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DEPRESSION AND CROHN'S

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Posted 11/20/2008 10:02 PM (GMT 0)

I was just wondering if anyone else is dealing with depression, and if so are you taking any meds for it..I saw my doctor this am and she is giving me a different anxiety medication one that I take in the morning and it will last longer than the one I am curriently on, she also brought up that she was considering putting me on medication for depression but was on the fence about it, because she is worried about stomach upset, so I go back in a month to see what next to do..just wondering if any of you take anything and it sits well with u....thanks everyone....

Posted 11/20/2008 10:44 PM (GMT 0)
I have dealt with anxiety (not too much depression) for many years. I have been on Zoloft since before my diagnosis with Crohn's. I have found that it helps with anxiety and seems to ward off depression. I do not have any side effects that I notice. Also, from time to time, I need to take ativan for panic attacks or during high stress times.

I know the Zoloft is working, cause at one point, my doc tried lowering my dosage and I felt a lot more anxious and ran into mind racing that would not quit.

Good luck in whatever you do.

K
Posted 11/20/2008 11:53 PM (GMT 0)
I was diagnosed with classic depression long before I was diagnosed with CD. I am currently on Zoloft to stabilize my mood, however, I still occasionally have bad Crohn’s days where I become depressed that I just have to deal with.
In the past, I have taken prozac, wellbutrin, and lexapro.
Posted 11/21/2008 12:21 AM (GMT 0)
prozac gave me a lot of heartburn and a friend of mine had to stop zoloft b/c of naseau.
Posted 11/21/2008 3:03 AM (GMT 0)
I was always depressed before Crohn's, but it got better since I started living with my fiance. It still comes and goes though. I don't take any medicine since I feel like, in spite of previous masochistic tendencies, I can overcome it with the support of those who care and my own realizations after being diagnosed with this disease. I feel like it is an eye opener if anything and enables one to see what good things are in life in spite how miserable you can be.
Posted 11/21/2008 6:46 AM (GMT 0)
I had terrible issues with anxiety which invited depression...I found exercising regularly and starting to feel better symptoms wise aided with both my depression and anxiety.

:)
Posted 11/21/2008 10:26 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Keeper, Depression is extremely common in chronically ill people. The attack that our body is constantly dealing with can deplete brain chemicals. pb4 is right . . . exercise does help . . . and that would be a good thing to try if you are able. but sometimes it isn't enough. I have taken an anti-d for as much as a couple years at a time and it worked really well for my depression and mild anxiety. I have used paxel (couldn't tolerate it - made me tense) zoloft, celexa, and finally lexapro. Of those, lexapro was my favorite and had the least side affects . . . but it did seem to affect my sleep. I don't recall have any issues with my stomach . . . but I wasn't symptomatic with crohn's at that point. Actually the crohn's issues started AFTER I stopped taking it. I have been off of any anti-d for a couple years. I think I haven't needed it because my lupus symptoms have been so mild. But recently I have been dealing with a lot of anxiety myself and I am thinking about going back on something. The ones I listed could (at that time) be cut in half. You might try taking 1/2 a pill a day at first to see how you tolerate it (but check with the pharmacist first and make sure the one you try can safely be split). I have benefited from a dose as low as 1/2 pill e/o/d. Sorry you are dealing with this too. Blessings!
Posted 11/21/2008 1:08 PM (GMT 0)
I was diagnosed with GAD (General Anxiety Disorder). My doctor put me on Cymbalta which works great for me. She also used this drug to help with general pain. I have terrible joint pains with my Crohn's and Cymbalta helps me deal with that. You know that commercial that says "Depression Hurts. Cymbalta helps." I noticed that the few times I have forgotten to take it the next day my joints hurt more than normal. It doesn't totally make my pain dissappear but makes it tolerable.
Posted 11/21/2008 5:56 PM (GMT 0)
I have always wondered this question too. My doctor put me on Lexapro and It works awesome. My anxiety has gone way down and I'm happier. I've been on that for about a year. This past october I had a bad bout of depression. The stress of school and all the GI tests I was having to do really go me down, to the point where I didn't want to get out of bed. My doctor put me on wellbutrin along with my lexapro. Its the last thing I wanted only because I already take enough pills.. but its helped! Also, my councilor said that sadness is a natural part of dealing with crohns. I have a hard time dealing with the fact that my body has betrayed me in so many ways internally... alot of people don't get that. The fact that us Crohnies have to get up in the morning and the first thing we think is.. how am I feeling? How is my day going to go bowel movement wise? Whens the fatigue going to set in? And where are the nearest bathrooms in the places I have to go today? We think about that, and people with out chronic diseases typically dont. The most important component in this is YOU. Take care of you, try to make you feel better! If antidepressants do that.. more power to you!!
Posted 11/21/2008 8:08 PM (GMT 0)
I did an MBSR course (as perscribed by my doctor) and it helped tremendously.  Just having a few tools in dealing with pain and depression.  If you're curious the book that we used as our text was Full Catastrophe Living by John Kabat Zinn.

Posted 11/22/2008 2:17 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you everyone for all of your help....

Posted 11/24/2008 12:53 AM (GMT 0)
lexapro
Posted 11/24/2008 1:28 AM (GMT 0)
I have always been kind of up and down with my moods. And , certainly , being diagnosed with Crohn's didn't help...when I was laid up in the hospital while being diagnosed (15 days) I was miserable but I decided I could either let Crohn's win or I could fight it. Naturally , having Crohn's disease is pretty awful but in some ways it's been good. I got myself out doing things I always only intended to do before. I got back into martial arts and have been training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for almost a year now. I am soon to be playing Lacrosse an a team organized with some guys in my Fire Department. I am out more and do less sitting around being sad and moody. At least now I know what I have and the meds keep it in check along with being careful with what I eat , exercising , and keeping active. Don't let it beat you...I know that's corny and easier said then done...even more so for different people. But it's the best advice I can give...get out and do stuff...live your life as much as you can. Sorry for sounding like a self-help guy. :)
Posted 11/24/2008 12:41 PM (GMT 0)
Hey, Keeper.

Depression, anxiety and chain smoking: My PCP once told me that women tend to smoke more when they are stressed and then tried several of the seretonin- uptake meds to try and get me a) calmed down b) stop smoking. I found my body couldn't take those types of medications. I am trying something called Remeron now. I take it at night at bedtime and it helps me sleep and I don't feel "funky". For the anxiety/panic attacks that started once when I was young then went away and have been back since CD started, I take a sedative. Still smoking like a freight train, though.

Being sick and in pain all the time is depressing. This DD is hard on the body and mind. Everyone has a different coping mechanism and motivational drive. Find what works for you, and try and think about the positives in life. I must remind myself, especially when dealing with CD flare and a great deal of "life poo" that life is short. I have to live the best that I can with what I have and not let the anger and sadness of this disease control my life... sometimes this is easy; others, not so much.

I say this ALL the time, but this place has been the once source of comfort I have had in dealing with this disease and life. Different folks, different walks of live; different locations across the glob; ONE disease and ONE wonderful place to openly talk about it all. Thanks many times over, healing well.

-Leslie
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