I know this because I take one. Having weaned off one thought to aggravate MC in favor of another, I echo Lesley that it isn't easy.

I totally agree with you and Lesley, but believe it or not, it's actually pretty common for some GI docs to prescribe those drugs to their MC patients, simply because of that side effect. When the obvious meds don't bring stable remission, they are willing to try anything that might work. Remember, there are no drugs labeled to treat MC, so every one that's prescribed, is prescribed off-label. That fact makes their decision to prescribe a drug for it's side effects much easier to rationalize.

Tex

Lesley · Post by **Lesley** » Wed Oct 26, 2011 10:23 pm

Tex Don't you think she'd be better off taking Norco? It will constipate her, and if she has no real pain she can get off it easily.

brandy · Post by **brandy** » Thu Oct 27, 2011 5:58 am

Hi Linda,

You might try over the counter calcium specifically Caltrate in the purple label. Read the segment in the website below. Select "Linda's Calcium info." There are over 300,000 posts about this.

http://www.ibsgroup.org/forums/forum/10 ... hea-ibs-d/

Please repost if you can't get on this link and I'll repeat the info. But read the info on line. I found this site before I was diagnosed. Side effect of the caltrate with purple label is constipation. It may not be miraculous but should help. The calcium took me from 4 months of diarreah to once a day "ribboning." The calcium also seemed to give me "5 minutes to get to the bathroom." If you try give it 2 weeks and I'd also suggest taking the simethocone at same time to control gas. The calcium took me on the way to healing before I was diagnosed. Read the complete post on the link. Suggest 2 week trial if at all possible without other medications at same time. Good luck....only side effect was gas. If you try it may not be miraculous but definitely "bulked" things up for me.

Good luck, Brandy

Post by **tex** » Thu Oct 27, 2011 12:47 pm

Norco might work, but it has the problem if being at least as addictive as the anti-depressants.

Other members here have successfully used caltrate 600+D, to control their D. One member who comes to mind is Marsha, (artteacher). The post at the following link describes her experience with it. I notice that she refers to the same IBS forum that Brandy mentioned:

http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=9760

Tex

Lesley · Post by **Lesley** » Thu Oct 27, 2011 2:06 pm

Only if she takes it for a long time, and like, me, becomes dependent on it. I am because of the back pain. If I could stop it altogether I would. But I need at least one a day. I usually take only one, ONLY when the pain gets way beyond bearable. I have a high pain threshold so I can push it quite a lot.
But even with one I get constipated.

brandy · Post by **brandy** » Thu Oct 27, 2011 3:29 pm

Hi Ginny,

I mentioned the caltrate plus D in above post. I was off to work this a.m. and kind of rush. Highly encourage you to try before trying the anti depressants.
There is extensive info on the IBS website above. Look for Linda's calcium info.

I really suffered with extreme CC for 4 months. Had extensive business travel during this period. My experience was I tried the Caltrate plus D twice for two weeks. Other issues came up which was why I didn't continue. My first try I was almost at the diaper level and using the calcium for 2 weeks would give me at least 5 minutes to get to the bathroom and also changed my diareah to only once per day from numerous times. I was concurrently having severe menopause issues, or what I thought at same time so had to drop the calcium for awhile to try HRT. (In retrospect a lot of what I thought was menopause issues was probably neurological issues from CC.)

About 8 weeks later I retried the Caltrate D for about a week or two prior to my colonoscopy. This time I tried both the purple bottle (with magnesium) and the pink bottle (no magnesium). This is discussed at length in the IBS forum. Also concurrently I started eating 4 yogurts a day. Within about 4 days on my second round of the calcium I had ribboning! This was a huge improvement! So 4 days before my colonosopy I was "healing". Had my colonoscopy and the ribboning continued after the colonoscopy. Stopped taking Caltrate D at time of colonoscopy. Took nothing for 6 weeks after colonoscopy, not by design but I think I really wasn't thinking too clearly then. Ribboning continued. So each time I took the caltrate I improved and even when I stopped I never went backwards.

Was diagnosed with CC about 3 weeks after colonoscopy. Decided to go on entocourt at this time as I had really suffered.

