Constipation and antidepressants

[Lovemyfamily89]

Hi,

Can anyone tell me of any anti depressants which do not have constipation as a side effect. I have been constipated since birth. Many medical reasons, and I take strong medication every day to make my bowels work. I’m in a bad place mentally at the moment for lots of external reasons, but the antidepressants just make my constipation worse which I can’t risk as the consultants have have exhausted the list of medications for me to treat it, and told me a stoma is my next option. I’ve known this for a while, it’s not the reason for my depression, but I’d rather not bring the date of it forward, because of antidepressants. Can anyone recommend one which doesn’t constipate? Or better still, one with a laxative effect? Two birds, one stone etc etc.

Thank you

[Philbs1980]

Hello. I take Sertraline as this is recommended if you have constipation. I started on 25mg and then moved up to 50mg. The side effect are much less than other older ADs but you do need to persevere for the first few weeks. Good luck. You will be totally fine. Also you can have a full and happy life with a Stoma. There are some amazing people on Youtube talking about their experience with a Stoma. I know it is easy to say but think about all the parts of your body that are working really well.

[Lovemyfamily89 in reply to Philbs1980]

Thank you- I shall discuss sertraline with my doctor. I’m not scared of the stoma but at the moment, the drugs I take for my bowels are working, so no need to have it yet, but I know in the past, anti depressants have aggravated my bowels so it’s good to know that sertraline might help me without upsetting my vowels further. Thank you 😀

[melody2002 in reply to Philbs1980]

I have just been given Determine can you tell me what side effects you had.

[Lovemyfamily89 in reply to melody2002]

Hi,

Sorry, I have never had a drug called determine.

[melody2002 in reply to Lovemyfamily89]

I meant to say setraline, my phone must have changed it to determine. 😁 I was given it for IBS C 2 weeks ago but have been on holiday and did not want to start it until I came home, are the side effects sickness?

[Lovemyfamily89 in reply to melody2002]

Hi,

Sorry, I never made the connection 😂😂. I haven’t had sertraline yet but I’m going to ask my doc to consider it, when I see him next month, as someone in an earlier post on this site suggested it to me. I’m needing something to assist with pain ( just been diagnosed with fybromyalgia) and the consultant recommended anti depressants, but wasn’t sure which would work with my bowel problems as most of them cause constipation. I always try new medications without reading the side effects, unless I feel I am getting some side effects from them. I always find anti depressants make me drowsy & woozy but if they are hard tablet form, rather than capsules, I always cut them in half and try to build the dosage slowly- is that an option for you? I always try taking them on nights where I don’t have work the next day too. Good luck with them. Let me know how you get on 😀

[melody2002 in reply to Lovemyfamily89]

They come in 50mg and I could cut them in half to start with, I don't suffer from depression just constant pain from IBS constipation. My cousin has fibromyalgia and went to a specialist clinic in Scotland and had some success with natural remedies they gave her she was there for a week.

[Lovemyfamily89 in reply to melody2002]

I have prucalopride & bisacodyl fir my IBS C which work fine as long as I don’t take any drugs which have a constipating effect- what have you been taking fir the IBS C until now? How long have you had it?

[melody2002 in reply to melody2002]

I take 3 laxido and use suppositories, I have had constipation for 20 years but had no pain until 18 month's ago, lower bowel pain started after I was prescribed omeprazol for gastritis had constant pain ever since, going to try lowfodmap when I get home from holidays tomorrow

[Lovemyfamily89 in reply to melody2002]

IBS C is so hard to live with, I have had lots of different medications over the years ( had problems since birth and I’m now 51) some meds worked for 12 years, others much less. Lots of luck with the fodmap. I too am now on lansoprazole but I didn’t find my symptoms got worse when I started taking it 😀

[FRreedman]

There is a laxative that is only prescribable by GI consultants called Naloxegol (Moventig).

[Lovemyfamily89 in reply to FRreedman]

Thank you. I haven’t come across that before so I shall mention it to my bowel consultant when I see him early next year. Hopefully by then , I will have some anti depressants and I will know what effect, if any, they are having on my bowels- thank you so much 😀

[AmandaJW in reply to Lovemyfamily89]

Moventig is only prescribed along with opiate painkillers. I am on Targin and my GI doc prescribed Moventig to counteract the constipating effects of Targin, he has never heard of Moventig being used as a stand alone laxative.

Like you I have suffered from constipation all my life and have been given every medication on the market. I started with surgery 5 years ago first with ace malone surgery then sacral nerve stimulation surgery. They worked initially but soon wore of. I was told 5 months ago the next step is an ileostomy. I go back to the surgeon in 3 weeks to be given a date for the surgery but to be honest I really don't want it.

I've being doing my research on forums and blogs from people who have experienced this surgery and there is a lot of negativity about it. I totally understand where you are coming from, this surgery is not without it's risks and lifelong complications, yes it might solve one problem but it can cause a whole lot more.

I don't mean to sound negative but like you I am really unsure what to do. When I'm having a really bad day I want it but when things are not so bad I'm not so sure.

[Lovemyfamily89 in reply to AmandaJW]

Hi Amanda,

It’s a really difficult situation and chronic constipation is a dreadful ailment. It has taken a lot away from me and my family and I know just what you mean, it’s a big decision and it won’t be easy either way so it’s hard to decide which way is the best way. Thank you for telling me about your drugs, I think the doctors are so busy, I feel I have to try to do some research before I see my medics as they do not have enough time to check my full medical history and treat all my conditions together. They definitely all effect each other. I wish you lots of luck with your decision & your health- I have heard lots of positive results for the ileostomy ( I met with the ileostomy nurse and attended an open day ) so if you do have it, think positive 😀 let me know how you get on 😀