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zoloft and ibs

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Irritable Bowel Syndrome
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Posted 9/19/2006 12:37 AM (GMT 0)

i have suffered with ibs-c with bouts of ibs-d for quite some time.  due to the incredible duration of the illness, i have also developed extreme anxiety and possible depression.  this has started to drastically impact my life.  i regularly find myself uncontrollably crying and in a depressed, lethargic state.  my doctor recently suggested i try zoloft; however, im a bit nervous to go on an anti-depressant.  i have heard that it has the potential to make ibs symptoms worse.  has anyone used the drug?  has it helped with the ibs?  what about side effects in general, outside of ibs-related symptoms?  i am going to start on a low dose of 25 mg for a week and then move up to 50.  any help/advice would be great.  thanks!

Posted 9/19/2006 12:53 AM (GMT 0)
Anti-anxiety and anti-depressants are actually supposed to help IBS symptoms. At least that's what the docs say. I'm not on any but my best bud is (she has IBS too). She's on Ativan and loves it... I think the only thing it does is make her a bit sleepy. BUT, I do have a male friend who was on Zoloft and the only complaint he had was sexual. He said it drastically impacted his sex drive. He never had any bowel troubles though, so I have no idea what it would do for an IBSer.
Hopefully someone will be along shortly who has had experience with it.
Take care.
Posted 9/19/2006 8:30 PM (GMT 0)
I took Zoloft for awhile but I am on Celexa and Remeron now. I have crohn's disease and IBS but I had the depression first. I haven't had any bothersome side effects but we are all different. I would try the Zoloft and call your doctor if you have questions while taking it. It will take a few weeks to start working but I hope it helps you.
Posted 9/20/2006 2:27 AM (GMT 0)
Zoloft has worked for me with my IBS. Right now I am going through a bad time as I am on Xanax and Synthroid with the Zoloft. Too many meds. Yuck. I have to wean off the xanax to get better.
Posted 9/20/2006 7:49 PM (GMT 0)
This is my first time here but the topic caught my eye as I have been on Zoloft and Geodon for 4 years and have in the last week been diagnosed with IBS.  Doctors have been trying to figure out the problem for over a year and even took out my gallbladder.  I am also taking Nexium and now they've prescribed Bentyl for the IBS.  I've been taking the new med for 6 days and I totally feel like a new person.  I got back the skip in my step and have so much more energy, it's been amazing.  I was having flare ups 2-3 weeks a month and was missing a lot of work and social events.  I have noticed a decrease in my sex drive with the Zoloft but not significant enough to make a big difference.   I would encourage anyone who has IBS and depression to ask their doc about these meds.

Sure helped me!!!   Good luck!

Posted 9/20/2006 7:55 PM (GMT 0)
Hi STINGRAYCL76,
Welcome to HealingWell! :-)
Thank you for sharing what worked for you.
Please don't hesitate to ask questions or add comments.
Take care.
Posted 9/20/2006 9:17 PM (GMT 0)
I was on Zoloft and Welbutrin for a while, along with Levbid. When I got preg with my first child I went off all meds (and thankfully I had NO ibs with that pregnancy). It worked, except for the decreased libido from the Zoloft, which I will not take anymore for that reason, it was pretty bad. Recently I tried just Welbutrin and Levbid, but I ran out of Welbutrin and coming off of it was hell! I felt terribly depressed, it only lasted a couple of days, but I have kids to keep up with, and in those days I couldn't even get out of bed. Not sure if I want to be put back on it, but it did help while I was on it, I guess I would just have to stay on it. I hope I haven't scared anyone away from those meds, cause I'm sure they work in different ways for different people, it's always worth a try.
-Kim
Posted 9/26/2006 9:33 PM (GMT 0)
I'm reading about Zoloft and decreased libido...I had to laugh because it had the exact opposite effect on me. I have developed IBS symptoms of late however, and I'm curious if it is caused by the Zoloft or perhaps something else I may be taking.
Posted 9/26/2006 9:41 PM (GMT 0)
Zukie, maybe now that you're not depressed, you want to have relations more often? Seems to make sense to me; how much lovin does a depressed person want?
Posted 9/27/2006 6:34 PM (GMT 0)

goincrazy-

   Your post interested me as I have been an IBSer for about three years now (alternating c&d) (and newly hypothyroid)and have also just been prescribed Zoloft to try and help with Anxiety/stress as nothing else (meds nor diet) have done anything to help with the IBS symptoms. One of my issues with the IBS is bloating and nausea which I HATE and really interferes with daily life and work. I have read on posts elsewhere that Zoloft can cause some mean nausea among mult. other side effects, so I am very nervous about actually starting the medication especially since it is an antidepressant. I was encouraged to see a couple positive experiences mentioned, however, I was wondering if you have started your medication yet and how it was going for you? Thank you!

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