I've got to think a lot of people on the IBS board actually have MC but it is undiagnosed. If you do try the caltrate plus D also would take the simethicone at same time for gas. I didn't but if I ever take it again I will do that...also mentioned in IBS post.

If you try the Caltrate D I'd recommend at least a 4-6 week trial. I only had 2 two week stints but event with that saw significant improvement.

Good luck,

Brandy

MotherGrizzly · Post by **MotherGrizzly** » Fri Oct 28, 2011 8:37 pm

Ginny,

I was taking Cymbalta for five weeks for my generalized anxiety disorder; I also have D as my primary problem with the colitis. The Cymbalta constipated me so badly that I couldn't go to the bathroom for five or six days at a time. The fallout from that was so severe that it was a succession of three weeks of intense pain/D/dehydration--I decided to go cold turkey from the Cymbalta, as the horrible pain and D from the days of Cymbalta-induced constipation wasn't worth it. I wouldn't recommend this route to anyone; the withdrawal from the medication, an SSRI, is severe.

My current GI prescribed Librax for me (once a day)--and with my revised GF diet, I'm doing better on the D flares. I also take the chewable Pepto Bismols. Here is what the Librax is:

"Librax is comprised of two different forms of medication--chlordiazepoxide and clidinium. Chlordiazepoxide is in a class of drugs call benzodiazepines, which are often prescribed for anxiety and tension. Clidiniuman is an anticholinergic. It prevents spasms in the muscles of the gut and bladder by relaxing them, and reduces the production of stomach acid."

I find that it helps to calm my stomach for the time being, anyway! I wouldn't recommend an antidepressant like Cymbalta--I thought the constipation would be a relief from the D, and it made me sicker than ever!

Good luck finding what works for you! :)

Ginny · Post by **Ginny** » Mon Oct 31, 2011 7:50 am

Thanks for all the responses. I obviously sent the wrong message when I said;

I know there are some out there that can promote constipation ; that's the one I'm looking for!!

It was meant to be a general comment in humor and I was simply looking for what works for people who have D and depression. I have taken calcium (Caltrate D) forever and does not do anything for the D and certainly does not help my depression. Plus it also has chemicals in it that I react to and have discontinued. I have tried all the home remedies.

My alternative med doc did not want to put me on a medication at this time but up my protein intake. That's what I am doing.

Thanks MotherGrizzly for your suggestions, I will keep that in mind. As I said I have been fighting this for 3 years, but fortunately, the depression is not a 24/7 occurence yet!

Ginny

sarkin · Post by **sarkin** » Mon Oct 31, 2011 9:45 am

Ginny,

Upping the protein has really helped me. It took me a while to figure out that I needed to increase that portion size, after dropping so many other things off the plate. I think it had a lot to do with stopping my rapid weight loss, and also with stabilizing my symptoms. I try to rotate as many different protein sources as possible, but occasionally have a week where beef is what's available and convenient for several days or meals in a row.

I hope it helps you, and quickly!

Wishing you health,

Sara

Lesley · Post by **Lesley** » Mon Oct 31, 2011 11:14 am

Ginny,
I TRULY sympathize, emphasize and any other size (large or small) you want to add. And understood your "joke". Been there, done that!

Anti depressants ARE wonderful meds for people who are suffer from permanent and deep depressions. I have worked in a mental health hospital, both in the youth wing and with adults, and I have seen how they help.
However, I think the are prescribed WAY too quickly by docs who want a quick fix to patients who want the same.

Forgive me for sticking my oar in, but it sounds like (feel very free to correct me if I am crossing boundaries or simply wrong - it's happened before) you are suffering from a reactive depression.
http://drdonaldfranklin.com/psychothera ... depression

You are reacting to a stressor that anybody would find daunting, and it's been going on for a long time. Also, it physically weakens you, and obviously that is a contributor. Unlike a death, which is a finite depressor in most cases, I think doctors are too quick to prescribe anti depressants. Believe me, I understand how you feel. I have been through reactive depressions (bad marriage, nasty violent divorce), have also been prescribed anti depressants for lack of energy, migraines and other conditions NOT depression, and wish I had NEVER touched them.

Long term they have consequences and are very, very difficult to quit.

I SO hope you feel better soon.