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Firstly I would like to say how great this forum is, full of information and so helpful to read others account of this condition. Just a few questions I would like to ask for now.
1. I was wondering if anyone has taken anti-depressants for MC and if they feel they have gained any benefit, if so what brands have you been prescribed?
2. Also previous to a DX with MC were you taking SSRI?
Would so appreciate your help in this area, so thank you in advance.
I'm not taking an SSRI for MC per se, but I am taking an SSRI. Taking it mainly for anxiety and panic attacks. Whether it was the thing that helped, I'm not sure, but I don't have the panic attacks anymore, and my anxiety level is pretty normal now as well. I have done other things to help with this, but I don't know for sure if it was the thing that fixed it.
Though in the end I don't recommend taking any sort of drugs to anyone. But this is what I needed to get the rest my body and mind needed.
Oh, and finally if MC "is" bacterial related I can see how an SSRI might help with MC. Specfically with regards to serotonin and bacterial overgrowth, though only if like I said it is bacterial related.
I'm not sure why no one else is responding to your post, because probably a majority of members here are taking, (or have taken), anti-depressants and/or SSRIs. The weekend may have a lot to do with it, and a number of members are "away" from the board while attending to other issues. You may have to bump this topic up again on Monday or Tuesday if you don't get more responses by then. I haven't taken either one, but then I'm also controlling my symptoms by diet alone. In the meantime, here are some past discussions about anti-depressants and/or SSRIs:
The very nature of MC lends itself to depression - weeks, months, or even years of uncontrollable D, (and being virtually chained to the loo), tends to be very depressing, to say the least.
I gather that you may suspect that certain SSRIs can cause MC. You are quite correct - this has been "suggested" in the literature, and I believe that it is mentioned in one of the discussions for which links are provided above, (the last one, I believe).
I hope you can get more responses, because there seems to be a very high correlation between MC and depression.
I take an anti-depressant, but not for MC. I have taken one type or another for many years. I control the MC by diet. I have no reason to think that the
drugs have an effect either way on the MC, for me anyway..
Hi Mini.....I take prozac and wellbutrin.....but...I also take Entocort, so not sure what impact the anti-depressants have on my CC. I took different forms of anti-depressants before my CC started. Hope this helps....nite nite.....JJ
LOL yes Tex you have guessed correctly. I do wonder if SSRI's have played a role in this condition. For most of my life I have suffered from depression and only accepted treatment in 1995 when I was given Prozac. Oh it was fantastic for the first time I felt 'human', I slept so well, woke refreshed, the nights of tears ended, a true miracle.
Well for the previous 13 years on and off I have taken this drug when the depression starts up again and wonder if the little miracle drug has not played some role in my dx for MC.
I have noticed from reading post on the forum how many people also have suffered from depression so it just seemed a logical thought process
I take Wellbutrin (150 mg a day) which is a low dose to help me fend off depression wihtout losing weight... wellbutrin might make you lose weight but it didnt have all the other bad side effects.
I also take Ativan (.5 mg a day) very very low dose for anxiety and panic attacks and they are much better.
So overall I would say that they helped my overall feeling of wellbeing but to say they helped the MC I dont know.
I would say that if you are depressed, having panic attacks then please seek attention,
Dr Fine test shows positive for gluten and casien but negative for soy, eggs, and yeast
Maybe its UC maybe its MC? Who knows at this point, but at least I know my intollerances now... so heres to the road to healing!
Hi MINI---I have been taking Xanax, for megga years, due to a family issue----which had caused me megga PANIC ATTACKS---
When I started it WASNT termed addictive but as the time rolled by the FDA termed HIGHLY addictive ---I was *stuck* ---I had to get a prescription every month for this *pill* that controlled the *issues*--
Thankfully I weaned myself down to 3 a day and am under the care of a doctor to help with my moods of depression--
My Colitis issues started when my retired GP(whom I didnt like) had me on meds for MVP WHICH I didnt have but he always insisted I did---and all the testing I had for it--showed *NO problem* and waaaaaay back we,as patients, didnt argue/get involved, as we do TODAY!!!
We just took their *word* on everything~~~
I wasted so many years--
Barbara
the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control
Thanks for your postings but, I still wonder if the Prozac played a role in my CC.
Oddly enough when I saw my GP he asked if I needed a new scrip for Prozac and I said nooooo I REALLY DON'T THINK IT IS A GOOD IDEA'. He very quickly said 'oh, yes quite I think you may be correct with this medication'.
Who knows what the real cause is of CC for me, I still believe it is auto immune and no other reason however, wonder as with other IBD's why it attacks the digestive track.
Visit the Microscopic Colitis Foundation Website
