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Effexor and IBS

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Posted 7/17/2005 11:44 PM (GMT 0)
I had IBS for 27 years non-stop. I tried everything. I had every test under the sun. I was furious when after everything the DRs would say it was linked to anxiety and stress, I mean how could someone have the same level of anxiety and stress for 27 years, especially since I'd been on and off several antidepressants, tranquilizers, etc over the years? To me it was a cop-out. They don't know why it is so they blame it on stress...
Anyway...a year ago I started taking Effexor. MY IBS IS GONE!!!! The first time in all my adult life---completely, totally gone!! It is truly a miracle, I can eat anything I want, I'm living like the rest of the world. I can hardly believe it myself, I am more stunned than anyone. I will never stop taking Effexor, ever, ever. I never thought I'd be free of IBS, it ruled my life and I'd come to accept it, and now that I'm free of it I don't know how I coped with it as long as I did, I can't believe life can be this carefree.
I feel obligated to tell all you IBS sufferers because I know how terrible IBS is. Try it, hopefully it will do the same for you. Good luck.
Posted 7/18/2005 1:59 AM (GMT 0)
Hi gooshi, Welcome... IBS can be linked to stress, anxiety and emotions and can be made worse when we go through emotional times. Doctors have said that for some people that taking anti-depressants can help with the symptoms and I have heard many people agree through experience. Thanks for sharing your experience
Take Care and Keep Posting!!!
Posted 7/18/2005 2:14 AM (GMT 0)
Yes, but I'd been on several different antidepressants over the years that helped somewhat, but never came close to getting rid of it. What I'm saying is that this has literally cured my IBS, it's no longer part of my life. I hadn't eaten fruit in years, hadn't had milk products in years, etc., etc. Now I eat anything and I'm fine. I hope all of you out there believe me, I have no connection whatever to Effexor, I get nothing out of recommending it. I am absolutely sincere and truthful. No one, not even my doctor told me this would happen, it was completely unexpected. But for a full year I've been symptom-free. I wish someone had told me to do this years ago, and it's only because of that that I'm urging every one who reads this to try it. The only downside I know of is apparently getting off Effexor is hard, there are severe withdrawal symptoms if you don't do it extremely gradually. But honestly I don't want to ever go off it, my quality of life has improved beyond my wildest expectations.
Posted 7/18/2005 1:15 PM (GMT 0)
Is Effexor a prescription?  What kind of IBS did you have (D, C or both)?  And when you say you have to wean yourself off of it, does it cause stomach problems/ irregularity, or does it cause problems with other parts of the body?

Keri

Posted 7/18/2005 3:15 PM (GMT 0)
Please share more info, Gooshi. We are all desperate here.....
Posted 7/18/2005 10:27 PM (GMT 0)
Effexor is an anti-depressant and it is available by prescription only. Antidepressants need to be "weaned off" most of the time so that patients don't get a "flu-like" reaction to coming off of them. Effexor seems to be one of the more popular antidepressants on the market today. It's great to hear that people are having good luck treating their IBS with this kind of medication!
Posted 7/19/2005 1:12 AM (GMT 0)

Keriamon said...
Is Effexor a prescription? What kind of IBS did you have (D, C or both)? And when you say you have to wean yourself off of it, does it cause stomach problems/ irregularity, or does it cause problems with other parts of the body?


Hi,
Effexor is a prescription antidepressant.
I had IBS-D for about 20 years straight and then both D and C for about 7 years.
I don't know what happens weaning oneself off of Effexor, I've never tried, but I hear it's difficult. However I have no intention of going off it for a long time, and for me the benefits FAR outweigh the risks.
Good luck.

Posted 7/19/2005 1:21 AM (GMT 0)

7Lil said...
Please share more info, Gooshi. We are all desperate here.....

I had IBS D and then IBS D&C. I started taking the Effexor because I was depressed over an awful breakup of a difficult relationship, with no inkling that it might help my IBS. This was completely unexpected. I take 300 mg a day. I heard Effexor's hard to stop taking, a lot of unpleasant symptoms and you have to go VERY slow, but I don't care, I'm so thrilled to be free of the IBS misery that I suffered from everyday.
I highly recommend it to everyone with IBS.
Posted 7/19/2005 1:58 PM (GMT 0)
Here's a question that might be splitting hairs: is a side effect of Effexor that it helps IBS or do doctors prescribe it because it lowers stress which contribute to some people's IBS? I ask because I don't think my IBS is at all stress related, since it just appeared and there was nothing out of place in my life; everything was the same as it had been being. In fact, I had been very depressed and stressed out months before this started, so I was actually doing a lot better stress- and emotion-wise (and had been for a couple of months)when it started.

