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Elavil and Exffexor UGH!

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Posted 11/16/2008 1:39 AM (GMT 0)
I am/was taking 25mg of amitriptyline for my ulcerative colitis and about a month ago I started taking effexor xr for GAD. Two days after starting I starting having this really weird diarrhea. Now diarrhea isn't unusual for me but this was normal of my UC. I saw the CNP at my school and she said that the amitriptyline is interacting with the effexor and that's whats giving me the loose stools. I called my gastroenterologist to see if it was okay if I stopped the ami and he said it was fine but I have to decrease to 10mg for two weeks. Two nights ago was my last dose of ami and I still am having weird d. It says online that it takes 12-50 hours for the drug to be completely out of your body. I guess I'm just wondering if anyone else has experienced this? It's just a pain because I am doing really well on effexor and I don't want to stop it but I'm in remission from my UC and I don't want stopping the ami to take that away! UGH!
Posted 11/16/2008 2:39 AM (GMT 0)

Hi,

I can understand why you might be frustrated! I would just go with the effexor, stay off the ami for a few weeks and see what happens. I am sure there must be other meds out there that won't interact quite so badly. I wish you the best of luck.

Meg

Posted 11/16/2008 7:38 AM (GMT 0)
Sam,

Just wishing you lots of luck and good thoughts in deciding what sounds like an either/or choice. I surely hope the physical discomfort does stop soon!

percycat
Posted 11/16/2008 4:58 PM (GMT 0)

Sam,

You must be close to the 50 hours for the Amitriptyline to have worn off.

Amitriptyline is in a group of drugs called tricyclic antidepressants. Amitriptyline was released for sale by the FDA on 3/2/1984

Effexor belongs to the group of meds known as SSRI/SSNIs. Effexor was released for sale by the FDA in 1993.

Please follow your physician's orders and stay on the Effexor.

If you continue to have problems, I would contact your physician for further instructions.

Remember as you read through your posts from members, we are not profesionals and  broad comments re meds need to be taken with a grain of salt.

Take care

Kitt

 

Posted 11/16/2008 5:49 PM (GMT 0)
I know they are both antidepressants. I wasn't put on ami for depression. I spent a week in the hospital and my colon healed but my brain was still saying I was sick so I was put on ami to hush my brain up. I just needed to vent. Its frustrating especially with finals coming up. If this don't improve this week I'm calling my GI and primary to see what to do.
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