4 replies to this topic

[maitland]

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hi all, i have been taking the anti-depressant paxil for almost a year to help ease my ibs-d symptoms, unfortunately, the side-effects such as terrible sleep problems, low sex drive and a few others are making it too difficult to continue and i am on a rather low dose...any comments or suggestions as to what i might expect would be helpful.....i am getting the brain zaps already. the best side-effect was that it dehydrates the body which was great for my diarrhea problems so my other question is....is there another medication i could take to keep myself dehydrated and avoid the d. as much as possible. my diet is already 100 percent bland, safe food so i have that covered. any comment will be helpful. thanks. maitland

[TVgirl]

It is the anticholinergic effects of some antidepressants that can cause that drying out effect. Look up anticholinergics for diarrhea: will likely come up with atropine, scopalamine and some other ones but talk with your doctor re what would be best. I thonk the TCA antidepressants help those with diarrhea like amitriptiline but it didnt really help me. How does just taking immodium work for you??

[TVgirl]

Oh and you dont want to be dehydrated !! Fluids are important for regularity and just general health.

[maitland]

hi tvgirl thanks for the reply....will look those terms up on google and how long did you try amitripiline...it takes a few weeks to kick in....as for being dehydrated i agree its not the most desirable state but i am taking the best of my few bad options ....having d. problems every day for years and years is very difficult....mentally and physically and a little dehydration is just fine with me..... and yes imodium is my daily backup since i stopped the anti-depressants.....maitland

[TVgirl]

I have ibs-d too and i feared water because i thought dehydration will make my diarrhea less but it makes me worse and i think it is because i dont get my system flushed out properly and all the crud in my bowels irritates me and then causes diarrhea attacks. When i started drinking more water my diarrhea improved. Keeping a cleaner flushed bowel with good fibre intake and water will help diarrhea. Anyways i think i was on amitryptiline for a couple months, hated the dry mouth effect and it didnt really help me overall.