This may have already been addressed on another post (sorry, I couldn't find it) but does has anyone ever taken anti-anxiety meds while on Budesonide?
I have been on Budesonide for 3 months now and am currently struggling really hard with severe anxiety attacks all day. This hasn't happened at all for the 8 months I've been sick (depressed and worried, yes, but never anxiety like this). It is making my MC symptoms a billion times worse and at this point, I am basically having anxiety about having anxiety and I have no idea how to stop it.
Is there any kind of known interaction between taking anti-anxiety pills and Budesonide together? I really don't want to take anything else but I don't know what else to do. I have tried breathing exercises, yoga, ect. and nothing has worked. I am losing more weight and getting sicker and this has been completely destroying me. I have to get the anxiety under control.
Anti-Anxiety Meds with Budesonide
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Anti-Anxiety Meds with Budesonide
Sarah
Lymphocytic colitis since Feb 2019
Lymphocytic colitis since Feb 2019
You are almost surely severely magnesium deficient. One of the symptoms of chronic magnesium deficiency is anxiety. Cortiosteroids (including budesonide) are known to deplete magnesium. When you started taking budesonide, it depleted what little magnesium reserves you had left and turned your chronic magnesium deficiency into an acute magnesium deficiency. You shouldn't be taking anti-anxiety medications — your body is desperately trying to tell you that it needs magnesium. It's little wonder that you aren't able to recover. Our immune system can't function properly when we're magnesium deficient, and proper immune system functioning is essential for healing.
At least, that's my opinion.
Tex
At least, that's my opinion.
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.
I had my magnesium level checked 3 months ago (right before I started Budesonide) and it was 2.2, well within the normal range. I don't know what it is now but will ask my doctor if I can have it checked again.
I have been on the 9 mg Budesonide for almost 3 months. It seems to have helped a bit, but took almost a month before I saw any results. I had a couple of flares with WD recently but now it is all WD 2-4 times a day because of the anxiety. The anxiety just started about a week ago. I was real nervous about getting a stomach flu that I was exposed to, so this is initially what triggered it. But now that it has made my symptoms so much worse, I can't seem to find a way to "turn it off."
I'm not sure if it's a side effect from Budesonide or not. It very well could be (the Budesonide initially gave me side effects that included a fast heart rate) but could also be from peri-menopausal symptoms, according to my OBGYN. I am experiencing early menopausal symptoms from not getting a period for 7 months due to extreme low weight and rapid weight loss. I have had a few anxiety attacks in the past (when I was healthy) but none since I've been diagnosed.
I have an appointment with a behavioral health specialist in a couple of days. If my magnesium levels come back normal and he recommends an anti-anxiety drug, would this be bad to take with the Budesonide? I really don't want to take any but I'm also a little reluctant to take extra magnesium if my levels are normal.
I have been on the 9 mg Budesonide for almost 3 months. It seems to have helped a bit, but took almost a month before I saw any results. I had a couple of flares with WD recently but now it is all WD 2-4 times a day because of the anxiety. The anxiety just started about a week ago. I was real nervous about getting a stomach flu that I was exposed to, so this is initially what triggered it. But now that it has made my symptoms so much worse, I can't seem to find a way to "turn it off."
I'm not sure if it's a side effect from Budesonide or not. It very well could be (the Budesonide initially gave me side effects that included a fast heart rate) but could also be from peri-menopausal symptoms, according to my OBGYN. I am experiencing early menopausal symptoms from not getting a period for 7 months due to extreme low weight and rapid weight loss. I have had a few anxiety attacks in the past (when I was healthy) but none since I've been diagnosed.
I have an appointment with a behavioral health specialist in a couple of days. If my magnesium levels come back normal and he recommends an anti-anxiety drug, would this be bad to take with the Budesonide? I really don't want to take any but I'm also a little reluctant to take extra magnesium if my levels are normal.
Sarah
Lymphocytic colitis since Feb 2019
Lymphocytic colitis since Feb 2019
Brandy,
I forgot to mention that I have tried 3 months Pepto. It helped but that was back when my diet wasn't as strict and that might've been why I didn't reach remission at that time. I am still considering going back to that to try again.
I have tried cholestyramine (Questran) and had terrible side effects that put me in the ER (kidney insufficiency, low blood glucose, and low blood pressure). Maybe it just affected me terribly but I will never go back to that stuff again.
Thank you for your help!
I forgot to mention that I have tried 3 months Pepto. It helped but that was back when my diet wasn't as strict and that might've been why I didn't reach remission at that time. I am still considering going back to that to try again.
I have tried cholestyramine (Questran) and had terrible side effects that put me in the ER (kidney insufficiency, low blood glucose, and low blood pressure). Maybe it just affected me terribly but I will never go back to that stuff again.
Thank you for your help!