Keri
Posted 7/19/2005 2:04 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Keri,
Stress and anxiety does make many people's IBS worse and doctors do prescribe anti-depressants to many patients. A lot of people have benefited from it but not in the case of everyone.
Posted 7/21/2005 4:34 AM (GMT 0)

Keriamon said...
Here's a question that might be splitting hairs: is a side effect of Effexor that it helps IBS or do doctors prescribe it because it lowers stress which contribute to some people's IBS? I ask because I don't think my IBS is at all stress related, since it just appeared and there was nothing out of place in my life; everything was the same as it had been being. In fact, I had been very depressed and stressed out months before this started, so I was actually doing a lot better stress- and emotion-wise (and had been for a couple of months)when it started.

Keri


My doctor prescribed Effexor for anxiety and depression I was experiencing while in a very dysfunctional relationship, not for IBS. Neither he nor I had any idea it would cure my IBS. That was a complete surprise.
I never ever thought my IBS was related to stress, I always thought my IBS caused my stress.
This was one of the most stressful times years of my life, and yet this year I've been IBS-free, thanks to the Effexor. So now, with hindsight I suppose I believe that IBS is stress-related, though even now that seems simplistic. But perhaps I was living with a level of stress that was so much a part of me that I didn't recognize it as such, and my body suffered because of it. I don't know, I honestly don't. All I know is suddenly I no longer suffer from IBS, and I never thought I'd ever be able to say that. I had it 27 years and I expected to have it for the rest of my life.
Good luck to you, I hope you try it and have the same experience.
Posted 7/27/2005 5:01 AM (GMT 0)
I have had irritable bowel for a year and tried every fu_cking "natural" remedy on the market with failed results.  At the same time I was suffering from panic attacks and obsessive thinking.  My obsessive thinking was about dying from cancer of the bowel or some freak disease.  Well, it was time oto go on Effexor once again.  3 years ago I used effexor for anxiety as well.  As for withdrawing from it, yes it was horrible but.....

WHERE DID THE IRRITABLE BOWEL GO?  GONE! I've never took such happy craps in a year!  But then....

I can't afford to take Effoxor so I tried weaning off it again.  Yesterday my IBS came back and I'm bloated like a balloon.  Guess I 'll stay on it and find the money from somewhere.

Effexor most likely works so well because it blocks the pain receptors, lowers the anxiety levels, and increases the seritonin levels in the brain which are responsible for signaling the muscle contractions in the gut. 

Did you know the gut actually contains more seritonin than the brain?  Interesting fact!

You people need to understand that natural remedies are great for prevention and general health.  They are not replacements for drugs that use precise science to target the specific ailment.  Afterall, all drugs are dervived from nature and utilized to be more effective.

THANK YOU EFFEXOR!

Posted 7/28/2005 12:52 AM (GMT 0)
Here is the thing everyone:

This medication is an antidepressant (serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor type) used in the treatment of depression. It works by restoring the balance of natural chemicals (neurotransmitters) in the brain, thereby improving mood and feelings of well-being.

the "natural chemicals" include Serotonin. 95% of the Serotonin in your body is in the intestines. So you can see why these drugs are about 85% effective when treating IBS.

Here is more info on SSRI Antidepressants (more focused on depression treatment)
http://my.webmd.com/content/article/87/99352.htm
Posted 8/16/2005 11:16 PM (GMT 0)
Hi there,

I was diagnosed with IBS-D 2 years ago. I have been pretty good up untill about a month ago. I am in the middle of a looong flare up and I am going crazy. I am in a severe depression and I am constantly anxious. I was prescribed Effexor 2 weeks ago. I was wondering if you could tell me GOOSHI what mg you are taking. I am only on the 75 mg and I am wondering if I need to go higher. I still don't feel any better, I know that it only has been 2 weeks, when did you start to feel better emotionally? I am also having a very tough time sleeping. Did you experience any side effects anyone?? Please let me know.

