Paxil, and Zoloft stopped my IBS

I am 42, and have had IBS-D my whole life! Of course it became worse as I got older, and after kids. While I was pregnant, it disappeared! After seeing doctors, and realizing that I could not live my life canceling plans, not taking my kids to parties, or practices, I had to do something. I realized that anxiety was THE BIGGEST TRIGGER. I asked the doctor to put me on Paxil. IT WORKED. I never had an attack as long as I was on this med. Unfortunately, I gained about 30 pounds, because I could suddenly eat anything. After a few years, I went off. I was good for about a year, and then had to go back on, as the D started interfering agai n. This time I thought Zoloft would not make me gain so much weight, but it did. I thought that I would rather be fat and happy, than skinny and miserable, so I stayed on it. When I became pregnant again, I went off and now I am suffering again. I do not want to go back on these meds. I tried eating the Activia for about 6 days and I just finished a terrible episode of D and pain at MY BANK!!! So now that is out. I am looking for relief anywhere. Help

Hi!

I just had a baby in July.  I also have IBS-D and have had it for about a year & a half now.  I've had all of the proper testing to rule out other possibilities that may cause the diarrhea everyday.  When I was pregnant, my diarrhea never "stopped".  I'd say that it slowed down a bit...but I was a "nervous nelly", as I typically am, through the pregnancy, so go figure! 

Have you ever thought about having Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth?  I'm thinking that it may be my problem.  It is when you have too many "non-helpful bacteria in your intestine vs. the good bacteria to have proper digestion.  My Dr. just put me on some antibiotics to see if it helps the diarrhea.  I'm still awaiting the outcome...this was the first full day of taking the antibiotics.  It woundn't hurt to research SIBO a little bit!

Shelly

Hello,  I have had IBS/panic/agorophobia for 10 years..  I just started Klonopin 3 weeks ago..  My IBS is better..  Not perfect.. But better.. I am going out more which is great.. Just thought I would give my 2 cents.. 

I also agreee!! I thought I had IBS so my doctor put me on anti anxiety meds and I haven't had D for two weeks now...going good so far.  I think more people should try anti anxiety meds as it calms the stomach down.

I have always been living proof that the meds work. This time I asked my doctor to help me find another way to combat my IBS. I didn't want to gain the 20-30 lbs associated with taking Paxil or Zoloft (for me, anyway).
He gave me a probiotic called Align. It has CHANGED my life. I can't believe how well it has worked. It is specifically geared toward the digestive system to help IBS. I get it at Walgreens, over the counter. It is about $30/monthly, but I would pay more because it works. I go to the bathroom EVERY Day! And, it is normal! I also take Benefiber everday, and I drink Danactive shots every morning with the Align. I have also included Magnesium supplements because a DR. told me hat Magnesium targets a part of the brain which affects panic attacks. And I also take Caltrate-600 everyday, because I read in this forum that it helps firm up stool. All in all, it is all working. I have been regular, pain free no anxiety, and happy. I have even lost weight!

Good luck!

That is funny. My initials KC...and in College we were the Jaspers!

not to worry, I'm just a Jasper...always will be!

That is such good news! I don't know exactly what caused me to gain so much weight when I was on the meds. It could have just been the meds, or it could have been the fact that I felt so good all the time, and I ate almost anything I wanted without the D! I could eat sweets and ice cream, and veggies... I was a bottomless pit!!

I'm going to pipe in as someone for whom anti-depressants didn't work. I wasn't able to take them long enough to figure out if they did anything for my IBS though. My doctor had put me on Paxil for the anxiety I was having. After the first dose I called my doc and said the side effects were too much. I wasn't feeling myself and I had horrible nausea. I was on the lowest dose as well. She said to take them at night so that I wouldn't notice the side effects and to just keep taking them that it would be a couple of weeks before I felt better. I was up all night with the feeling that I was ten seconds away from puking all the time and even sleeping pills didn't help. I stopped taking them because I became a whole different person. My poor husband was thrilled when I did. I had become violent and aggressive while on the pills. When I told my doc that she decided that I should never be put on any kind of mood altering drugs again.

Though I will say that the do seem to help a heck of alot more people then not.

does the effexor make you tired? i have a rx for this and i dont know what time i should take it.  I was glad to read that this and other anti-d's help with IBS.  mine is so bad right now- i cant stand it.