Sarah
Lymphocytic colitis since Feb 2019
Lymphocytic colitis since Feb 2019
AS I previously wrote, MC and the other IBDs cause magnesium deficiency. The budesonide often prescribed to treat IBDs also causes magnesium deficiency. Research shows that probably about 80% of the people in the general population are already magnesium deficient, so when they develop MC, they often tend to develop a serious magnesium deficiency. Magnesium deficiency causes hypertension and constipation (and many other issues), and magnesium treats hypertension and constipation (and many other issues). You probably won't hear that in a doctor's office, because magnesium isn't even on most doctors' radar.Sarah wrote:I had my magnesium level checked 3 months ago (right before I started Budesonide) and it was 2.2, well within the normal range. I don't know what it is now but will ask my doctor if I can have it checked again.
If you want to test your magnesium level before taking a magnesium supplement, the serum magnesium test (which is what doctors always select for some strange reason) is almost totally useless outside of the ER. The reason why the serum test is almost useless is because it measures magnesium in the bloodstream even though the blood contains only about 1 to 2 % or the total magnesium in the body and the blood level of magnesium is closely regulated because magnesium is a vital electrolyte. So the serum test is always going to show a "normal" result unless there's virtually no more magnesium left in storage in your body, which would mean that you would be at a serious risk of having a heart attack.
The red blood cell (RBC) magnesium test measures the amount of magnesium in your red blood cells. It's a much more accurate test. But the so-called "normal" range listed for magnesium is just plain wrong. Why? Because approximately 80 % of the subjects in that study were magnesium deficient, so the "normal" range for magnesium is based on corrupt data. I agree with Dr. Carolyn Dean who says that the correct normal range for the RBC test should be at least 6.0–6.5 mg/dL. Most labs show the "normal" range as 3.9-5.8 mg/dL. Here's a reference:
Magnesium RBC Blood Test
Sarah,
Please ask your doctor to do a RBC (red blood cell) magnesium test. The result will actually be meaningful, and it should answer your question once and for all about whether you are magnesium deficient.
And if you're interested in why I'm familiar with the symptoms of magnesium deficiency, please read the thread at the following link:
Even ER Docs Don't Recognize The Importance Of Magnesium
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.
Thank you, Tex and Brandy. I am thinking of trying Ancient Minerals magnesium chloride bath flakes.
Would this work alright? Does it still get absorbed. Well if you aren't swallowing it?
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B005F1AT ... prod_image
Would this work alright? Does it still get absorbed. Well if you aren't swallowing it?
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B005F1AT ... prod_image
Sarah
Lymphocytic colitis since Feb 2019
Lymphocytic colitis since Feb 2019
Many members swear by it and similar products designed for transdermal (thru the skin) use. If you soak in bathwater containing magnesium chloride for 15 or 20 minutes daily, or at least several times each week, it should help a lot.
Tex
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.
Sorry, I did not read back on the former notes. Cholestyramine worked great for me but afterSorphal79 wrote:Brandy,
I forgot to mention that I have tried 3 months Pepto. It helped but that was back when my diet wasn't as strict and that might've been why I didn't reach remission at that time. I am still considering going back to that to try again.
I have tried cholestyramine (Questran) and had terrible side effects that put me in the ER (kidney insufficiency, low blood glucose, and low blood pressure). Maybe it just affected me terribly but I will never go back to that stuff again.
Thank you for your help!
a month my throat was closing so I can't go on that again.
I had pretty serious side effects on budesonide (it worked great too! for me) but after
my last pill I knew I could not go on it again.
[quote=
I'm not sure if it's a side effect from Budesonide or not. It very well could be (the Budesonide initially gave me side effects that included a fast heart rate) but could also be from peri-menopausal symptoms, according to my OBGYN. I am experiencing early menopausal symptoms from not getting a period for 7 months due to extreme low weight and rapid weight loss. I have had a few anxiety attacks in the past (when I was healthy) but none since I've been diagnosed.
I have an appointment with a behavioral health specialist in a couple of days. If my magnesium levels come back normal and he recommends an anti-anxiety drug, would this be bad to take with the Budesonide? I really don't want to take any but I'm also a little reluctant to take extra magnesium if my levels are normal.[/quote]
Sarah, I feel for you. I had symptoms when first diagnosed and to this day I don't know if it was
from MC, menopause starting, or a side effect of budesonide. I don't think I'll ever know. At the
time I thought it was from menopause (dizziness) but it could have been any of the three.
I had a memorable meeting with my Gyn PC and the room started spinning and I told Gyn I could
not do my math equations for work. Gyn PC told me she had never had a patient in over 30 years
of working with women not be able to do math equations in peri menopause. She wanted to
send me to a neurologist. I refused as I was already circling between 3 docs: Gyn, GAstro and
PCP and did not feel like I was getting anywhere.
Some of the anti anxiety drugs are contraindicated with MC. I'd have a lengthy discussion
with the behavioral health specialist.
I'm not sure if it's a side effect from Budesonide or not. It very well could be (the Budesonide initially gave me side effects that included a fast heart rate) but could also be from peri-menopausal symptoms, according to my OBGYN. I am experiencing early menopausal symptoms from not getting a period for 7 months due to extreme low weight and rapid weight loss. I have had a few anxiety attacks in the past (when I was healthy) but none since I've been diagnosed.
