Antidepressants
Moderators: Rosie, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh, mbeezie
-
AngelGlass
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Thu Apr 11, 2019 7:06 pm
Antidepressants
Hi everyone. New to the IBD community. Just diagnosed with LC. I’m currently taking Paxil (Peroxotine) and I’ve read its a possible trigger for MC flares. I’m pretty sure it’s a trigger for me because my worst symptoms started after I started this new med. I already switched from Zoloft also for LC symptoms. Are there any antidepressants considered “safe” for LC sufferers? I’m also breastfeeding my 5 month old so I’ve got to take that into consideration as well. Thanks.
Sincerely,
Amanda
Amanda
Hi Amanda,
Welcome to the forum. To jump straight to your question, I'm not sure whether there are any antidepressants that don't trigger MC symptoms for at least some of us. As you're probably well aware, most of them trigger MC for most of us. We're all different though, so there are individual exceptions. Some have found that wellbutrin, for example, is probably the least likely medication in this class to trigger MC. Of course, wellbutrin is probably prescribed more for anxiety issues than depression.
But that brings us to the observation that virtually all of us are magnesium deficient, and depression and anxiety are symptoms of magnesium deficiency. Most of us also have a compromised immune system due to the fact that we are either short on vitamin D, or our bodies are incapable of converting vitamin D into the active form so that our immune system can use it. Magnesium is essential for the conversion of vitamin D into the active form. This (in my opinion) is why we have developed MC in the first place — we are incapable of healing the damage done to our intestines by the inflammation because this deficiency (magnesium), or these deficiencies (vitamin D and Magnesium), prevent our immune system from doing its job (all healing is done by the immune system). Depression and/or anxiety are side effects of this deficiency syndrome. Note that this is just my theory, based on published medical research, but not yet proven by any RCTs (random controlled trials). But this is not likely to ever be proven because most medical research is funded by the pharmaceutical industry, and they are making way too much money from the sale of expensive antidepressants to consider proving that magnesium would work much better (and much cheaper).
Again, welcome aboard, and please feel free to ask anything.
Welcome to the forum. To jump straight to your question, I'm not sure whether there are any antidepressants that don't trigger MC symptoms for at least some of us. As you're probably well aware, most of them trigger MC for most of us. We're all different though, so there are individual exceptions. Some have found that wellbutrin, for example, is probably the least likely medication in this class to trigger MC. Of course, wellbutrin is probably prescribed more for anxiety issues than depression.
But that brings us to the observation that virtually all of us are magnesium deficient, and depression and anxiety are symptoms of magnesium deficiency. Most of us also have a compromised immune system due to the fact that we are either short on vitamin D, or our bodies are incapable of converting vitamin D into the active form so that our immune system can use it. Magnesium is essential for the conversion of vitamin D into the active form. This (in my opinion) is why we have developed MC in the first place — we are incapable of healing the damage done to our intestines by the inflammation because this deficiency (magnesium), or these deficiencies (vitamin D and Magnesium), prevent our immune system from doing its job (all healing is done by the immune system). Depression and/or anxiety are side effects of this deficiency syndrome. Note that this is just my theory, based on published medical research, but not yet proven by any RCTs (random controlled trials). But this is not likely to ever be proven because most medical research is funded by the pharmaceutical industry, and they are making way too much money from the sale of expensive antidepressants to consider proving that magnesium would work much better (and much cheaper).
Again, welcome aboard, and please feel free to ask anything.
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Hi Amanda,
Sorry to hear that you’re struggling with both LC and your mood! I’ve struggled with a mood disorder for years and have been able to get on a good combo of meds. One med that doesn’t impact my MC is Abilify. It’s a fairly strong psych med but it has helped me.
My best recommendation is to get a psychiatrist and a GI doc who can talk to each other and explain the side effects of different medications. There are several different psych meds that aren’t SSRIs. SSRIs tend to be where psychiatrists start as they are the mildest/safest.
Wellbutrin is a good option, but it does tend to be more activating and can cause anxiety in some people (it made me feel like I was drinking ten cups of coffee a day).
