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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by ams on September 24, 2003, at 23:36:50
I just had a relapse of my ulcerative colitis and think that Effexor was to blame. Was on it three weeks when symptoms began again. I also had a bad experience with Prozac a few years ago, in which I started experiencing more intestinal pain after taking it for a couple of weeks. I'm wondering about the pharmacology involved, and why these drugs might make this condition worse and not better, even though they succeed in reducing my stress, which is also a contributing factor with colitis for me. I'm also wondering if a different class of antidepressants might help my anxiety/depression without making the colitis worse.
Posted by Been-There on September 25, 2003, at 9:45:04
In reply to antidepressants exacerbating colitis, posted by ams on September 24, 2003, at 23:36:50
I know when I take anti depressants- I always have problems with irritable bowel syndrome. About the only one that did not bother it was Zoloft but Zoloft made me eat alot and gain weight. I don't really like drugs or the effects they have had on my body. Just seems alot easier to deal with the anxiety and depression through regular means then to be doubled over all the time or collapsing at the drop of the hat. Just does not seem like it is very good for the body.
Posted by ams on September 25, 2003, at 12:56:16
In reply to Re: antidepressants exacerbating colitis, posted by Been-There on September 25, 2003, at 9:45:04
There's a very interesting article by Dr. Robert Hunter I found about the relationship of stress to IBS (and IBD) which touches upon the role of serotonin in GI disorders and how "SSRI's may actually exacerbate IBS symptoms." If anyone's interested:
http://hometown.aol.com/drarielh/page1.html
Posted by Been-There on September 25, 2003, at 13:11:56
In reply to Re: antidepressants exacerbating colitis, posted by ams on September 25, 2003, at 12:56:16
That is a very interesting site and I read some of it and added it to my favorites. Thanks for posting it ams
Posted by zeugma on September 25, 2003, at 20:00:24
In reply to antidepressants exacerbating colitis, posted by ams on September 24, 2003, at 23:36:50
I would suggest tricyclic antidepressants. They have reduced my abdominal pain and nausea (IBS-related) tremendously. SSRI's in my experience are an utter DISASTER for IBS.
Posted by ams on September 25, 2003, at 20:26:28
In reply to Re: antidepressants exacerbating colitis, posted by zeugma on September 25, 2003, at 20:00:24
Thanks very much for the advice, zeugma; I'll start looking into them. May I ask which one(s)has worked for you and how you've found any other side effects?
Posted by zeugma on September 25, 2003, at 22:08:13
In reply to Re: antidepressants exacerbating colitis » zeugma, posted by ams on September 25, 2003, at 20:26:28
> Thanks very much for the advice, zeugma; I'll start looking into them. May I ask which one(s)has worked for you and how you've found any other side effects?
I've taken nortriptyline for the past year. Side effects: some sedation (good for my chronic insomnia). constipation, dry mouth sometimes. In the beginning there was a lot of dizziness. A little weight gain- about five pounds. That's good for me too, because I am also underweight and have had to go off stimulants because of weight loss.Nortriptyline is a good med if you can tolerate the side effects. It predominantly affects norepinephrine instead of serotonin, and threre's a good chance if an SSRI didn't help you that nortriptyline might.
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