Ibs and Paxil

I took paxil as well about 7 years ago in conjunction with IBS. I wanted to gouge my eyeballs out. My IBS symptoms have been dormant for a few years and then it flaired up this year. I am now taking zoloft and it has been a heaven sent. I have slept better in the past week than I have in the past year or so.

How did you respond to the paxil hon? I took it for at least 3 yrs for depression and have really missed it. Another really good IBS med is Protonics. I have taken it in the past and it helped me. I suffer with Fibromyalgia and IBS and the Protnincs help the IBS be under control. I now take Lyrica for the Fibro and it is a big help for me to get through the day pain wise.

Hi N. - The company I shop with has helped a lot of people with IBS issues. Please give me a call at
###-###-#### if you are open to other ways to safely address this issue.

Thanks!

I.

N.,
Paxil is an antidepressant. I wouldn't take an antidepressant especially if it didn't agree with you. Your Doctor probably thinks your IBS issues are due to stress. I would try avoiding caffeine and limiting your intake of fatty foods. Fats increase gut sensations, which can make abdominal pain seem worse. If diarrhea is your main symptom, limit dairy products, fruit, or artificial sweeteners such as sorbitol or xylitol. Increasing fiber in your diet may help relieve constipation. Avoiding foods such as beans, cabbage, or uncooked cauliflower or broccoli can help relieve bloating or gas. According to WebMD medications may be used along with lifestyle changes to manage symptoms of IBS. Medications for IBS may include anticholinergics for cramping, loperamide (Imodium) for diarrhea, antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil), or antianxiety agents such as paroxetine (Paxil).
I just prefer not to take antidepressants unless your depressed. I think they serve their purpose for depression but don't mess with your brain unless you have to. Medications in general are helpful but they do not affect everyone in the same way. Web MD also says if stress triggers your symptoms, some form of psychological therapy or stress management may help you deal more positively with stress and help prevent or reduce stress-related IBS episodes.
Good luck. I hope this helps and I hope you get better.

J. K

N.,
I am a nurse at UNC Hospital in Chapel Hill in the GI department.We have several doctors in our practice that specialize in IBS.I know there are other alternatives out there for IBS.Also they are always doing studies on patients with IBS that you may qualify for which may mean free testing/meds for example.Two doctors that come to mind are Dr.Ringel and Dr.Doug Drossman.The number to call to make an appointment is ###-###-####.Hope this helps.

J. K

Hi N.. I am an RN. There is an all natural product called Tahitian Noni Juice that I believe would be of great benefit to you. You can visit my website www.tni.com/janicedixon, and also www.noniresearch.org, for more information. This product is in the Physician's Desk Reference for nonprescription drugs and dietary supplements. It has been used in folk remedies by Polynesians for over 2000 years; with reports of antiviral, anibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antitumor, antihelminth, hypotensive, analgesic, and immunemodulating effects. This product has no adverse affects. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, (pg. 834, 2007 PDR). There have been 12 human clinical trials. There have been many people with ibs that have been helped by drinking this product. If you'd like more info. just send me an e-mail ____@____.com.

Thanks, J.

I've never taken Paxil, so I can't relate there, but my mom had ibs, and when I first got it, I suffered for one month before I went to the doctor. The doctor rxed Bentyl. It cleared up within the hour. I don't take it regularly, just when I get an attack, which is only once every couple of years, so the one rx has lasted me a very long time. I have had no se from it, it just stops the cramping and diarrhea, of course if one had to take it frequently, I could see possible se croping up. Eat well, avoid junk foods and empty calories to minimize sxs.
M.

I'm a pharmacist and I've seen people with IBS helped greatly with Paxil, Zoloft, Celexa, Prozac and others (and not because they're antidepressants). Just talk to your doctor because with any medication, you usually don't hit upon the right one for you the first time. IBS is miserable and if one of these medications can help, it's worth it! However, it's not unreasonable to expect that the medication not make you feel worse. Don't give up and don't think the IBS is something you have to "put up" with. Some of the ideas others have given you about Miralax and other OTC's are good ideas. Only you can figure out what's right for you.

Good luck,
K.