Here are other things that help me:
--Turmeric and fish oil have been shown to help in depression. I take both supplements. (I would ask your Dr. before starting either supplement, especially if you’re breastfeeding)
--I use a SAD lamp every winter
--Regular acupuncture helps my mood
--Solid exercise, yoga, meditation
Wishing you well!
Lisa
Sorry to hear that you’re struggling with both LC and your mood! I’ve struggled with a mood disorder for years and have been able to get on a good combo of meds. One med that doesn’t impact my MC is Abilify. It’s a fairly strong psych med but it has helped me.
My best recommendation is to get a psychiatrist and a GI doc who can talk to each other and explain the side effects of different medications. There are several different psych meds that aren’t SSRIs. SSRIs tend to be where psychiatrists start as they are the mildest/safest.
Wellbutrin is a good option, but it does tend to be more activating and can cause anxiety in some people (it made me feel like I was drinking ten cups of coffee a day).
Here are other things that help me:
--Turmeric and fish oil have been shown to help in depression. I take both supplements. (I would ask your Dr. before starting either supplement, especially if you’re breastfeeding)
--I use a SAD lamp every winter
--Regular acupuncture helps my mood
--Solid exercise, yoga, meditation
Wishing you well!
Lisa
.jpg){kind=avatar}
There is a lot of good information out there about the relationship between diet and mood. Here is one article on the subject:
https://www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb/mental-health
I was diagnosed many years ago with "treatment resistant depression". I tried every antidepressant out there (also almost every type of non-pharmaceutical therapy out there) and nothing worked. Since switching to a low carbohydrate/ketogenic diet I no longer suffer from depression at all. I weaned myself slowly off all psychiatric meds about a decade ago (maybe a little less) and have never gone back. I have been taking magnesium and vitamin d for years too and eat what could be called nutrient dense foods to help insure that I get all the necessary nutrients. What I have found is that by removing the bad stuff and adding the good stuff most all of my health issues, both physical and mental, have been resolved. I no longer take a single prescription medication and I am 70 years old.
Jean
https://www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb/mental-health
I was diagnosed many years ago with "treatment resistant depression". I tried every antidepressant out there (also almost every type of non-pharmaceutical therapy out there) and nothing worked. Since switching to a low carbohydrate/ketogenic diet I no longer suffer from depression at all. I weaned myself slowly off all psychiatric meds about a decade ago (maybe a little less) and have never gone back. I have been taking magnesium and vitamin d for years too and eat what could be called nutrient dense foods to help insure that I get all the necessary nutrients. What I have found is that by removing the bad stuff and adding the good stuff most all of my health issues, both physical and mental, have been resolved. I no longer take a single prescription medication and I am 70 years old.
Jean
Good catch Jean. There's published medical proof to support this concept. Apparently, sweets, refined cereals, fast foods, highly processed foods, etc., are the worst offenders. Here's a link to an article from Psychology today:
Clinical Trial Finds Diet Works for Depression
Tex
Clinical Trial Finds Diet Works for Depression
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
The article I posted from dietdoctor.com references Dr Georgia Ede who wrote the Psychology Today article. She is a psychiatrist with an interest in nutrition and especially in low carb eating. Her website has a lot of good information on it.
https://www.diagnosisdiet.com/
Jean
https://www.diagnosisdiet.com/
Jean
I've never been diagnosed with depression. 99% of the time I eat a very "clean" diet.
My experience--eating 15 large GF cookies, heavily processed, high sugar within about a 6 hour window
threw me into a severe depression the next day. Two days later, the depression cleared.
It was such a severe response I told my boyfriend do not buy that stuff.
Magnesium really helps me with anxiety...stress etc
My experience--eating 15 large GF cookies, heavily processed, high sugar within about a 6 hour window
threw me into a severe depression the next day. Two days later, the depression cleared.
It was such a severe response I told my boyfriend do not buy that stuff.
Magnesium really helps me with anxiety...stress etc