Has anyone taken antidepressants to help break the gut/brain connection, ie gut issues (IBS, function dyspepsia etc).

[RJB73]

I have suffered from anxiety for the majority of my 51 years.

During my adult life I have limped on by without medication because I am frankly shit scared to take them in case they make my physical issues worse. The biggest worry I have with my physical health is that I suffer with a very poor digestive system (diarrhoea/loose stool, gas, bloating, nausea, acid, excessive gurgling, excessive flatulence, pain on a daily basis). This has become so much worse over the last 6 years and no matter what I do or try it to help ease the issue very little actually helps and because I suffer from daily symptoms this results in much mental distress every single day.

I could actually cope with my every day anxiety and low mood because I practise daily medication and hypnotherapy to try to balance this out but the gut issues trigger a huge amount of anxiety and panic within me which drive the symptoms even more, it has become a horrid vicious cycle. As I say, I have tried everything to achieve harmony within my digestive system to no avail.

I am wondering if it is time to try some antidepressants so when my gut issues are causing me so much anguish I will at least be able to deal with them without going into a complete panic each time and maybe I will be able to start to live a normal life again (I live in permanent hope this will happen one day).

I don't want to be on them for years and years though. Has anyone taken antidepressants for a shorter time scale, say 6-12 months and found they were then able to get them to a better place which allowed them to address any other issues and when you came off the meds could function ok without the support of medication?

My sister is on a trial of very low dose daily Amitriptyline at the suggestion of her gastroenterologist. He said it’s used off licence for 4-6 months only to try to reset the neurological issues? She sounded a bit like you plus frequent urge to poo/ pee and after colonoscopy/ endoscopy/ bloods and poo investigations, nothing sinister or suggesting mechanical difficulties was found. I believe the hope is that it will result in a ‘reset’ which will last after the medication stops.

I asked her about side effects and so far after a month or two she says slightly reduced urgency but only other effect is that she sleeps like a log ( no daytime drowsiness). She’s never suffered from depression. .

Thank you EvelynBeatrice
I had wondered about amitriptyline as it is supposed to help with visceral hypersensitivity. My GP suggested Escitalopram but I'll go back and ask about amitriptyline.
I hope it continues to help your sister.

Take a look at at ketogenic, or low carb diet. It can be effective in resolving gut issues and treating mental health issues.
The metabolic mind channel on You Tube is a good place to start, or if you are in the UK, The PHC website has some good resources https://phcuk.org/.

I have tried literally every diet for my IBS and have worked with 3 hospital dietitians. I can not tolerate dairy, eggs, high fat or red meat so a keto diet for me with these limitations would be very restrictive and I already have a low bmi and have disordered eating so it's not ideal tbh.
It is the mental health aspect which I experience from this condition which I need help with right now and I wonder if medication is the answer.

I'm in the exact same boat. Have had anxiety for 16yrs (since I was 20yrs old) have had digestive symptoms my whole life which has steadily worsened the older I've got and now are at the point of daily just like yourself and the symptoms themselves cause me major distress as I have emetophobia and health anxiety.

My son has recently been diagnosed with coeliacs disease, I've been tested for it twice both negative but it does run in families and since he's gone GF I've decided to join him to be supportive (he's only 10 & has autism), it's only been 6 weeks but there has been some improvements.

I tried citalopram this year, first time ever trying an anxiety med as I was feeling completely out of control earlier this year. I was terrified to take them so I started by cutting them in half and starting on 5mg and slowly building it up. I've now been on 20mg for 3 months and if I'm honest it's had no effect on my anxiety over my physical symptoms unfortunately.

Has anyone taken antidepressants for a shorter time scale, say 6-12 months and found they were then able to get them to a better place which allowed them to address any other issues and when you came off the meds could function ok without the support of medication?

Yes, citalopram. They quietened the 'noise' in my head and allowed me to access and benefit from talking therapies. Ultimately, because the nose and stress were reduced, I was then able to address my disordered eating in a positive and unjudgemental way.

I had 3 courses of citalopram over a period of about 10y. The first course - yes, I was terrified. But it was OK. I was on it for no longer than 18m and came off very easily. I simply reduced my dose greatly over a few weeks.

After a few years I felt myself begin to spiral down again. No hesitation this time - straight back to the GP, and back on citalopram. I came off very easily after about 10-12m. 3rd course very similar, this time on it for only 6m. Both times I came off by simply forgetting to take it several times over a couple of weeks, and not feeling any anxiety or distress.

Have you been tested for coeliac and for helicobacter pylori?

Wish I could edit in the app!

I simply reduced my dose greatly over a few weeks.

I simply reduced my dose gently over a few weeks.

Amitriptylline is a well established treatment for IBS (I was a Gastro nurse for years). Yes it helps reset the nerves. I'm actually on it for a different issue (chronic vulva pain), it does seem to help. I think it's worth a try.

I think it’s worth a try. Bear in mind there are many many types of AD medication, it may be a case of finding which one works best for you.

My mother is very similar to yourself, suffered for years. She started duloxitine last year and she says it’s literally saved her life. She don’t suffer the physical symptoms anymore and is so much happier, wishes she had started them years ago xx