sad
Posted 8/17/2005 12:41 AM (GMT 0)
Hi amsi,
I take 300 mgs each morning. Originally I was taking 150 but we upped it because I was having sexual side effects which for some reason go away at higher doses. But if my memory serves me, I believe my IBS was gone with 150 mgs. I can't remember how long it took to start working but it was definitely less than a month. It only gets better and better, which is unexpected. I really hope it works for you as well as it works for me, I know how awful you're feeling and my heart goes out to you. I would try doubling your dosage. Hang in there because it's worth it, believe me.
Good luck, let me know what happens.
Posted 8/17/2005 2:20 PM (GMT 0)
You guys have me wondering about this Effexor. I made an appt with my doctor today at 2:30pm to try this stuff......I have to at least say that I tried. I took a stressful job in June and after being virtually pain free for over a year, my IBS-D is back!! I cannot seem to get a grip on it.........I can't hardly eat anything without it triggering an attack. I have got to do something because I cannot even hardly work, anymore. I had to cut my hours back to about 20 a week because I'm in so much pain in the mornings. I'm not good to go to work until about NOON!!! I'm so sick of it that it's making me depressed.......and we all know that only makes the problem WORSE!!! AND I have an absessed tooth that is getting a root canal tomorrow, so I'm all stressed about that too!! I am really hoping this Effexor can do something for me!!!
Posted 8/17/2005 8:59 PM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone,
Well, I just got back from the doctor and I got the Effexor......so, lets see how it goes......Did anyone experience bad side effects from it?? It seems to have alot of NASTY side effects such as stomach upset, nausea, vomiting, etc.....
Please, anyone?????
Michelle
Posted 8/18/2005 12:51 AM (GMT 0)
hello everyone,
interesting thread this one, effexor is just one of the many anti d's i have been on over the years and i have always found the side effects more severe than the benefits derived especially the insommnia, however I always noticed that the pills had a drying up effect on my ibs in the early stages due. there are some interesting ideas floating about with regard to the gut being a second brain. see http://whyfiles.org/026fear/physio1.html. or put "brain in gut" into a search engine and you will be amazed at what you see. Some really interesting ideas are being put forward.
I have found however that the effects wear off although I pray in your case this isnt so. i feel strongly that many docs are only too glad to prescribe Anti d's to get rid of you but I always knew they had it the wrong way round and any depression was mostly caused by their lack of an answer to my baffling symptoms. intolerance to just about any drug is part of my problem and the new type anti d's are the worst in my experience. do you get any agitation and weird thoughts when you go to bed.? I did and it made my already intolerable insommnia so much worse , often whole weeks without sleep!. The only way I could even come close was to take them as early in the morning as possible
the other thing i found was that initially i would get 2 or three days of total waterery stools with a constant nausia. Incidently, I quit smoking on this drug as you seem to lose all interest!!
I do hope it works for you but I have to be honest and say it certainly did'nt for me
oh incidenly i seem to suffer from CFS but its all new to me after 10 years of wondering why I felt so bad. IBS is just one of the symptoms of this weird complaint
David

Post Edited (daneinter) : 8/18/2005 9:39:37 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 8/18/2005 1:03 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the info David! The more I read about this Effexor on the internet, the more I don't want to deal with the side effects. I think I FINALLY figured out why I started having attacks again, anyway!! I was originally prescribed Elavil in March of last year and after only about 2 months all my symptoms were GONE and I was able to eat whatever I wanted!!!!! This had been going on for the past year and then I decided that I was fine and stopped taking the Elavil about 4-5 months ago........LOW AND BEHOLD that's how long I have been having these attacks again!!! So, about three weeks ago, I started taking the Elavil again (actually, two days) before I went back to the doctor and told him my attacks were back after being asymptomatic for over a year and he prescribed me Levsin for spasms and he told me that I had to come off of the Elavil because it interacted with the Levsin. So, I have been off of the Elavil and on the Levsin and the attacks are UNCONTROLLABLE!!!!!!!! PROBLEM RESOLVED!!!!!!!!!! I am going to take the EFFEXOR samples back, tomorrow, to the doctor and stay on the Elavil. THANKS FOR ALL OF THE ADVISE!!!! After you said you had watery stools with constant nausea, I was totally turned off, anyway. I ALREADY HAVE ALL OF THAT.......I DON'T NEED ANYMORE OF IT!!!!!! I don't have ANY side effects from Elavil besides not being able to stay awake, so I take it at night before bed :)
Man, I hope I'm right!!!!! We'll see in about a month! I will keep ya posted!
Thanks!
Michelle
Posted 8/19/2005 10:22 PM (GMT 0)
Well, they uped the dose 2 days ago to 150 mg, we will see what happens. I do have side effects such as dizziness, insomnia, and some abnormal thoughts. Of course I wouldn't know if it causes diarrhea because I already have it. I am desperate, I want my life back, for that I will try anything.
Posted 8/19/2005 10:47 PM (GMT 0)

