Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards | Re: Antidepressants and IBS

[color:blue] [/color] :confused:Vicam I am new to these postings and website (which I love!) However, I am too a long time sufferer of IBS-A and a very good Clinical Pharmacist. Most of the drugs for depression in the class of tricyclics like elavil, desyrl, have strong anticholingeric effects. They have side effects like drying up secretions. This includes urinary retention, decrease in GI motility, constitpation, dry eyes, cotton mouth etc. and improving they improve sleep and elevate a patients mood. This class of antidepressions. the trycylics where the main stay for depression before the new SSIR medications. Because of the side effects of the tricylics and the toxicity associated with their overdose, SSIR are the most common antidepressents prescribed today, also the most expensive. In my experience patients with IBS can be helped with SSIR's. IBS is a draining never ending disease which swings and can take control of a patients life. For these patients SSIR can help the patient gain control and the discipline it takes to manage their disease. As far as helping the ibs directly possibly for those who suffer from constipation. The sure sign of titrating SSIR is diarrhea. At that point we know the patient is limited to the dose just prior to the last increase. SSIR's still are more useful in ibs patients to help them function and take control of their health. There are many different SSIR's and it may take three or four different tries on different medication in the same class that works for an individual IBS patient. For those IBS patients who have just diahheria these meds in very low dosages should be trial to see if they exacerbates the diahhrea. :confused:Barb Pharmacist & Ibs patient

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Barb Deibert

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