I have never taken paxil, but I believe it is an antidepressant. Instead of advice here, perhaps you should talk to your doctor about it. Maybe she has also diagnosed you with depression which can cause stress thereby leading to the ibs. I have never had ibs but my daughter and sister-in-law both suffer from it on occasion, usually during times of extreme stress.

I hope you are soon feeling better. And thank you to your husband for his service.

Hi Jennifer,

I'm sorry to hear you've been struggling with IBS for so long. You must be exhausted and frustrated.

I feel compelled to write to you to be sure you're aware of the very serious side effects both from taking Paxil, and even worse, from withdrawing from it after having been on it awhile. Of course, everyone's experience is different, and for those that have had good luck with pyschopharmaceuticals whether on label or off-, I'm glad for you.

A quick bit of research on Google or other search engine will lead you to websites dedicated to Paxil. (Be way of the ones sponsored by the drug co itself or its beneficiaries.) There have been lawsuits against GSK, (and won against - no, I've not been involved in a lawsuit), the manfacturer of Paxil. There are entire websites dedicated to the serious effects of Paxil and its withdrawal syndrome. I know many, many people, both personally and through research on the internet, who have lost their health and nearly their lives from taking Paxil.

If that makes me sound like an alarmist, so be it. As I said, I realize there are some people for whom this drug helps depression and anxiety. And I realize some people have been able to get off of Paxil without too many adverse effects. But I know many, many more who've had a bad experience and so I feel obligated to ask users to do their research before taking it.

Someone else here mentioned probiotics. If you haven't tried them, you might want to give it a shot. I was able to treat my bout with IBS with high doses of them, under the direction of a nutritionist. Vitacost.com has less expensive prices if you can't afford to support your local health store business, as well as info about homeopathic treatment of IBS, if you have any interest in that. Have you visited any websites or bulletin boards dedicated to IBS? There might be other ideas for you there.

I do hope you get to feeling better soon. We'll be wishing you well!

I also have IBS and struggled with medicines. I went through 2 or 3 before finding one that worked for me. That took around 4 months to work out, then 2 months later I was pregnant and my symptoms went away. They started back after my son was born and we stopped nursing. I am blessed to not have to be back on medicines now. I found that the side effects of the meds were annoying and almost as frustrating as the IBS. My suggestion for you is to keep a journal of all your eating habits, your hormone cycle and your stress level. There are several great websites out there that do a great job of describing the 3 different types of IBS. There are MAJOR differences and solutions for each type. I found my research helped me soooo much more than the doctors. I also found a book at my library about IBS and the relationship with food. If I can, I will try to get the name of it for you. I realized after reading the book that my hormones were one of my major triggers. I knew that certain foods sometimes bothered me, but I did not understand why. My problems are worst on the 3rd week of my cycle. I also found in the book that coffee on an empty stomache is often a problem. Some people also have trouble with iceberg lettuce, but not other types like romaine. Understanding my triggers and what (and when) to avoid certain items has kept me from going back to the meds. I have bad days now, but I am not fighting the side effects. I think one of these is the book that was so helpful: Eating for IBS : 175 delicious, nutritious, low-fat, low-residue recipes to stabilize the touchiest tummy or The Irritable bowel syndrome source book. I wish you the best of luck. Once you understand what is triggering this for you - you will be the best defense for it.

Has anyone suggested colon cleansing to you? Check out the information on the website. It may be helpful to you and no I am sure it is not as bad as it may sound. Good luck.

I have had IBS for almost 11 years. My dr has never given me paxil for it. You do not need an antidepressant for IBS! I have been on asachol for several years. I am at the point now where I only take it for flare ups. I am not sure that I would want to take the paxil for IBS only. I would understand if he/she were giving it to you if you also were anxious or depressed, but you did not say that you were. I would talk to your gastro again and tell him/her you were not comfortable taking it.

N.,

I would suggest that you try taking a Probiotic. This is a natural substance that puts good bacteria back in your system to help balance your intestinal tract. You can get it from any healthfood store. You may also want to change some things in your diet (i.e., caffeine, sodas, spicy foods, dairy) as these things somtimes upset your intestinal tract.