I hope the Effexor works for you because if it doesn't, it will be difficult coming off of it to try something else, ya know???    The Elavil works for me!  So, keep that in mind if the Effexor doesn't work.  I only take 20 mg at night.  I have had one IBS-D attack, today, but this is only my 2nd day back on the Elavil.  I usually have three or four attacks in a day.  So, I think I'm doing much better, over all.  I have been so sick for the past three weeks that I couldn't even cut my grass until today!!  It was horrible! 

Good luck with the 150 mg and keep us posted!

Michelle :-)

Posted 8/21/2005 6:53 AM (GMT 0)
When I was diagnosed several years ago I was not told what type of IBS I had. I have since moved and have a new physician. He knows nothing about the IBS because it has not caused problems for quite a while. I am on zoloft and wellbutrin for depression. Would it be reasonable for me to talk to my new doc about switching me from my current depression meds to Effexor? Also, how do I find out what type of IBS I have and is the treatment totally different? It has been about 5 years since I was diagnosed and I am not even certain where the old doc is now. She is not in the city where I saw her so getting my medical records at this point is unlikely. I am starting a new job in 2 weeks and won't have med. insurance for 90 days from that. This is going to make new tests too expensive. I haven't even figured out how to get my other meds paid for. I also have high blood pressure and chronic daily migraines.
Posted 8/21/2005 4:27 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Dan,

I've seen many things that say that SSRI's treat IBS however you are stating that you are not seeing the effects while on your SSRI (Zoloft).  I just want to state that Effexor is not the only anti-depressant that has been noted as a medication to help with IBS.  I am attaching a link to a web page in pdf format that talks about IBS with anti-depressants.

http://www.med.unc.edu/medicine/fgidc/antidepressants.pdf

Posted 7/17/2006 11:20 PM (GMT 0)

I went to Google and typed in Effexor and IBS and came to this site.  I decided that I needed to share my IBS experiences with you all.  I've had IBS (the C kind) for the past 40 years.  I have been on Prozac, Celexa, Lexapro, Welbutrin and some others (I can't even remember) and recently was put on Effexor.  My IBS is gone!!!  I feel better than I have in years and years.  I'm also taking meditation classes and exercising more, but I really do believe it is the Effexor.  So, I share Gooshi's enthusiams for it.  I experienced no side-effects, and I've only been on 75 mg., so I'm thrilled.  I'm not worried about getting off it because I don't see any reason to do so.  By the way, my depressions has subsided also.

Posted 7/20/2006 10:04 PM (GMT 0)
OK, here's my story:

Had IBS forever it seemed, tried several meds, nothing worked until I got the Effexor. I took 225mg of the extended release version (Effexor XR) every morning (which, I was told, is the maximum safe dosage). This essentially fixed my IBS completely, with few exceptions. Took it for a few years.

However, I also have a neurological sleep disorder, which is only treatable with stimulants (dexadrine). A side effect of most antidepressants, including Effexor, is sleepiness. So I was really not helping myself in that regard. I'd like to get off the dexadrine and on to something less intense, but I couldn't do that until I cut out the antidepressants. Additionally, I'd like to be taking as few medications as possible, as they're all essentially poisoning some part of your body while they're fixing another. So I'm currently at 75mg of Effexor, working with doctors to find some way to manage my situation to allow me to completely cut out the Effexor, but so far I've not had much luck. Tried everything I could find, but I'm getting so desperate that I might end up back at 225mg of Effexor.

This really sucks. Does anybody do intestine & colon transplants? I'd like mine replaced.
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