Fluoxetine - can it help IBS.

[Kelill]

Hi I’ve been taking Amitriptyline 20mg daily for a year and saw improvement in my symptoms. I now need to change to Fluoxetine for other health reasons. Has anyone any experience of taking Fluoxetine? Has it helped your symptoms? Would you recommend? Thanks

[Hidden]

Hi Kelill

You do not say if you are being prescribed these meds for depression or IBS?

I was prescribed Amitriptyline as an 'Off Label' med (Alternate and collated use by clinicians) for my hypoglycaemia (I get occasional hypos after food though ordinarily my sugars levels are normal).

I had no benefit for the hypos and the tablets just made me feel 'sedated' and unwell which I understand is quite normal for antidepressants (AD) to begin with.

There is increasing evidence coming out of America regarding the effectiveness, or otherwise, of AD's. I believe the drug companies only have to show data to the US FDA in connection with the meds use over a very short period of time (9 or 12 weeks rings a bell).

In many cases the benefit is often only shown a decimal percentage point (0.1% for instance) over no medication. Long term studies have shown mostly negative improvements over 6, 12 and 24 months. Unsurprisingly the mighty drug companies refute this, as they do with most evidence that doesn't suit them! (no I am not a conspiracy theorist 😊).

I'll look for some links to send you to substantiate my claims when I have a minute free but in my experience both with IBS/SIBO, and past depression, most medication have little, no or negative effect.

Personally I would keep well clear as there is more than a hint that these drugs can add to you IBS symptoms...there is irrefutable evidence that wide spectrum antibiotics can be causal in SIBO cases...as it likely was in my case!

Good luck

[Kelill in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for replying David I really appreciate it. My GP suggested I try lowest dosage of Amitriptyline for IBS last year in an attempt to calm me, improve my sleep as I’d had a bad few months with IBS and it was upsetting me. Took it for approx 1 year -no flare ups- Improved sleeps but often struggled to wake up and like you felt different slower. Decided to stop taking in July and had first IBS flare up this week.

To add to the mix I’m going through menopause which brings its own set of challenges! I don’t want to touch HRT but have an ongoing struggle with hot flushes, night sweats, brain fog, low confidence and anxiety...everything compounding as hormones all over the place 😕 Anyway got more blood tests to rule out thyroid and anything else. Thankfully all ok so GP suggested trying Fluoxetine instead I now have the dilemma of deciding what’s best to take for my IBS...I can’t bear the thought of another flare up. My anxiety through the roof this week as stomach so painful 😣 Apologies for moaning on. Any help or advice from a fellow ‘sufferer’ much appreciated.

[Hidden in reply to Kelill]

I'll pass on the menopause as I have no expertise in this area! 😊

You probably will have already worked out that I am not enthusiastic about drugs in general. I have no medical qualifications and only make comment based on my own experience with small intestinal bacteria overgrowth (SIBO) and IBS. What I have noticed is the vast majority of subscribers on this forum discuss medication and their condition on many occasions but far less about dietary habits.

Unfortunately we live in an environment where most clinicians reach for the prescription pad but very rarely discuss their patient's shopping basket! We all have intestinal problems of some description on HealthUnlocked, I would suggest that what passes through this area every day is the food that we purchase and maybe influential.

In may cases that same food has an inflammatory effect, often presenting an intolerance or causing an allergic reaction. Are you on a specialised diet? Have you considered reducing FODMAP's? Lactose in dairy is very antagonising for many with IBS.

Maybe you could get advice from dietician or nutritionist? Ask for evidence for why they recommend a certain protocol. Like many doctors, plenty of people in this field have no idea about IBS and just make up or follow outdated practises.

Ultimately, most drugs suppress symptoms, many create other problems and only a very few correct the causation...just a thought!

[ConcernedForumUser]

I've only ever known Fluoxetine to be an antidepressant.