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Anti depressants / anti anxiety med suggestions

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Posted 11/21/2015 2:15 PM (GMT 0)
Looking for experiences with anti depressants & anti anxiety meds while having UC.

I was on Effexor for a long time when I was younger with no UC.

Any suggestions on what would be good to help with mainly anxiety? At this point I am mainly self medicating with kilonopin. I am tapering steroids and usually take it with them to combat side effects but usually I am on at least .5 mg a day even off steroids.

I was thinking a SSRI, SSNRI or something along those lines would be healthier?
Posted 11/21/2015 2:23 PM (GMT 0)
I take trazodone. It seems particularly useful for anxiety and insomnia as well as depression.
Posted 11/21/2015 4:05 PM (GMT 0)
I take Wellbutrin (bupropion) 100mg twice a day (normal release NOT SR or XR) because it helps the GI symptoms and there is some evidence it is a weak TNF-a blocker and has some anti-inflammatory properties (mechanism by which Humira and Remicade work).

Also for depression it does not have the bothersome side effects of traditional SSRIs.
Posted 11/21/2015 4:10 PM (GMT 0)
When I was first diagnosed, I tried Lexipro...it did NOT work at all...I went off and never tried anything else. Hope you find something that helps with the anxiety.
Posted 11/21/2015 4:24 PM (GMT 0)
@DrBen - Any side effects at all from it? My GI suggested this one as well as Cymbalta.

@bellski - Yeah I tried Lexapro when I was first diagnosed. Gave me D. I haven't tried anything since then either.
Posted 11/21/2015 4:58 PM (GMT 0)
It's trial and error. Celexa is geared.more to anxiety than depression. Low dosage. It made me too zonked and sleepy. I tried Paxil...horrific headache and felt stoned for a week. Tried welbutrin for a few days and had brain and body zaps with horrible out of it feeling. Effexor xr is what agrees with me....so I'm staying with it.
You could try elavil possibly at night.

q
Posted 11/21/2015 5:34 PM (GMT 0)
@quincy - elavil was what started the conversation with my GI. I was reading good things about it on here. I need something for anxiety more than depression.
Posted 11/21/2015 5:51 PM (GMT 0)
Elavil is used for anxiety as well....but there are side effects.
My sister in law used celexa for many years and it helped her anxiety. Lowest dosage. Lexapro is like a double dose of it I think.

You could try relaxation or biofeedback or meditation....?

No medication will totally stop anxiety...but it should lessen the symptoms.

q
Posted 11/21/2015 10:43 PM (GMT 0)
Lexapro - 10mg works good for me
Posted 11/21/2015 10:45 PM (GMT 0)
Exercise is what I am used to using to get the anxiety at a minimal level. But with the second baby in the mix I am struggling to find time. With the flare and the baby in the mix I am struggling to find the energy.
Posted 11/22/2015 5:16 AM (GMT 0)
How did you do on effexor in the past?
q
Posted 11/22/2015 11:56 AM (GMT 0)
I have experienced zero side effects from Wellbutrin.
Posted 11/22/2015 2:25 PM (GMT 0)
@drben - If you don't mind me asking what mg are you on and are you on the IR, SR or XL? I've read different things about each of the time releases and am trying to figure out what would be best.

@qunicy - I was on Effexor from 18 to 25. I honestly have no idea if/how well it worked. I was a hot mess back then. I will also never go back on it. For me personally its just not worth it. It took me a year to wean off due to side effects and increasing my anxiety as I tapered off. It was awful.
Posted 11/22/2015 4:55 PM (GMT 0)
Let us know what you try....
Have you been in therapy to deal with your anxiety?
q
Posted 11/22/2015 8:03 PM (GMT 0)
I def will. Yes I have been many times over the years. I am however looking for a therapist that deals in chronic illness. I know my anxiety right now stems from the constant worry this disease has had brought me.
Posted 11/23/2015 1:07 AM (GMT 0)
Wellbutrin 100mg immediate release twice a day 12 or so hours apart (morning and night).
Posted 11/23/2015 3:14 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Totes, I've been on Wellbutrin (bupropion) instant release for over twenty (!) years. The instant release formula is indeed an anti-TNF that has been shown to help with UC. I started taking it for depression a decade before I had any UC symptoms and I suspect it's what kept me UC-free for so long. My first serious colitis flare started about three months after I switched from the brand-name to the generic. My psychiatrist and I suspect that the generic is less potent or doesn't release as effectively and that's what made my colitis worse.

Unfortunately, I can't afford the brand name so I make do with the generic.

I take the maximum dose of 150 mg immediate release three times a day for a total of 450 mg per day. You have to take each dose at least four hours apart (I try to do five hours apart) so it's something to remember three times a day. Many people don't like having to take meds so often but it doesn't bother me.

It's helped me with my depression immensely but it's not for everyone. My mom had the same "zaps"another poster did. But if you try It and have a bad reaction, you stop and the side effects should go away within hours since its instant release.

The only side effect I get is dry mouth. It's an activating anti-depressant so it may also cause my insomnia but I've had that since I was a child so probably not.

Someone created a protocol for controlling UC and bupropion was a key component of that. Google "protocol and ulcerative colitis" and see what comes up.
Posted 11/24/2015 1:58 AM (GMT 0)
I take zoloft generics for depression and anxiety. One small pill every morning. I was taking it both before and after being diagnosed with UC. AFAIK I have no side effects from it. I started with paxil many years ago but that didn't work so great.

I've experienced the brain zaps before. It was withdrawal from not taking my medicine years ago. I also had them shortly while switching SSRI's. It's a really weird feeling!

Post Edited (TooManySteves) : 11/23/2015 7:02:28 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 11/24/2015 10:38 AM (GMT 0)
I also take Wellbutrin (I think I'm on 112.5 mg - 1 1/2 pills). I also take instant release. I've found that it gives me headaches at higher dosages and, not being able to take NSAIDs for them, they were pretty rough.

You may need to play with how you take it for awhile before you get it right. If I don't take it with food or have even a single alcoholic drink - crazy headache. Otherwise, it's the perfect anti depressant because it helps with my depression, my UC symptoms, and the fatigue from Imuran.

I take Klonopin as needed for anxiety. At one point, my psychiatrist had me taking it on a daily basis because I was having panic attacks constantly. But in my experience, Klonopin and Wellbutrin don't mix well.
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