Good Luck!

Hi N.! I too have had IBS for about 18 years. And the fact that your dr. prescribed you Paxil is plum scary! (Unless she also diagnosed you with depression.) I want to strongly encourage you and all who read this to research every medicine ever prescribed you on the web. Go to Drugs.com or Medicines.net(?) Better yet, ask your pharmacist about the medicines. In this day & age, Dr's are driven and compensated by the pharmaceutical companies to prescribe people medicines they don't really need. Especially anti-depressants. They (the dr.s) don't really know the side effects, and many times choose to ignore them. I have just been through a major trauma with my husband and my understanding has definantly been enlightened. Back to the IBS. For me, I'm allergic to the stay-white/fresh stuff they use at restaurants. So, I just don't eat salads or lettuce. I really restrict my dairy intake. When I don't eat breakfast it seems to make it worse. My symptoms are worse around the time of my cycle so I increase my fiber intake. I agree with what some of the others have suggested about taking your diet to bare bones and then reintroducing foods to see how they effect you. Unfortunately, there's not a good medicine out there. What works for me is paying close attention to my body. During times of stress, I make myself take some moments and relax. I hope this is helpful. Good Luck and Be blessed!

Were you tested for anything else? The reason I ask, is the IBS is often the diagnosis someone gets when they actually have celiac disease. There is no medicine for that only a change in diet. Often doctors only look at a patient & rule out celiac disease because you may not fit the 'profile' of a celiac...underweight, small in stature or bad diarrhea. Blood tests can be done, but aren't always reliable. An endoscopy of the small intestines is one of the best ways to diagnosis it.

I just wanted to throw that out there because I see you've suffered for over a year and the average time it takes a patient withe celiac disease to get an accurate diagnosis from a doctor is 9 years! Yep 9 years, because often doctors misdiagnose it and the patient may improve some, but never recovers. Then it's off for another test and another and another.

So please ask your doctor about that if you've not been tested for it yet. Then at least you'd know that what you have is really IBS and not celiac disease.

To find out more about celiac disease you can check this site
http://www.celiac.org/

I'm sorry you haven't been feeling well. It is no fun. My 19yodd was the 1st one we diagnosed as having celiac disease. She was so incredibly sick, it had gotten worse for about 2 months prior to her diagnosis. She had episodes of illness off and on for years and now she is so incredibly better. No more stomach pains, diarrhea, hair loss...just a happy girl.

I know this doesn't address your question about the med's but I don't have any experience with that, but I do with celiac disease. So I just wanted to pass it along to you.

Hi N.. I used to be on Paxil and it is a hard drug to get used to. The others didn't seem to work for me so I kept with it till the adverse symtoms stopped (about two weeks). You might want to start by cutting your dose down and then increasing as you can tolerate more. Why is your doc giving you Paxil to help with ibs? Anyway, hang in there.....it didn't take long for my body to get used to it. Try taking with food or right before you go to bed.
Good luck.
S.

Hi, N.!

I haven't taken Paxil, but I have suffered (and my family along with me) with IBS for over two decades. I have received lots of advice like change your job, avoid stress at all costs, etc., that are totally impossible. Here is the one bit of advice that I will ever be grateful for, from my old GP: every night, take 1 tsp. of Metamucil stirred into an 8 oz. glass of water. Works like a miracle!! He told me, "I know it sounds like the last thing you should do, but trust me, it works." He was absolutely right! I have used different brands, and last year I switched to the Sam's Club fiber tablets and take one a night. No more bouncing between constipation and diarrhea, and MUCH less pain. Try it, you'll see; in about 3-4 days you'll feel new. The important thing is, do not skip a dose if you can help it. There are no side effects but better health. You CANNOT become dependent on it or constipated from it. It balances out that diarrhea/constipation bounding. Remember, the dosage you are taking is about 1/3 or so of what you would be taking for constipation.

I also try to skip the obvious triggers. Two for me are greasy food in excess, or ice cold food when I am very hot (think ice pop in August).

Let me know how this works out for you. It is such a blessing.

