Help with Anxiety/Depression Meds

UkuleleLady · Post by **UkuleleLady** » Tue Sep 03, 2013 10:11 am

Hi y'all. I've been doing quite a bit better, but, I feel really down since my diagnosis, and I'm losing sleep. I'm going to be seeing a psychiatrist in hopes to get on something to take the edge off. Not sure if he will steer toward treating anxiety, depression or sleeplessness.

I'm afraid to take SSRIs since I read that Zoloft can be contraindicated for MC. That said, I know some of you are on Elavil (one of you? I can't remember who).

Are there specific drugs I should be concerned with? Others that have helped you?

I would rather not take anything but I am so mentally drained and unhappy and I am certain this is interfering with my recovery.

I am still on entocort 9mg/day for reference. No D, but I have on and off pain in my lower left side. The other day I ate a few brussels sprouts -- well cooked -- but they wreaked havoc on my insides and I haven't recovered yet. Depressing. So far broccoli and cauliflower are good but the brussels are out for good. I suppose it's good to know that!

Thanks for any thoughts if you have a minute. Best to all of you.

Sincerely,
Nancy

Jazi · Post by **Jazi** » Tue Sep 03, 2013 2:57 pm

Hi Nancy

I understand about feeling down with the results. When I was given my Entero Lab results, I went into a depression. It was worse than I could have imagined.

Here I was trying to get off of Prozac being that it is an SSRI and it just seemed to back fire. I recently (2 1/2 weeks ago) started Wellbutrin as it is not as SSRI but an NDRI. I don't know if it makes a difference but I figured I wasn't doing well on taking nothing.

It has helped but the side effects are awful. They have subsided though when I hit the two week mark.

Good luck to you.

Post by **tex** » Tue Sep 03, 2013 3:10 pm

Hi Nancy,

To the best of my knowledge, Terri has been taking Elavil for years, at normal levels (for treating depression). At least 2 other members here take Elavil in sub-therapeutic doses, as a motility aid. IOW, the doses they take are too low to treat depression, but the tricyclic antidepresants are powerful antihistamines, so they are utilizing the antihistamine effect to help control their MC. For all we know, higher doses might aggravate their MC, because amitriptyline triggers MC for many people.

According to case studies, there are no truly safe antidepressants, as far as triggering MC is concerned, but the one with the lowest risk of side effects is Wellbutrin (bupropion). Unfortunately, it may not be suitable in your case, because it works better as an anti-anxiety medication, than as an antidepressant, but see what your doctor thinks.

At any rate, please be very careful not to take any drug too long if it triggers D for you, because this is a risky class of drugs for someone who has MC. You sure don't want to become dependent on one of them, and be stuck with chronic D.

Good luck with this.

Tex

Joefnh · Post by **Joefnh** » Tue Sep 03, 2013 3:35 pm

Nancy I'll echo what Tex stated, I tried Zoloft and it flared up my MC big time, after stopping it for a week or so things settled right down.

I started Wellbutrin (bupropion) about 3 weeks ago and it is an excellent medication as it not only deals with serotonin like an SSRI, it works fully on dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine, a much more effective combination of neurotransmitters.

While I didn't realize it, it also does a great job with anxiety without making you tired, it actually makes me more energetic while relaxed. As it works on dopamine that is one of the best mood elevators which also does a great job of suppressing aches and pains. So far it has not caused any GI issues, if anything it's calmed thongs down some.

Best of wishes Nancy

Take care

maestraz · Post by **maestraz** » Tue Sep 03, 2013 6:00 pm

Hi Nancy,
I have been taking Wellbutrin/bupropion for a couple of years, after stopping Celexa, a SSRI. I have done well with it. When prescribing, my doc's APRN said, "This could be the answer to your diarrhea prayers; constipation is a listed side effect." LOL. It's had only minimal impact in that regard. And, I still find it necessary to take a very low dose Xanax situationally.

I agree with Joe that it doesn't make me tired at all.

UkuleleLady · Post by **UkuleleLady** » Tue Sep 03, 2013 7:06 pm

Thank you all so much for the recommendations. I am so lucky to have this community.

I feel better prepared for my appointment, that is I have some leads on what is working for some of you. And that's worth a lot to me.

Wellbutrin sounds like something I can bring up at least. I could use the anti anxiety effects probably more than the depression.

We will see how it goes and ill report in.

Sincerely,
Nancy

Jazi · Post by **Jazi** » Wed Sep 04, 2013 3:21 am

Nancy, I'm not sure what strength Joe is on but I'm taking Wellbutrin 150 XL which is the extended release. I hear it's the best because it is being released gradually.

Also, if you are subscribed it, give it a chance. I was ready to give up on it but now I'm almost on 3 weeks in and I'm feeling so much better. I'm even exercising again. My favorite thing about it is being able to focus at work.

Let us know how it goes.

UkuleleLady · Post by **UkuleleLady** » Wed Sep 04, 2013 8:33 am

That's wonderful Joanne! I would love to be able to exercise again. I'm just doing the bare minimum to maintain some muscle. I am trying to gain weight so I had to quit cardio completely. Thank you for the info on Wellbutrin. Hopefully this shrink calls me back today! So tired of doctors!

JenniferS · Post by **JenniferS** » Wed Sep 04, 2013 1:34 pm

Jazi wrote:Hi Nancy

Here I was trying to get off of Prozac being that it is an SSRI and it just seemed to back fire.

It has helped but the side effects are awful. They have subsided though when I hit the two week mark.

Good luck to you.

Did you have any issues coming off it? I recently got of citalopram, which is an ssri, and am trying to decipher what are w/drawal symptoms and what is caused by something else.

Jazi · Post by **Jazi** » Sat Sep 07, 2013 11:11 am

JenniferS wrote:
Did you have any issues coming off it? I recently got of citalopram, which is an ssri, and am trying to decipher what are w/drawal symptoms and what is caused by something else.

Problems in what way? Digestion? Depression? I weened off of it slowly. 20mg, down to 10, then every other day, every other other day.....

I was okay with the depression/anxiety until I lost my nephew. I knew I needed to be on something but I was afraid to go back to the ssri's. Wellbutrin was the only other option.

As for my LC, I do notice a difference for the better but I noticed it prior to starting the Wellbutrin. I was having on and off good days instead of all bad days.