Guess what unwittingly cured my IBS?

I have fibromyalgia, and I can sympathetically relate to all you IBS sufferers.  A couple of years ago, I started dating a guy and was too embarrassed to dine out with him because I'd have to go to the restroom immediately after eating.  Luckily, he was understanding.  Also, a few years ago, I went on vacation to Universal Studios and resisted eating much all day long because I didn't want to chance having a sudden urge to go to the restroom, or have to deal with those agonizing gas pains.  I was depressed as hell living this way.

But then about six months later, I went to see my psychiatrist for my usual medication refill.  The psychiatrist decided he wanted to put me on Adderall because of the chronic fatigue and concentration/memory problems brought on by the fibro.  Unbelievably, after being on the Adderall, my IBS has completely disappeared!  I no longer have those sudden urges to run to the restroom after eating.  I no longer have bouts of constipation and abdominal discomfort, and most of all, no more searing gas pains!

The Adderall keeps my system regular---like it should be.  I guess since it is a stimulant, that is what helps with the constipation.  But the sudden diarrhea that I would experience suddenly after eating has went away as well after taking the Adderall.  Anyway, that is my story.  

I would like to know how long you took it before it stopped the IBS-D and what dosage you took.  Thanks and congratulations.

Hi all, I think I have IBS too?  I've always had problems with it, years. I try not to eat so I don't have to run to the bathroom, and when I do, what I see in the toilet (sorry) is the food i ate, so i'm assuming i'm not digesting, not getting the vitamins, i'm skinny as a rail and sometimes my hair falls out.  I go to a psychiatrist (don't we all) and i'm curious about that drug.  I am on paxil and clonapin for severe depression and anxiety (and it works AWESOME!!!!).  Should I mention this drug?  I'm so sick of the pain in my butt!!!!!

Sometimes i even think i have some kind of parasite.  We're talking 20 years of this crap.  i don't trust doctors, i've mentioned it and i think my dr. may be stupid.

 Sherry.

In keeping with the usual medication name game, Adderal is a medication that was designed to treat ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder).  Just a little info for those who were wondering.

Yes, it is a narcotic stimulant used to treat kids and adults with ADD.  But my psychiatrist and an internist that I had seen both agree that Adderall is a great medication for fibro sufferers (Ironically, both are against narcotic pain killers).  Not only does it help with the concentration and memory problems (I currently have a 4.0 in college because of it), but it helps with the chronic fatigue.

Sadly, it's the people that abuse these sort of drugs that make it hard for those of us that need them to get them, whether it be stimulants or narcotic pain killers.  It has been proven that people who truly need these sort of meds because of legitimate illnesses and conditions are the least likely to abuse these sort of drugs.  I do not abuse Adderall.  As a matter of fact, I take the medication maybe 3 or 4 days a week to keep from building up a tolerance or dependence.

Another good benefit from taking this medication is that it lowers my blood pressure.  I have a history of high blood pressure in my family, so that is a good thing.  It also helps to keep my weight down as well. 

I can't remember how long I was on the medication before my IBS cleared up, but it wasn't long.  However, I have heard one person say that Adderall actually constipated them, so it's probably not for everyone.  Good luck, guys!  

I am an RN. Adderall has been a "functional cure" for my IBS. I don't always take my adderall but when I do I can set a clock to my BM's. It's great! It really gets the my large intestines moving when it kicks in. I find myself making less impulsive food choices as well, thinking before in eat and eating less. Of course, my apetitite is suppressed too. In other news pepridge farms double fiber bread is the single biggest "one thing" I have found that makes my bathroom less of a horrible nightmare. Two pieces toasted with butter in the AM seems to work wonders. My friends agree too! Good luck IBSers.

This is interesting. I hadn't heard of this before. Shawn, please do look into this.

To all, I have IBS, not fibro or CFIDS/ME, although I have some symptoms that overlap including fatigue and intermittent problems with concentration and memory-- which I did *not* have before IBS. Coworkers and friends would comment on my long term memory for details, names, phone numbers, birthdays, etc and rely on me to be able to tell them these things if they asked. Now it's shot. My line of work requires attention to detail, and there are some tasks that are much more difficult to do now, even when my physical symptoms are seemingly not so bad.

I do not have ADD and nobody else in my family has IBS. But I do have extended family with more than one person with ADD, which makes me wonder about genetics and the evidence a few months ago out of UCLA and McGill about structural differences in the brain.