Is ZOLOFT making our IBS worse??

2524 Views 12 Replies 6 Participants Last post by RopesEnd, Apr 10, 2001

Discussion Starter · Apr 6, 2001

I am curious if anyone has been taking Zoloft and were told to switch meds? What is a different anti-depressant to ask about??

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Discussion Starter · #2 · Apr 6, 2001

The first thing to be noted is that people respond idiosyncratically to medications. Zoloft may cause diarrhea for person X while person Y attains constipation. In addition, people respond differently to SSRI's. A person may respond to Zoloft, yet that same person may find Prozac to be an inefficacious medicine.I have found Zoloft to be a Godsend. It significantly ameliorated my intestinal health. I attribute said response to the anxiolytic properties of Zoloft; Zoloft has allayed many of my worries. For me, being less anxious translates into a happier tummy. The pathology of IBS is hotly debated. Gastros will tell their patients reassuringly "It's not all in your head." I submit, however, that IBS possesses dual origins - the gut AND the mind. My humble opinion is that most of the blame lies with the mind. I believe IBS can be minimized with a change in diet, the addition of exercise, and a major focus on spirituality. It worked for me.

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Stef

· #3 · Apr 6, 2001

Well said Johnny.That is why so many of us have been helped by Hypno-Therapy and CBT. Although I would stop short of saying that "most" of it is in our minds, I would agree that a significant portion is indeed realted to anxiety and stress.Stef.

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JenS

· #4 · Apr 6, 2001

Zoloft has been my LIFE SAVER! I am no longer having D!!!

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Discussion Starter · #5 · Apr 6, 2001

Well, Zoloft has definately aggrevated my D.My doc wants me to stick with it for a while longer to see if the D subsides.We agreed, however, that after a reasonable period of time that if the D isn't better, I would try either Effexor or Remeron.

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wanderingstar

· #6 · Apr 6, 2001

Common side effects of SSRIs are abdominal cramps and diarrhoea. SSRIs are lethal for me... so I take Remeron instead.susan

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K9Mom

· #7 · Apr 6, 2001

Zoloft gave me monster D!!

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Nina M

· #8 · Apr 7, 2001

SSRI's are to regulate the serotonin, biochemical synthasise for this calm & sleep aid is thought to begin in the gut. So whether it helps or causes problems can possibly relate towhether you have enough, too much or too little serotonin. Usually only discernable from an amino acid profile obtained through urine testing.

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Discussion Starter · #9 · Apr 10, 2001

Zoloft is the most likely SSRI to cause D; Paxil is the least likely SSRI to produce this side effect. The latter is perhaps due to the weak anti-cholinergic action of Paxil, which Zoloft lacks. Of course, not all people respond to drugs the same way.I tried Paxil, but stopped after a few days when it made my IBD-D far worse!

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Discussion Starter · #10 · Apr 10, 2001

Nina M---I am curious about this amino acid test you talked about...I have never heard of that?? Should I talk to my dr about it? What does it tell you?

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Discussion Starter · #11 · Apr 10, 2001

I've been suffering terribly with IBS for two years, and I was put on effexor a couple months ago and I've made almost a full recovery. Medications are different from one person to the next, but I found effexor was the drug for me. I now have my life back! All I can suggest is keep experimenting, eventually you'll find the one med that works for you.

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atp

· #12 · Apr 10, 2001

I don't know if it's coincidence or what, and I hope I'm not jinxing things by posting this...maybe I shouldn't... lol...My IBS has been fairly good for the last week and a half... I upped my calcium to 500mg a day, and the Zoloft I have been on for a couple of weeks may be kicking in. I also take birth control pills, and a Levbid with my lunch (which is also my breakfast

...night owl). And I've also adopted a cat about 3-4 weeks ago too, which has a destressing effect. I've been sleeping better, at least

I don;t know if the calcium or Zoloft has more to do with the improvement, or just chance.... but I'm not changing it!

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Discussion Starter · #13 · Apr 10, 2001

I'm at a crossroads...I am almost sure that I shall be switching away from Zoloft...it just is making my D worse.The question becomes, do I opt for Effexor or Remeron...Remeron means waiting until at least June to start. However, the side effects of Remeron seem far less troublesome to me.Effexor seems to have really helped alot of people with D (be it from IBS or anxiety), but it also has many of the side effects of SSRIs.I guess I will discuss with my doc and see what he thinks is best.

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