I've suffered from IBS for almost 20 years. I even had an attack at my wedding. If Paxil doesn't work, don't take it. But it takes 2 to 3 weeks for it to actually be in your system to work. I take Zoloft(25mg) which was given to me by a doctor whose daughter has struggled with IBS, too. She said it is the only anti-depressant that is approved for IBS. It blocks the excess seratonin to the gut. I avoid certain foods(coffee, steak, cream sauces), eat a high fiber cereal for breakfast, cut out sodas, and drink lots of water. Levbid, Bentyl, and Pamine are great quick fixes, but they can constipate if taken over a period of time. The same can be said of fiber supplements. Good luck and know that it does get better once you figure out what works for you.

Have you tried any probiotics like Acidophilus or Bifidum? The ones found in milk and yougurt from the grocery stores are usually already dead due to inconsistent temp. You can buy a pill for adults (or powder to add to drinks) from natren.com called Healthy Trinity. I use the powder for my kids, especially after a round of antibiotics to restore bowel health. Three quarters of the immune system is in the gut bacteria that belong there. (I have a master's in microbiology and this is all true, though doctors rarely know much about it.) Also, the probiotics in the health food store are often dead and worthless unless you find a good quality, but usually they need to be refrigerated to survive, so if you've tried some already and had no results make sure you got a good quality, living culture.

I was diagnosed with IBS back in 2001 during my first semester of law school. My doctor's first course of treatment was to prescribe me a drug actually developed to combat cholesterol called cholestid. I took that daily but it didn't seem to help. Then he put me on lexapro for depression a few months later and that helped a little......IBS is usually more a psychological issue than digesitve tract issue. Finally, my doctor prescribed me something called levbid (that may be the generic name) to take as needed and that really helped! My actual cure, though, came when I graduated from law school. I'm sure your symptoms are brought on by the stress of everyday life......which has no "graduation" in sight! So, I'd ask my doctor about those other couple of medicines that I've told you about. If your doctor insists on prescribing an anti-depressant, I've been on wellbutrin and effexor with generally satisfactory results.

Don't think your dr is TOTALLY nuts for putting you on Paxil. While it might not be a first line choice, there have been some studies that have shown it to be beneficial for IBS sufferers (as it does sometimes have a psychological component AND may affect gut motility through the serotonin receptors located there). If you've suffered over a year and unsuccessfully tried other meds, this really might have looked like a good option to your dr. (This is a pharmacist's point of view). It does take some getting used to and starting at a lower dose might have helped you out. A 6 week trial is usually recommended should you decide to try again. And don't stop it abruptly. Serotonin withdrawal is miserable. But if you don't want to take it, that's certainly your choice and there are lots of options to explore. I'd start with looking for dietary triggers/careful diet monitoring and taking a fiber supplement, whether you have constipation or diarrhea predominent IBS. Good luck.

I haven't tried paxil, but I did try "Restoring Your Digestive Health" by Jordan Rubin. It has A TON of great things that can help with IBS and other digestive ailments. I prefer going to natural route before I try prescription drugs. It helped me a lot with my digestion and helped me to understand what is happening in my body better.

Because IBS is a term used to lump all digestive disorders together that medicine hasn't figured out yet, I can't say for sure what can help, but I do know Enzymes are a TOTAL blessing. Just take some with the foods that disrupt your body and they help break them down so you digest them properly. I faithfully take them with dairy now and I don't have any gurgly belly afterwards. (Beano is a brand that has one type of enzyme in it)

There is a health drink that I drink that has benefited people with ibs.

Hi N..
May I suggest a visit to the local health food store? You could explain to them the symptoms and they could guide you in the nutritional direction.
I would recommend some probiotics and putting good bacteria and digestive enzymes back into your gutt. This has helped my mom and myself a lot. My mom would get so sick. She started taking different things and she has not had another episode.
Also, you may have to do an elimination diet. Some people are sensitive to glutens and dyes in food. This can give people great problems as well. It's not about taking a pill and covering it up like most allopathic (regular) doctors would like to think. It's about getting to the underlying problem and fixing it naturally.
My very best to you.
W. from Indiana

Clarify "awful". Side effects, no benefit...? As a former nurse, I certainly wouldn't encourage anyone to take any medication that isn't necessary or beneficial, but it's also hard to judge efficacy based on a single dose, esp. since you didn't specify why you don't like it.

