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Antidepressants? Help?

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 1/28/2013 6:23 PM (GMT 0)
So here we go.  Possibly working on divorce #2.  Not my idea but what can you do besides pray when your spouse says "It's not you.  I'm just not marriage material" and tells the Christian counselor that he's learned wives are dispensable (I'm paying for what his ex did to him.)  Long story short, the first was having affairs (got a co-worker pregnant), got on drugs, became abusive - I ended up raising my 3 kids (then ages 2, 7 & 9) alone right after having a resection.  I'm in better health now so what I'm dealing with right now isn't NEARLY as bad as what I went through before plus my kids are older (ages 11, 16 & 18).  However, I know I need an antidepressant.  The stress is causing some health issues (was hospitalized a couple of weeks ago - unable to keep food down and now all but forcing myself to eat although I throw up half of it). 

Here's my question.  I want to see if I can knock out two birds with one stone.  Do you all know of any antidepressants that help with the issues of Crohn's too?  Like something that will keep me from feeling tired all day?  What about something that has a side effect of constipation where I'm not in the bathroom all day long?  (Immodium does't work most of the time anymore.) 

If this marriage doesn't work, no more Mrs. for me ever!  Lesson learned.  I made a vow to work on it, and I will with all my heart and soul.  But I cannot make him do it.  I know God gives me the strength to deal with whatever comes my way but an antidepressant couldn't hurt (I don't think.) 

Thanks all!! 

 

Posted 1/28/2013 7:36 PM (GMT 0)
Be careful with the antidepressants.  I was doing okay on Humira this past summer when my doctor put me on an antidepressant.  At first, it actually helped my crohn's symptoms because I tend to get constipated and it loosened me up.  But after a couple of weeks, I began to flair badly with bleeding and pain.  I googled the name of the medication and discovered that these symptoms were not uncommon.  So, I stopped taking it and had to go on prednisone to feel better.  I eventually ended up in the hospital with an infection due to an abscess in my colon, but don't know how much of that I can blame on the medication, except that I'm sure all the inflammation was a good part of it.  The name of it was Sertraline, generic Zoloft.  I have much more luck with Xanax for my anxiety, although the doctors don't like to prescribe it much because it is addictive.  I take it as needed and find it to be very helpful with my anxiety and also as a sleep aid.  I hope this helps and good luck with everything.
Posted 1/28/2013 7:48 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks! I appreciate your response!
Posted 1/28/2013 8:04 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, Stay away from the antidepressants not good for CDer's.
Maybe go to your church and talk to your pastor or minister.
Posted 1/28/2013 8:18 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks! I'm doing that already. :) I hadn't heard about the effects of antidepressants on CDer's. I'll look into it more.
Posted 1/28/2013 9:30 PM (GMT 0)
sounds like a lot right now...
i am a UC'er... but have been in this forum today bc having some Remicade issues....
i have been on Citalopram, which is a generic Lexapro... since i was first diagnosed. it seems to keep me pretty even keel... but it takes 3-4 weeks to feel 'normal'.
I vote talk to your doc... get on something for the depression and something in the meantime for the anxiety...
Posted 1/28/2013 10:43 PM (GMT 0)
The SSRI antidepressants, which include Zoloft, Paxil, Prozac, Celexa, and Lexipro and a few others of that group do tend to have GI side effects for some people for the first couple of weeks while you are getting used to them. For us with CD, I'd imagine it may be worse, but I think it's individual for each person. There are also antidepressants that work on different receptor sites such as Wellbutrin or Effexor that may not affect your GI system as much. If you are very depressed and are having difficulty functioning with day to day tasks, or if you are feeling at all suicidal, then you should strongly consider medication. I think you should go see your doctor and talk about your options. The antidepressants won't worsen your disease; you just may get more constipation or diarrhea as a side effect. I'm so sorry you are going through such a rough time! Check out the thread from the U Penn Research study that was posted a couple of days ago on this site. They are using a cognitive behavioral therapy workbook that was specifically designed to help patients with Crohn's and IBS manage stress. It is full of lots of useful info and free. I hope things work out for you.
Posted 1/28/2013 11:01 PM (GMT 0)
Because so much of your seratonin is produced in your gut, it makes sense that those of us suffering through inflammatory bowel conditions would need help in those areas. Unfortunately those drugs can be very hard on the digestive system as a result. most of them are also compounded with dairy or gluten, which are triggers for me personally so they turned my C predominant Crohn's into D and the worst flair of my life besides the progesterone induced ones. They can help with motility issues tho, I see your signature, so they might help you, I hear good luck from folks who have IBS -C or Crohn's with primarily constipation.. it's all so individual!
Posted 1/28/2013 11:01 PM (GMT 0)
Because so much of your seratonin is produced in your gut, it makes sense that those of us suffering through inflammatory bowel conditions would need help in those areas. Unfortunately those drugs can be very hard on the digestive system as a result. most of them are also compounded with dairy or gluten, which are triggers for me personally so they turned my C predominant Crohn's into D and the worst flair of my life besides the progesterone induced ones. They can help with motility issues tho, I see your signature, so they might help you, I hear good luck from folks who have IBS -C or Crohn's with primarily constipation.. it's all so individual!
Posted 1/28/2013 11:15 PM (GMT 0)
I definitely don't recommend antidepressants unless you have to and your doctor feels as though it'd be a good option. Even though they are approved medicines, they really do have dangerous potential. I've been on and off of them since I was 12 (I am now just under 20 years old). Although people taking them for therapeutic effects for other disorders and such (besides mental illness) is done so at a MUCH lower dose... they still effect the chemistry of the brain in some way and you really just don't want to do that. But, maybe they will help you.... it's definitely a trial and error game with antidepressants - or medications in general, for that matter.