I have an appointment with a behavioral health specialist in a couple of days. If my magnesium levels come back normal and he recommends an anti-anxiety drug, would this be bad to take with the Budesonide? I really don't want to take any but I'm also a little reluctant to take extra magnesium if my levels are normal.[/quote]
Sarah, I feel for you. I had symptoms when first diagnosed and to this day I don't know if it was
from MC, menopause starting, or a side effect of budesonide. I don't think I'll ever know. At the
time I thought it was from menopause (dizziness) but it could have been any of the three.
I had a memorable meeting with my Gyn PC and the room started spinning and I told Gyn I could
not do my math equations for work. Gyn PC told me she had never had a patient in over 30 years
of working with women not be able to do math equations in peri menopause. She wanted to
send me to a neurologist. I refused as I was already circling between 3 docs: Gyn, GAstro and
PCP and did not feel like I was getting anywhere.
Some of the anti anxiety drugs are contraindicated with MC. I'd have a lengthy discussion
with the behavioral health specialist.
Brandy,
Thank you for your kind words of encouragement. I feel less alone to know that someone else has gone through a similar situation.
What's a little strange is, my heart palpitations and chest squeezing seem to be most obvious after I eat. I'm not sure if this is due to the large amount of carbs I eat (potatoes and white rice) or perhaps from olive or coconut oil... But it certainly feels like it's more than just anxiety.
I mentioned this to my GI doctor and also the GI doctor on call and they both said it couldn't be due to the Budesonide because it's a local corticosteroid and has very little absorption into the blood. Be that as it may, I most certainly had side effects the first two weeks of taking it: Dizziness, headache, mild nausea, and rapid heart beats. That's why I really thought the rapid heart rate I'm having now may be due to being on it for too long, with whatever hormonal changes it causes, or lack thereof. But I guess there's no way to really tell. I just don't want to start weaning off unless I have to, but I don't want to stay on them if they are causing further damage to my body. My blood pressure has also been consistently low (100/60) this whole time, instead of high like I would've thought.
I guess I'll have to just wait a little longer and see if it goes away after trying the magnesium bath or changing something in my diet. Hopefully those will help.
Thank you for your kind words of encouragement. I feel less alone to know that someone else has gone through a similar situation.
What's a little strange is, my heart palpitations and chest squeezing seem to be most obvious after I eat. I'm not sure if this is due to the large amount of carbs I eat (potatoes and white rice) or perhaps from olive or coconut oil... But it certainly feels like it's more than just anxiety.
I mentioned this to my GI doctor and also the GI doctor on call and they both said it couldn't be due to the Budesonide because it's a local corticosteroid and has very little absorption into the blood. Be that as it may, I most certainly had side effects the first two weeks of taking it: Dizziness, headache, mild nausea, and rapid heart beats. That's why I really thought the rapid heart rate I'm having now may be due to being on it for too long, with whatever hormonal changes it causes, or lack thereof. But I guess there's no way to really tell. I just don't want to start weaning off unless I have to, but I don't want to stay on them if they are causing further damage to my body. My blood pressure has also been consistently low (100/60) this whole time, instead of high like I would've thought.
I guess I'll have to just wait a little longer and see if it goes away after trying the magnesium bath or changing something in my diet. Hopefully those will help.
Sarah
Lymphocytic colitis since Feb 2019
Lymphocytic colitis since Feb 2019
Brandy,
Also interesting that you said your OBGYN wanted to send you to a neurologist... The urgent care doctor wanted to send me to one as well when they couldn't figure out what was causing my symptoms. I refused because I knew there wasn't anything "neurologically" wrong with me. I am now thinking that those symptoms I experienced after taking the Questran may have possibly been due to adrenal insufficiency since I had very similar symptoms: weakness, dizziness, low blood pressure, low blood sugar spikes, and kidney insufficiency. They never did any adrenal test so I'll never really know for sure. I just know I can never go back on it again.
I'll still see the behavioral health specialist since I have had anxiety issues in the past but will likely not take any other meds while on the Budesonide, or possibly not at all if they interact with MC. Hoepfully I will at least get some kind of insight from her about what else I can do.
Also interesting that you said your OBGYN wanted to send you to a neurologist... The urgent care doctor wanted to send me to one as well when they couldn't figure out what was causing my symptoms. I refused because I knew there wasn't anything "neurologically" wrong with me. I am now thinking that those symptoms I experienced after taking the Questran may have possibly been due to adrenal insufficiency since I had very similar symptoms: weakness, dizziness, low blood pressure, low blood sugar spikes, and kidney insufficiency. They never did any adrenal test so I'll never really know for sure. I just know I can never go back on it again.
I'll still see the behavioral health specialist since I have had anxiety issues in the past but will likely not take any other meds while on the Budesonide, or possibly not at all if they interact with MC. Hoepfully I will at least get some kind of insight from her about what else I can do.
Sarah
Lymphocytic colitis since Feb 2019
Lymphocytic colitis since Feb 2019