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Ibs suffered for years. Tried everything. Sertraline helped anyone?

Posted , 12 users are following.

rowenasurio1
rowenasurio1

I have struggled with depression and anxiety for years. I also have ibs which doesn't help as it makes it worse and have had it since I was 4. Last 4 years it has been pretty awful.

i have been on fluoxetine, however started to be ineffective so they put me on citalopram which did work for my depression and anxiety and is apparently the best for ibs however it did nothing for my ibs.

after seeing specialists, holistic therapists, trying the FODMAP diet and seeing soooooo many doctors for my ibs, my recent doctor has said basically "sertraline is something you haven't tried for ibs; that could work for your ibs as well as helping the d and a." I was like yeh do it, let's try everything. 

I was on 40mg citalopram and he told me to reduce it by 10mg a week for a month. Done, however after 3rd day of no citalopram at all, I had all the side effects Iv read on this forum; dizziness, head zaps, electric shocks, anger, extremely emotional etc.

I am a full time worker with quite a full on PA type offic manager job. I'm so scared about starting sertraline after all the side effects Iv read. The side effects Iv had from withdrawal of citalopram have made me pretty dysfunctional this week.

should I take sertraline? Has it helped any ibs suffereres? 

Please can you recommend anything else that I haven't tried that's worked for you? 

I know exercise is meant to help but to be honest I'm so bloated alllllll the time it's so uncomfortable that I don't want to do anything active. Luckily I'm no overweight.

​anything you can say I would be so grateful for. Thank you for reading xx

0 likes, 20 replies

20 Replies

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  • AlexanderJonas
    AlexanderJonas rowenasurio1

    Posted

    Hi rowenasurio1, 

    it might help you to understand, that IBS is an adaptive function of your autonomic nervous system that helped our ancestors to survive thousands of years ago. Your ANS adapts just fine, but is looked in fight/flight mode. Your ANS might be in a mood, where it feels not safe.

    Make your self feel safe. 

    With kind regards

    AJ

  • Sooz1198
    Sooz1198 rowenasurio1

    Posted

    Hi, I’ve suffered with IBS ( worsened with anxiety)  for 20 years. I had a severe exacerbation 2 months ago with 20 episodes a night of watery diarrhea. I lost 30 ponds. I tried a strict low FODMAP diet , yoga, exercise relaxation techniques.  My dr. Started me on Zoloft ( sertraline) 50 mg at bedtime a couple days ago on Jan 8 2018, mainly for my anxiety and IBS symptoms. The diarrhea stopped after the 2nd day and I feel like I have a normal life again. I’ve never felt this good. For me Zoloft has been a lifesaver. 

    I hope it works for you too. I do plan to continue with my relaxation techniques and exercise also. 

  • joy1953
    joy1953 rowenasurio1

    Posted

    I have IBS . I have tried probiotics with psyllium fibre and was given Sertraline about 3 years ago for depression. I also have to take Adcal d3 for osteopaenia and rosuvastatin for high cholesterol. My IBS got to a point where I just couldn't stand it any longer, too much to put up with along with osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia! So - apart from the Adcal d3 - I decided to stop bombarding my stomach with numerous tablets and see what happens! Withdrawal from Sertraline has been awful, but now I'm over the worst of it, I have to say that my IBS has calmed down. I am still on a very low dose but once I have stopped completely I will reintroduce my statins and probiotcs one at a time and see how it goes. But I will never take antidepressants again because the withdrawal is very unpleasant!

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