I'm super sorry to hear about all that is going on right now! But, it sounds like you are making the most of it and are taking strides to take care of yourself... that's definitely commendable in my opinion. If you think an antidepressant might help you... just talk it over with your primary care - it might be a really great thing for you!

Best of luck, Auburn Byrd!

Jade
Posted 2/6/2013 5:32 AM (GMT 0)
I agree that antidepressants may help but talk to your doctor about it. There were a few studies done on several years ago at Mt. Sinai about the possibility of Wellbutrin helping with Crohn's disease but I don't think there was anything conclusive. I remember at the time that the immediate release tablets were supposed to be more effective than the sustained release. Wellbutrin is not an SSRI.
Posted 2/6/2013 1:53 PM (GMT 0)
{{hugs}} I went through a divorce a few years ago, and it threw me into a flare. I took pristiq for a while, and I didn't notice any worsening of my CD. I don't tolerate antidepressants very well though. I was on it for about 6 months and that got me through the worst of it. I found xanax and sleeping pills helped too. I had a lot of anxiety even before the divorce and it was worse afterwards. Between the medications and therapy, I've worked through a lot of it.

Good luck with everything. It sounds like you are being proactive and trying to take care of yourself.
Posted 2/7/2013 4:34 AM (GMT 0)
Try St Johns Wort as l have been on them since 2000. It's natural and it will keep you on a level playing field. Crohn's is stress triggered so the sooner you are stable the consistent well being will be more prominent.
Your life will change for the better. Make sure you discuss anything with your GI or GP.
But it's worked for me and many others l have put them on to it.

Stay cool!!
Posted 2/12/2013 5:02 AM (GMT 0)
I have Crohns colitis and I take Sinequan (Doxepin). It slows the gut and is good for pain. It's an old antidepressant and doesn't cause gut troubles. Look it up. It's a really good med and I have been taking it on and off since 2004. It's easy to quit too. I never had a problem. The only side effect I have is I tend to want to snack more so I have to watch it so I don't gain weight. Good luck!
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