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Antidepressant question w/colectomy

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Posted 12/28/2008 11:13 PM (GMT 0)
Is there a particular antidepressant that works well that is not extended release?
Posted 12/29/2008 11:26 AM (GMT 0)
not sure what you mean by extended release but I take Amitriptyline - for anxiety and depression. only on a small dose - it helps with panicky feelings and good for helping to sleep.
as with any medication it is just seeing what you get on with really and the dosage.
Posted 12/29/2008 10:55 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, I had been on Celexa for 10 years, but after my illeostomy in April 2008, I found that it was no longer working. My doctor put me on Wellburtin. I started on 150 mg per day, which didnt help. Then he put me on 350 mg per day. I am still very, very anxious and very depressed and emotional. In the past I have tried Zolfoft and Paxil. But those had too many side effects for me. I am going to talk to my doctor at my next appt. I will let you know if I find something that works.
Thanks,
Marie
Posted 12/29/2008 11:17 PM (GMT 0)
HisWill,
I've had bad effects with Zoloft, Paxil, Prozac, Wellbutrin, and now the Cymbalta. Doc's trying Elavil (thanks, Karen, since it's the same type you found works for you). Since I thought the Cymbalta has been working the last 10 weeks, I had a "crash" and am trying to soldier through. Funny how "normal" changes.

Annie
Posted 12/30/2008 1:45 AM (GMT 0)

And I have had sucess with Celexa.  Everyone is different and ADs are not all equal.  Work with your doctor to figure out what is the best match for you.

Sue

Posted 12/30/2008 12:57 PM (GMT 0)
I have had good luck with a continued low dose of Paxil - 9 years now. Also, on occasion, Amitriptyline is added, but believe it or not, it was prescribed to help my JAWS!!! I have had jaw surgery in my past and when I am overly tense, I sometimes have flares of TMJ... dentist recommended the amitriptyline and I believe it works for that. BTW, Paxil, in a low dose helped my hot flashes go away! Sorry guys if that is too much info for ya. But it did really work for me and that is the real reason that I have continued it to date. Amazing what controlling those can do for your attitude and sleeping patterns too, and overall sense of being.
Posted 12/30/2008 5:52 PM (GMT 0)
Vanity rears it's attractive head (ha ha)....does the amitriptyline make you gain weight? If so, I'm not taking it, and will just be Eeyore forever.
The pharamacist mentioned it might (and I'm thinking maybe if I had a large colon it might...) but unless you're in the midst of something, you really don't have as much info as one would think you should. (Okay, I'm OCD about info, and it's part of my in the world job, to which I must return Monday...sigh

Annie
Posted 12/30/2008 6:23 PM (GMT 0)
Hah! Don't thinkt that being colonless means that you will be skinny! If you are vain about weight gain it might be best to try something else or get into a daily exercise regime and watch calorie intake. I don't have a colon or recutm and have to battle weight gain every day!

Sue
Posted 12/30/2008 11:42 PM (GMT 0)
While I, on the other hand, have to battle keeping weight on. Just depends on your system, and hereditary stuff I guess.
Posted 12/31/2008 1:29 AM (GMT 0)
how about Effexor?
Posted 12/31/2008 9:34 PM (GMT 0)
I've taken 20mg of Lexapro every day for 5 years now and it doesn't seem to have changed since my TC. It still seems to be working great for me. Have you tried that one? I love it because I have no side effects whatsoever, not even the sexual side effects caused by some of the others. I swear by it!!

Hope this helps.
Posted 12/31/2008 9:44 PM (GMT 0)
I did try it, but am going ahead with the Elavil -- I don't think there is any particular consistency among anyone with a colectomy. We must all be amazing anomalies. But I don't gain weight easily, and since I'm only a month out from the total colectomy, I am keeping a food journal, and tracking weight (mostly loss).

Thanks for the response.
Posted 1/2/2009 5:40 PM (GMT 0)

I never gained with with Amitriptyline but i have put on a little weight slowly over last 5 years but that is due to elimination diets before i was diagnosed with STC .  I have been on it since 2004.  It is a tryicyclic medicine whereas prozac and newer ones are SSRI's - dont ask me the chemical differences but i dont get on with SSRI's - they give me insomnia and make me feel like i am in another world.

i only need 20mg a night as i am very sensitive to medicine (except senna ha).  could be cause i dont smoke or drink maybe.

hope it helps you.

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