Does amytriptiline stop working for IBS?

Posted , 6 users are following.

Hi..

I've had IBS-D for about 10 years now (started age 14 from eating food which contained bad bacteria), can be very on/off - can have symptoms for weeks at a time or no/few symptoms for up to a few months. Definitely is worse with stress.

Symptoms include bloating after meals, wind, stomach cramps, diarrhoea. Main problem is diarrhoea - constantly think about where I'll be able to go to the toilet and hardly ever eat out as it usually bring it on. I can't even take Imodium anymore because it makes be constipated, then I have to take senokot which brings on diarrhoea again! Really takes over my life, especially living and working in London. It's so embarrassing and only have a few friends who I feel I can talk to about it, luckily have a doctor as a mum and a very understanding family!

Have had all the tests which have come back negative - definitely a good thing but sometimes I wish I could be told what food not to eat/how to stop symptoms.

A family friend of my mum's has IBS and was prescribed with amytriptiline which has dramatically helped him, so I went to my GP and was prescribed 10mg amytriptiline. For a month it worked amazingly, hardly had any symptoms and no diarrhoea at all. Felt like I had my life back for the first time in 10 years. However after a month symptoms came back so I was put up to 20mg. Same thing happened - worked for a month and has now stopped working. I'm worried to keep going up a dosage incase the same thing happens, has this happened to anyone else and if so please can you give me some advice! Thank you smile

1 like, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • Posted

    the only problem i had with amytriptiline was it sffected my waterworks i could not urinate.as you can imagine that has its own load of problems,i am a 56year old male with severe stomach pain cant eat solids jst soup and i have had this systoms for 3 years now tried everything with no luck,but back to that amytriptiline as i say mucked me up something terrable had to be catherized 3 times and belive me you dont want anybody shoving a pipe up there no matter how reassuring the staff are this went on for months sent home from from hospital with a urine bag strapped to my leg not nice as soon as my doctor stopped amytriptiline my problems stopped so it could well have just been a reaction to my body an you might be ok i just thought you should be wanened about the affects it can have on someones body.

    all the best

    little mac

  • Posted

    The effects of Amytriptiline soon wear off re IBS, even when the dose is raised and it also brings with it a load of unwanted side effects, such as water retention, weight gain and psycological disorders and sometimes a strong reliance/addiction to the drug. Much better to concentrate on the diet side of things.  Regards, Val.
    • Posted

      I haven't had side effects but may be becasue I'm on a lower dose.. do you have any advice for diet? I've tried to cut out wheat and dairy, but doesn't seem to make much difference unfortunately!
  • Posted

    Two thoughts:

    1. Have your stools been checked for all bacteria? Sometimes, it is not possible for most labs to check for bacteria like Cyclospora and your symptoms seem familiar to me. Specialised labs undertake the testing of this bacteria and I got tested in Paris. I assume you've had a colonoscopy and endoscopy which has ruled out H.Pylori, Celiac disease, Diverticulitis, inflammation etc.

    Chronic IBS, from my experience, becomes a battle between good and bad bacteria. Once you are infected with say a bacteria Cyclospora, it remains a resident in the gut despite treatment. Antibiotics help subside it but it can't eliminate it for good. It flares up when the gut is irritated, which is almost always because we constanty eat foods that cannot be digested properly.

    2.To make my IBS worse, I developed food intolerances. Even the most extensive allergy tests cannot confirm accurately what foods your gut cannot tolerate. My tests didn't show any allergy to milk but it's a killer for me. You have to listen to your gut. To figure out whether some foods are irritating your gut lining - start by eliminating a few foods for 2 weeks and see if it makes a difference. Milk and dairy products are the first thing to eliminate. If you feel better, then you know you have to avoid them at all costs. Thereafter eliminate yeast - which includes breads, wine, beer etc. See how you feel after 2 weeks.

    Ask your GP/gastroenterologist for a good Probiotic while you do this. They really helps my IBS symptoms. Some people don't respond to Probiotocs and you will know within a day or two. If you respond to them, you will feel better. They are safe and have no side effects. Ask you doctor's advice on this. 

    While you are working out food intolerances, give up coffee, black tea, cigarettes, go slow on the alcohol intake, chillies, popcorn, cabbage, green beans, chick peas and similar legumes. The above are difficult to digest for any sensitive gut. It sounds tough but you will be amazed to see the results. Sometimes, all the gut lining needs is time to heal and then slowly you will be able to bring certain foods back into your diet. Some you may not be able to. Your gut will tell you.

    I start my day with Chinese green/Oolong tea. Try and find raw tumeric root - shred 1/2 tsp and boil in water and drink daily. if you can't find it - don't use the powder. Try 1 tsp of cold pressed Coconut Extra Virgin oil every morning. Coconut Milk and Oil really help my gut. I had wine last night and I couldn't tolerate it 2 years ago. 

    I still have IBS but the symptoms are more managable. I cant seem to get rid of Cyclospora from my system. 

    Best,

    dds

    • Posted

      Not for a long time - it's been so long since I had any tests like that done, I don't think I ever had a colonoscopy. Would be worth looking into getting more tests done though.

      I gave up wheat for a bit as I thought it was the main culprit for making me bloated, but then my IBS is so random it didn't make much difference. I do agree with dairy - may be worth going dairy free for a while and seeing if it makes a difference. Caffeine definitely brings on my IBS so I have cut that out. 

      I find the hardest thing knowing what to eat when out - especially at restaurants as it's an awkward subject!

      Thank you for all of your advice!

  • Posted

    Hi Agnes, Same with me too. My Doctor increased strength of amytriptiline up to 50mg. Now finally...he asked me to go for Yoga (specifically for IBS-D) and water therapy (start morning with 3 glass of lukewarm water ) and 3 Km walk daily. I just started this but his old patients are saying..it actually works. Lets hope betterment. You too start with this.

    Regards,

    Singh

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