It's very common for side effects to fade, and benefits to increase, with usage, so you really need to discuss this with your physician.

I never heard of IBS being treated with paxil. I'm guessing you've read on the computer what foods to avoid. Anything with tiny seeds, cucumbers,tomatoes,nuts,are just some that can trigger a bout of digestive trouble. I suggest you read up on it if you haven't already, and perhaps it can ease your symptoms. Good luck N..

I was prescribed Paxil many years ago because I couldn't relax enough to sleep. I was on it for 2 years. I gained 70 pounds! There are many people who have gained a lot of weight on this drug. It is also very difficult to get off it. Took me 2 tries and I was a BEAST to my husband. I would see if there was something else to help you. I spoke to a pharmaceutical rep (spelt that wrong!) who said that Paxil doesn't make you eat more food in general but makes a lot of people crave more carbs, so you gain weight from that. Good luck and I hope you find something that works for you!

I've not been on paxil but I take a little pill right before I eat that dissolves under my tongue. It's called Nulev. The generic name is hyocyamine.

I thought paxil was an antidepressent. Why would the doctor prescribe it for ibs? Weird. I have a friend with IBS and she takes an otc product made for ibs. There are several available and it works by balancing the eloctrolytes in your system so it works better. Check out your local drugstore. She also limits her dairy intake. Hope that helps a little!

N., I feel your pain. I was diagnosed about 4 yrs ago with IBS and my doctor gave me Lamotil...not sure of that spelling, sorry. It worked wonders and was not expensive either. I no longer take the med because I wanted to see if I could deal with the symptoms and control it with diet. I do pretty well, but suffer still. I go to the doc again on the 22 and am going to ask to get a new prescription for it. I would suggest you ask your doc about the same med, like I said, It was a God send and a miracle drug. I hope this helps.
J.

This is a terrible syndrome. I suffered for years. I am 63 now, and have been under control for about 15 yrs or more. The worst was when I was your age, and I don't know if it was because, I had so much going on, and it was triggered by stress. I did find that dairy seemed to trigger me, too much of it at one time. Also, I stopped drinking coffee and tea. I could however have a pepsi- go figure. So. mu suggestion would be to start slowly eliminating foods from your diet, and go to the basics. Then start introducing things back slowly and seeing whether you get a response. I think there is also medication specifically for IBS, and it is not Paxil. I used a drug called Equalactin, but it is no longer on the market, and it was over the counter. email me if you want to talk.

Hi N.,
I am taking 25mg Paxil Cr for depression. It happens to make me constipated, so I take a stool softener regular. I have no idea what in this medicine that causes such irritation with your stomach and etc. But, I am going to be praying about rather I should continue to take it or not.You should too.
V. W.

I too have IBS and it took the doctors a long time to figure it out. My lifesaver was donnatal. It chills out the nerves and spasms. Doc prescribed for me to take 4 times a day (30 minutes before every meal) I found I didn't need that much and now rarely have to take it. Only when I have flare-ups. If possible, reduce your stress level. That will help too.
Kat

Paxil is a strong medication, Not sure why they would give that too you for IBS, But I would try something like Lexapro it is a light anti-depressant. peds nurse. Jennifer

I had IBS so bad the all most 2 years ago I had my whole LG. intestine removed. Somethings worth tring are. Miralax you can buy it now at Walmart or any drug store, I never had any bad side affects or even cramps an such with that. I have never heard of taking Paxil for that and I personally totally woundn't. If Maralax don't do it for you, I'll keep checking to see if you post anything else.
God Bless and Bast Wish

See if you can start out with 10mg and then work up but also doctors don't ever expect the first thing the prescribed to work, so tell your doctor so that they can readjust what you take.

But if Irritable Bowel Syndrome is the problem....Paxil is not the Rx I would take. Does your doctor think you are under stress or depressed? IBS is annoying but I have used Immodium AD and that works for me but I don't use it all the time, since my gall bladder has been removed, I just live with alot of this nonsense. So I will be checking out your responses so that I could see if other things work for others and give it a try myself.

