Re:Re: C. from anti-depressants -- was stewed prune juice?

February 19, 2010

Tom

Doesn’t surprise me that you have experienced

increased C. from an antidepressant. Although I have chronic C., so

nearly every medication (and foods) causes issues [grin] I have found through

trials of several anti-anxiety/anti-depressant medications that one of the

side-effects can be increased C. My nervous system does tend to do the

opposite of what is considered “normal.” Many gastroenterologists

have found that antidepressants help our digestion and improve motility, which

means little to no C, so they offer them as an option. But apparently

some of us have bodies that react in the opposite fashion to what is expected.

The only anti-anxiety med. I’ve tried that seemed to

help with reducing C. was Lexapro, but it caused so many other severe

side-effects that I had to stop it. Oddly enough I’ve found that

when I take a dose of Xanax, which works on our body’s GABA rather than

increasing serotonin, my digestion is much better (less C.) for a day or

two. Same thing happens when I have to take Valium to get through a MRI

or other claustrophobic-inducing scan or procedure. I’ve mentioned

it to my doctors, but since I don’t want to be on Valium 24/7 even if

they were willing to prescribe it, I just enjoy the brief improvement

after I’ve needed to take a Xanax (which is only about once every 14

days) and it gives me something to look forward to after needing a MRI [grin].

If I see the words “constipation” listed as a

common side-effect from a medication, then I always assume I’ll

experience that, only more so!

Kim M.

SCD 6 years

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

prescribed Mirtazapine for PLM-related insomnia, and it lists C as potential

side effect. It was around time I started taking it that I noticed

increasingly frequent C, something I usually don't experience, at least not to

this degree. (and the Mirtazpine doesn't seem to have done squat for my sleep.)

thanks,

tom

ibs / cfs

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