Has anyone had any experience of taking antidepresants for IBS-C.
My teenage Daughter (17) has prescribed them by our GP. We're a little hesitant to start her on them (although her severe bloating is definitely linked to anxiety).
Would welcome any feedback, positive or negative, please. 
Hi there,
Low dose antidepressants are a common treatment for IBS (both C & D types) so they are a tried and tested option but they are usually given once other treatments such as fibre supplements have been tried. At the lose dose they are given for IBS my understanding is that they won't necessarily affect mood but will instead help modulate nerve activity in the gut. I have IBS-D and have tried two types - one did nothing positive but the other has been helpful to a degree. The main side effect of both was tiredness during the day. Also, they are notoriously difficult to wean off if they don't help so do take with care i.e. at lowest dose your GP recommended. Good luck
my thoughts are that examining diet is the first step.Have you done the fodmap thing?
I personally don't hold with taking medications without trying to address the underlying problem,the sources and causes of your daughter's anxieties.
There is a lot of good evidence to back up the use of low dose antidepressants as a treatment for IBS and its being used more frequently now as well. They are unlikely to have much in the way of side effects (modern antidepressants are pretty good) so you can always try them for a few months and see how your daughter tolerates them. If they don't work then you can look at a different type or at other treatment options.
You say there is definitely a stress link, have you looked at CBT or other stress control methods? Yoga or mindfulness for example. It might be something you can do together. My stepdaughter suffers very badly with self-esteem and confidence issues (her mum wasn't the most supportive) along with anxiety and we do mindfulness and meditation together which really seems to help her and helps me feel I'm doing something positive to help her too.
Hope your girl finds relief xx
hiya. This is a bit of a minefield. Just from my own experience is that of they caused my IBS symptoms through withdrawal as i had no IBS Symptoms until i stopped taking them. I took 20mg of citlopram for anxiety and low mood. But not for IBS. What dosage and what AD have they described. Hope she works through it.
There is an app called Nerva which is a hypnotherapy app designed specifically for IBS. It has really good reviews, as does hypnotherapy for IBS in general. I am currently trying the app, but i know i don't do it often enough.
Is it C or D? It say D in the title but C in the text? Some ADs cause constipation
I took them for a few years for IBS -D they did help a bit. I did manage to come off them slowly. I had to try a couple at first as they made me feel sick and I have a phobia about that. In the end I had Fluoxetine. They did make me feel a bit tired. They could help your daughter but she will need to take them for a while to work and she must take them regularly as not taking them has side effects, not just IBS but can make Anxiety worse. Also some of them can react to alcohol and as your daughter is only young she may go to parties etc. I wish your daughter all the best it is a tough decision to make, but may be worth it if they help.
Personally speaking, after almost 2 years of horrific withdrawal after a short stint on antidepressants, I can’t stress enough how much I would avoid them like the plague for IBS. Have a look at survivingantidepressants.org to read countless stories of people who have been put on antidepressants by their GP to help with IBS only to find themselves in a far worse position.
thank you so much for your comments. It’s really helpful to get experience of others.
We have always tried the natural route to help her IBS. We’ve tried a specialist naturopath that perscribed various supplements, in person hypnosis, the nerva ap, acupuncture, reiki healing, Chinese herbs from a traditional Chinese practitioner. She does Pilates for exercise as HIIT classes were making the body stress and bloat more. She’s been on low FODMAP diet for almost 2 years, drinks atleast 2.5 litres of water a day, and barely drinks alcohol at parties because of the sore tummy she gets afterwards.
It’s sad to see as the bloating is effecting her self esteem as she is limited for what she can wear comfortably. She’s a size 8 but often her bloat is so bad that she looks about 4/5 months pregnant.
I think we’ll leave the AD for the time being and soldier on with the things that we have been trying.
Lilylola01, low thiamine (vitamin B1) can lead to depression and IBS as outlined in the first link. The stuttersence link offers a list of causes that diminish or destroy thiamine. Both of the eonutrition explain thiamin's role in the brain, vagus nerve and gut. A form of thiamine called TTFD is mentioned in the first eonutrition link for it's ability to cross the blood brain barrier more effeciently than some other forms. It's important to note that adequate magnesium is needed in the brain and to activate thiamine. A course to consider is taking a B complex once a day along with a TTFD then at supper take the second TTFD. Magnesium is better absorbed with food. Always consult your health care professional before using any supplement.
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...
eonutrition.co.uk/post/when...
I have struggled with anxiety. I don't believe we are born anxious,but that some experiences put us into the habit of anxiety.Anxiety is a kind of fear.It can bypass awareness and manifest in the body.It can also be a product of obsessive or unrealistic ,excessive thought or belief,or fear of a stressful situation or experience.
There's no overnight cure.How about finding a good psychotherapist(not easy) and try that route,and a dietitian specializing in IBS
Hi lilylola1. I have IBS-D and after numerous tests and scans my GP put me on 10mg of Amitriptyline. They have helped a lot . They have not have fully cured my symptoms but drastically improved them. Amitriptyline along with Imodium comforts is what i take to help. they have simeticone in the imodium that help with bloating and flatulence. I will only take Amitriptyline before bed as they can make you drowsy, so never take them on a morning or throughout the day. Dry-mouth is a side affect that is mainly noticeable along with tiredness.
Try them with the immodium comforts plus, i take half a tablet and usually keeps symptoms at bay. Yet everyones response/reaction is different but works well for me. Hope this helps 🙂.
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Back to antidepressants for IBS?
