Can't quit antidepressants, which makes GI problems worse...

[Brian]

Hello, I'm in my late 20's. In the mid nineties I tried several different antidepressants over a period of three years, with minimal side-effects. In 1997 I was on paxil and after 4 months I abruptly developed major GI difficulties. Stomach felt full, waist constantly felt tight like a rope was wrapped around under my skin. Shortness of breath, heartburn, and a "lump" sensation in my throat. My only physical activity at the time was being a bagger at a grocery store.
I've had upper GI's performed (1997 and 2001), and pelvic CAT scan. Nothing shows up. Doctors seem skeptical when I describe my symptoms. Fortunately, if I wean myself off of antidepressant medication, the symptoms disappear after several months. Not so fortunately, my stint with psych meds appears to have been addictive- after being med free for several months I emotionally feel worse than ever. And now, anytime I try to go back on a medication which previously caused no major side effects (zoloft, paxil, pamelor, wellbutrin, etc.) my gastro problems rudely return.
My hope is that maybe there is a _physical_ problem at the root of this, because if this was all caused by my psych meds then it would appear there is now no solution.
Anybody have any advice? Any similar experiences?? Please?

Brian

[linbee]

Brian,

I'm afraid I have no advice, but there are some similarities to our stories.

I started taking Elavil in the 80's. After 10 years, I started to have lots of PVC's (premature ventricular contractions of the heart), so they switched me to Zoloft, since the Elavil can cause heartbeat problems. I did fine on the Zoloft, but it made no difference in my PVC's. After 6 years of Zoloft, I tried switching to Prozac because it went generic and I wanted to save money. Within a couple of weeks, I had severe heartburn every waking moment of the day. I switched back to the Zoloft, with no relief. Tried Prilosec, Prevacid, Nexium, and Zantac, no relief. The GI guy who did my endoscopy thought the Zoloft might be a factor, and my GP agreed, saying he's seen it cause severe gastric distress. So he put me back on Elavil, and also Protonix at the same time. Within a couple of days I saw a huge difference--much less heartburn.

I don't know if I just got lucky with the Protonix, or if the Zoloft really was a problem, but I'm convinced that the Prozac was a major contributor.

Now I'm trying Elavil with no Protonix, but am using Pepcid AC. This has just been a couple of days, too soon to tell.

Anyway, my point is that apparently different antidepressants seem to be bad news for GERD. Acutally, Elavil lists heartburn as a side effect, but it doesn't seem to apply to me. This is all such a puzzle and series of trial and error. Frustrating, to be sure.

Are there any more antidepressants left for you to try? If I run into trouble with the Elavil, my next try will be effexor, which apparently is also effective for anxiety, which many on this board have found to be a significant factor. I'm also very intrigued by the Xanax bit, too.

Good luck...

linbee

[GW]

I was only on the antidepressant Celexa about 10 months ago for about 100 days. It's of the SSRI class that seems to be the most "stomach friendly" of the antidepressants.

Xanax, is not an antidepressant. It's an anti anxiety med of the Benzodiazapine family. At any rate, I took both of these meds together with the PPI(Proton Pump Inhibitor) Prilosec and they all helped me make liars out of what the Medical Field tried to tell me was "chronic".......it healed my GERD.

Now I'm deleriously happy again after struggling with GERD, anxiety and panic for five years.

:D

[linbee]

GW,

You said you had anxiety and panic--have you run across anyone who was helped by Xanax (GERD-wise) who didn't have "typical" symptoms of anxiety?

I've never had a panic attack, and I don't "feel" anxious, although certainly there is stress in my life; isn't there isn everyone's? But I do have a history of depression, and the depression always showed up primarily as physical symptoms. Can anxiety do this as well?

linbee

[GW]

Originally posted by linbee
GW,

You said you had anxiety and panic--have you run across anyone who was helped by Xanax (GERD-wise) who didn't have "typical" symptoms of anxiety?

I've never had a panic attack, and I don't "feel" anxious, although certainly there is stress in my life; isn't there isn everyone's? But I do have a history of depression, and the depression always showed up primarily as physical symptoms. Can anxiety do this as well?

linbee

I had atypical symptoms as well. In fact, MOSTLY! :rolleyes: A few others on this board had similar experiences. Hallsy, from the board here, was a testimonial of Xanax help that had some atypical symptoms. He adds a plus to his story as well. He "had" high blood pressure problems and Xanax allowed him to quit taking the BP meds! Pretty neat, huh? Oh......one more thing I learned......I have found relief from a mild case of tinnitis and it's returned a little since I stopped taking Xanax as my regular regimen. So, we did some research , and sure enough Xanax helps take care of Tinnitis, too. So, if your ears are ringing.......take a Xanax! :D

On depression: Anxiety and Depression can go hand-in-hand. Medical studies have shown that folks with prolonged anxiety can eventually develope depression. That's why my doc wanted me on Celexa (antidepressant) as well.

So, to sum up again on just the med part of my plan that healed me......I took Prilosec (for the PPI I required) 40mg X1, Celexa 20mg X1, and Xanax .25 X1.....per day and this totally eliminated ALL of my GERD/Anxiety/Panic symptoms. And eventually (about 100 days) they stayed away without meds.

Hope this helps you somehow,

GW

[daw]

Chronic anxiety is a one of the common symptom of depression.

"have you run across anyone who was helped by Xanax (GERD-wise) who didn't have "typical" symptoms of anxiety?"

I take Xanax as well as Nexium and Pepcid. I asked my primary doctor for Xanax because I read it may decrease transient relaxations of the LES. I was taking Ativan for insomnia and now that I've switched to Xanax I think it does make a difference for me gerdwise. My GI doctor does not agree with it's use.

While I had panic attacks when I was younger and I tend to get neurotic at times (GW don't even go there), I mainly continued to use the Xanax for my GERD. If it helps my occasional anxious moments and keeps me relaxed, then all the better.

[GW]

Originally posted by daw
...........
While I had panic attacks when I was younger and I tend to get neurotic at times (GW don't even go there),


Oh, yeah......well y'all wait til we're on the "chat room" DAW is a NUT .......you'll see! :D

[daw]

Originally posted by GW
Oh, yeah......well y'all wait til we're on the "chat room" DAW is a NUT .......you'll see! :D

I like to refer to myself as a nut "case"....sounds more medically oriented.

In all seriousness, if that is possible, I believe mental stress of all kinds ( including the stress of anxiety, depression, a type A personality, an overwhelming job, etc.) exacerbates, if not causes, GERD in a large part of the population. Whether the LES and/or UES is weakened regardless of the stress or because of the stress, is anybody's guess.

[GW]

Originally posted by daw

In all seriousness, if that is possible, I believe mental stress of all kinds ( including the stress of anxiety, depression, a type A personality, an overwhelming job, etc.) exacerbates, if not causes, GERD in a large part of the population. Whether the LES and/or UES is weakened regardless of the stress or because of the stress, is anybody's guess.


That would be absolutely congruent with my finding DAW. Or, as my Norwegian wife's family would say, "Ya, shewr yabecha."