Antidepressants for IBS

[blue9482]

I was wondering if anyone has had any IBS relief from taking antidepressants. I have recently been diagnosed with suspected IBS, however I am still having investigations. My symptoms do make me incredibly anxious so I was wondering if antidepressants would help. I have sharp lower abdominal pains, bad bloating and sleep disturbances. I am constantly aware of my digestion and feel like there are bubbles in my guts. I also get general cramping pains and seem to react to almost everything I eat. My digestion is noisy and feels very uncomfortable, so any other recommendations would be great.

[Juicetin]

"I also get general cramping pains and seem to react to almost everything I eat." Sounds the same as me. You should discuss anti-depressants with your GP/Consultant , in my experience they are reluctant to issue them for IBS in the UK and may take some persuading. It may be worth asking though. Amitryptiline is the most common prescribed.

[711debbie in reply to Juicetin]

I read somewhere not to take amitryptiline if you are over 65 as it could lead to dementia. (don't know if that depends on the amount since IBS sufferers take much lower dosages).

[XDjames]

There's been quite a lot of research on antidepressants for IBS. It seems that a relatively low dose works best.

Go to Google Scholar and type in 'antidepressants' and 'IBS'. Some of the papers are open access.

For some folk they apparently work. Personally I've tried a few and not experienced any noticeably benefit to the IBS itself. However you would need to keep taking them for a while.

I've just restarted mirtazipine which as well as being an anti-depressant, for me definitely helps with sleep and definitely stimulates appetite -a good thing if IBS is laying waste to your nutrition input. So that's a possible quadruple whammy.

[Scottfae]

I've had similar problems over the last few years and as a consequence I'm now gluten and dairy free, but I've still had a constant gnawing pain under my rib cage on the left hand side of my stomach which gets a lot worse if I eat the wrong things, or get stressed out about anything.

This has been going on for years, but I didn't really connect the IBS symptoms with anxiety because I've never really considered myself to be anxious. Then it hit me a couple of weeks ago - I had a complete meltdown about something totally insignificant and I realised that this has been happening regularly lately and maybe it was down to stress or anxiety.

So I got a GP appointment and he's put me on amitriptyline because it should help my anxiety, but it also targets nerve pain. I've only been taking it for about 10 days, but I felt better within a day or two and the pain in my stomach has completely gone now - amazingly! I'm actually feeling better than I have in years this week (famous last words!).

One thing I would say is that he told me to take one 10mg pill a day for the first week and two pills a day after that, but I'm 3 or 4 days into taking two pills now and I feel like I'm wearing lead boots in the mornings, so I'm tempted to switch back to one 10mg again now.

To cut a long story short, I've felt that it's really helped me in the short time I've been taking it, but I don't know about the longer term results or consequences. Maybe someone with more experience can offer advice on the subject because I'm interested too!

[blue9482 in reply to Scottfae]

Thanks so much for your recommendation. Did you experience any other symptoms alongside you pain, as I have a feeling of bubbling guts and noisy digestion and I was wondering if anti-depressants would help with that?

[Letsfixit1]

I tried the Nervapp (hypnosis) for anxiety, cost £99pa, you can get 1/3 off link if you ask. Apart from helping to control anxiety, I found it brilliant for getting to sleep on a night. I'm not saying no-one needs anti=depressants, far from it, but I personally would try this app first.

[Wallace-s]

I took amitriptyline for years, it helped without doubt.

Low dose ‘antidepressant’ (10mg) calm some parts of the nervous system and reduce some overactive brain signals.

My sleep had never been so good, but i found they dull down your responses and senses.

There is also Nortripyline which is supposed to have less side effects.

It is important to understand in my opinion, that taking any medication that alters natural bodily processes, is likely to have a counter active effect in some way - but for IBS suffers (and from my experience) the benefit on quality of life FAR outweighed any possible negatives!

I wish you luck and hope you find some solutions

[blue9482 in reply to Wallace-s]

Thank you for your reply, how did the medication help with your other IBS symptoms other than improving your sleep quality?

[Wallace-s in reply to blue9482]

Your symptoms sound the same as what mine used to be, and the amitriptyline significantly reduced all my symptoms. I went from almost daily occurrences, to maybe once a month.

It took about 3weeks for it to build up in my system, and the first few days I was very dizzy and light headed.

[edwangy]

Depends what IBS you have, if you have IBS C then these antidepressents will make constipation worse

[withallmylove]

From my own experience - very serious UC AND Chron's and a hospitalization a few years ago lasting 7 full months and then 'managing to escape' without having everything connected to my digestion cut out!! I recovered. I came to recognise and understand the logic that all ills of this kind ESPECIALLY (including IBS )... all comes down to pathogens, bacteria and viruses. We need the good and bad. I posted once before about celery juice. Take 2 bunches pure celery juice filtered on an empty stomach 1st thing in the morning. After 1 hour drink water and then later eat a breakfast of soft fresh fruits or oats or millet with water. Can have a little dried fruits washed. NO FATS BEFORE LUNCH at all, not even avocado. Please neither munch the celery or take your supplements WITH the celery juice 1st thing. Allow it to work. THIS IS ALL from the 'CELERY JUICE FOUNDER '. If you can do this one thing each morning...keep going..you will see from the start.

withallmylove

[Pinkpop21]

Hi, Have you tried peppermint oil capsules or peppermint tea? It’s meant to be anti spasmodic and helps with cramps.

I tried Amitripline low dose, didn’t help me much re IBS symptoms but felt I went into deep sleep . Different things work on everyone. I try not to eat after 7.30/8pm to let my gut rest overnight.

Hope they give you a result soon and something to help you.

[Luisa22]

I have heard from a few people (mostly online) that SSRI antidepressants ...I think in a lower dose than when used for clinical depression (?) Not sure about that... have helped some people with IBS constipation. Unfortunately they can make IBS D a bit worse I think.

An elderly relative was put on Sertraline last year, not with her tummy in mind, and she doesn't have IBS, but because of symptoms of her dementia, She is always inclined to constipation, and of course lives a very sedentary life.

Then her constipation got better!