Effexor, clonazepam, and UC remission (oh, and menstrual cycles)

Hi - this is my first post, and I have so many questions I hardly know where to begin.

I was diagnosed with ulcerative proctitis in mid-June (sigmoidoscopy showed inflammation in the first 3-5 cm) after 5 weeks of mucous and blood in stool. I started taking Canasa 1000mg suppositories every night. Soon after, i started having real problems with insomnia (a recurrent thing for me), I think in part because of the mesalamine, and I went back on Effexor 37.5 mg (which I'd been on until about a month before this flare started in May), along with .5 mg of clonazepam and 50 mg of Trazodone at bedtime.

My GI had told me to taper the Canasa after just a few days (he thought it would clear up quickly), but I saw blood again each time I skipped. Anyway, after a couple of weeks, I started Canasa again every night; after 21 days, I finally had a few blood-free days in a row, then a little blood on days 24 and 26, then nothing since (this is day 33). I still am having quite a few bowel movements a day (anywhere from 3-8). My GI had me try Lialda, but after four days, my sleep fell apart and I've been really sick and nauseous all day today, so he said to stop.

I'm wondering if all the anti-anxiety and sleep meds are interfering with me getting into remission. Is anyone else here in remission and using Effexor, clonazepam, or trazodone? Did you start taking any of these during a flare?

And on another note, my last two menstrual cycles, I've been really nauseous, dizzy, revolted by food, losing weight -- do other women experience similar things?

I think I'm a bit of an odd duck because I had surgery for a rare brain tumor (choroid plexus papilloma) three years ago, and since then I've been really sensitive to medication (and have had bouts of debilitating insomnia, which I was trying to head off).

Grateful for any advice!

Thanks for the info and encouragement! The weird thing about my periods is the nausea and complete lack of interest in food. In between, I feel pretty good (other than all the pooping!). It's made me lose almost 20 pounds since early July. I hope these symptoms will go away once this flare is under control.

I've been counting on the same logic you applied -- less stress and more sleep should help, not hurt. But I hate putting so much medicine in my system!

Thanks again, and best to you!

Please help if you can -- I know I've noticed a few signature lines with Effexor listed. Is there anyone out there who can comment on whether or not Effexor, clonazepam, or trazodone contribute to flares? Were you using them before the flare started? Did you ever start them during a flare? Any help would be so much appreciated!

I am still fighting with nausea, and my anxiety levels seem to be rising as my energy supplies are exhausted --

Plus I'm worried that after 37 days of Canasa, I might have seen a little mucous. I don't know if my body can handle higher doses of 5-ASAs, and prednisone would DEFINITELY be a challenge...

Pooie -

Not being a woman, I can't talk about how my period affects my UC, but I take anti-depressants as well as clonazepam, so I thought I'd throw my two cents in...

Near as I can tell, none of my flares were related to the anti-depressants, and the clonazepam seems to help me produce fewer BMs through out the day.  Most anti-depressants have a constipating affect, and I think the clonazepam reduction in my anxiety makes me less prone to worry about the noises my stomach is making.  I'm not saying life is all good, because quite honestly, right now I'm having a hell of a time fumctioning.  I am saying that I think the anti-d's and clon might help you out. 

I had a psychiatrist tell me that some of the nerve receptors in our gut are the same ones that prozac, welbutrin, etc all work on in the brain, so they should have a calming effect on the gut.  Not sure I believe her, but since they all work on my brain, I keep taking them, as I have for over 15 years.  One thing to keep in mind is that alot of medications have a side effect of nausea and stomach pains, so maybe the Effexor is doing something to you.  I always google search medications to find out what to expect, or to find out if anything new I'm feeling could be caused by a new med.  I advise you to do all the research you can on your meds.  Read everything the pharmacist gives you, and look them up on the web.  Knowledge is our best tool, so the more you know, the better you will be able to help yourself.

Brandon

Thanks, Brandon!

Would you mind sharing the doses you're on? It's really helpful to hear your story and know that the Effexor and clonazepam may actually do some good in this miserable situation.

I know that all the stuff I'm taking has nausea as a potential side effect -- but I've taken them in the past (before diagnosis this June) and the only time I've had this sort of nausea is during the time when the sleep problems were not yet under control. This time, during my period, I slept fine and was still sick as a dog. And still am, plus my anxiety is rising as a result. Yuck.

Again, thank you so much for taking the time to write --

Jessica, thanks for posting your experience -- it's reassuring to know it's helping you!

Thanks, Brandon -- best to you, too!

Brandon,

Thanks for thinking of me. Four days ago I upped my Effexor to 75 mg (with psychiatrist's approval), hoping that would help me sleep through the night and eventually let me get away from clonazepam and trazodone. So far, no good -- the second day I was really irritable, and the past two nights I've been waking at 3:45 and not really going back to sleep. We'll see how it goes. I'm feeling some stress because my husband will be out of town for five days, and I'll be on my own with our five-year-old while not feeling well.

My GI had me start hydrocortisone suppositories last Wednesday at my appointment with him, when it seemed like things were finally coming under control. Later that night, I saw mucus for the first time in a while, and that's continued, plus a little bit of blood in the last few days, so I think my UC meds will have to be revisited.

I am planning to add a probiotic, but haven't found the energy to research one or get to the store. Pathetic, I know. I will get there...

Thanks again, Brandon -- it makes me feel good that you wrote --
emory

Hi Luckykitty --

If you don't feel you really need the Effexor and clonazepam for anxiety and sleep, you're probably better off without them. Clonazepam in particular can be habit-forming. Both have been helpful to me in the past, though, and I think they're still beneficial now, so I think I'm stuck with them for a while. I did drop back to 37.5 mg of Effexor after only 4 nights because my sleep was becoming non-existent. Things seem a little better now.

I hope you can get your flare under control with the salofalk enemas!

Something I tried today was acupuncture. It has worked well for me in the past with sleep problems, and my practitioner says she has had very good luck treating IBD.

Best to you,
emory