My mother has IBS. For YEARS... I mean many many years, they told her it was chrons disease. It has only been in the last couple of years that they told her it is IBS. Mostly she has been doing much better by just adjusting her diet. She just follows the basic rules of irritants and what is good to eat and what is not, and she has gone longer than ever without an episode. I hope that this helps!

that seems so inappropriate to use paxil for ibs as a first resort. have you already tried all of the diet changes, like more fiber, more water and less fat? or the fiber therapies or mirilax? are you suffering from constipation or diarrhea? there are so many different symptoms that are all ibs. if you doctor wont work with you to find a more mild treatment, you may need to hunt a new gastroenterologist.

Im assuming you mean Irritable Bowl Sindrome? I take powdered Magnesium,,,,mostly for leg cramps,,,,,but it works on the bowels also. I buy mine from Troutmans Family Chiropractic on Main St Carthage.....It might be worth a try if you dont want to take the Paxil.

I took Paxil for a different reason and I hated it!!! It made me feel worse than I did before. I would talk to your doctor and try something different. I hope this helps! And know you are not alone on the Paxil, I stopped taking it and looked for something different. Also I have known many others that had a problem with it as well. Well good luck to you!!!

give it time these meds take a while to get used to.... what did you mean it was awful? Im curious why he gave you paxil for ibs thats an anxiety/depression med

I think other people have said this but I'll say it again: Paxil is not a good drug. I know a brilliant psychiatrist with a very strong knowledge of medications who has told me many times, "Paxil is a nasty drug." There are other anti-depressants of the same variety that are much better, including Zoloft and slightly lesser known Lexapro. I don't know how they'd affect IBS, but I do know that severe constipation is a frequent side effect of Paxil that is less prevalent with the others.

My mom suffered from IBS for years. She happened to also be on hormone replacement therapy, and when the research came out that showed HRT to create higher cancer risk, she went off HRT and her IBS went away completely. That probably doesn't help you at all, but perhaps if you're on birth control pills you might think about that.

I was diagnosed w/ ibs when i was in college! it has been an on and off battle for many years! my dr. now is wonderful and gave me several different med.'s to try. when none of those worked he suggested that we try an anti-anxiety drug. since i was very concerned about it making me moody or sleepy all the time, he said we would start with 10 mg of elavil. the first week or 2 i felt a little weird and sleepy but after that those side effects wore off and i've felt great ever since!! i would encourage you to either talk to your dr. about lessening the dose or try it at that dose for at least a week to see if the bad effects wear off! good luck---i hope you can find something that works for you!

N. - My husband had IBS and diarrhea for a number of years and could not get any relief. Seems like all the medications made his condition worse and change in diet did not help. Because he is on a number of prescription drugs for his health issues, he felt that these were the cause of his IBS. I suggested to him that he start on 2 oz twice a day of Mangosteen Juice. It is high in anti - oxidants and has anti-inflammatory properties. He is free of the IBS and diarrhea. Joint pain is gone and he can sleep at night which results in more energy during the day. You can find out more about this juice by going to: www.insidemangosteen.com/judy0114 or contact me at: www.mymangosteen.com/judy0114.

J. H.

I have had IBS for years and when I was first diagnosed they tried putting me on meds too. I quickly decided I was not spending the rest of my life taking them so I started doing research. The best thing I found was a web site called helpforibs.com. I learned about the differences between soluble and insoluble fiber and what an ibs diet should look like (which is almost opposite of what the doctor's tell you) and I started taking their acacia powder fiber. It was wonderful! I took it until I got pregnant and then had to go off of it because it is organic and thus not regulated by fda. over the counter the best is benefiber, but I've change my diet to the point that I don't use any otc anymore and rarely have an epidose.

I can tell you that any of those drugs take a few weeks for the body to adjust so dont judge the first dose as what it will be like in the future. That said, everyone reacts differently to different meds and that may not be the right one for you. Regardless, you should try to stay on it for a couple of weeks before you decide. Goodluck