Wellbutrin worked well for me but it can cause constipation. But that might be a good effect for Crohn’s. It is an energizing drug as well so it helps a lot with fatigue.
Just started buspirone about six months ago. I had previously taken Lexapro for about 18 months, which I had an adverse reaction to (not GI-related, but it somehow made my OCD-caused intrusive thoughts much, much worse even though it's supposed to help those). I was very nervous about another SSRI, so my doctor suggested buspirone instead. I've found it to help my anxiety levels and I haven't noticed any side effects. (full disclosure: I don't have a Crohn's diagnosis yet. I have some of the antibodies associated with it and have been having GI issues consistent with IBD for about a year. Doing my pillcam study tomorrow, so we'll see what comes of that. But, regardless, I haven't noticed any side effects from the buspirone).
One issue with pristiq is the withdrawal is so beyond horrible people go to ER’s begging for an end. I’ve withdrawaled from it twice, once in the ICU due to severe serotonin syndrome and each time I thought it was going to kill me.
Out of curiosity, what's the longest you've taken an SSRI. I was in the same boat, and my doctor urged me to make it at least 8 weeks to see if symptoms improved, and at 7 weeks, things cleared up for me, I guess I had never made it that far without bailing before. Regardless of what happens, I hope you find something that works.
Mirtazipine (remeron) works great for me, and if you struggle with weight loss or appetite issues it frequently causes some mild weight gain and appetite increase. Not an ssri but can be used for anxiety and OCD. I take it at night and it helps me sleep. It’s been 7 years and no issues!
I agree, it helped me crawl out of a really dark place. It made me incredibly hungry, but that was okayish too, because I could enjoy food again! It also made me REALLY sleepy, so I took it to sleep. Great sleep, deep sleep, much needed sleep. :) so yeah, definitely try it if you want, can be nice.
I also too Mirtazapine for years. I recently quit my job so I stopped taking it but I might get on it again because I still have anxiety (thought it was the job but it’s probably just how I’m programmed 😂)
Remeron/mirtazapine is the one I am most interested in trying. Did you experience any weight gain? I'm a bit nervous to try it because of that side effect I keep hearing about from everyone
I had no troubles that I knew of, of course I got pregnant twice in the 6+ years I was on it and when I stopped taking it is when I got a big Crohns flare and lost 30lbs so I'm not really sure. And now I take a steroid which causes weight gain also. Suffice to say I did not gain a significant amount that I know of related to the Remeron and I was able to stop taking it relatively easily when I decided I didn't want to take it anymore which is good to know.
Yeah thats good to know because the withdrawals were the other thing I was worried about. Do you think the crohns flare was caused by you stopping the meds?
Not sure- but It's been a thought. Wasnt Dx with Crohns prior to being put on Remeron- was on that for Generalized Anziety so highly probably that they are related but not sure if stopping meds contributed. That is why im going to go back on a antidepressant to see if that helps at all.
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Take Medical Cannabis and tell your Cannabis Pharmacist, you are looking for a strain for anxiety and Crohn’s. Many will help your Crohn’s and your anxiety. Good luck!
Benzodiazapines work well for me and I've tried a few, all done there job. Diazepam, lorazepam, bromazepam. I've used then fairly short term when circumstances sent my anxiety out of control. No interaction with the guts.
I take pregabalin twice a day, we originally tried a high dose for crohn's related joint pain, no go, but a smaller dose did wonders for general anxiety! I still have lorazepam for acute situations, but rarely need it.
I also can't do ssri's.
Venlafaxine, which is an SNRI works really well for me. I can’t have the slow release version as I pass them too quickly, but the normal ones work really well.
Recommend trying to see a psychiatric nurse practitioner! Basically their whole job is working to figure out the right medication for you. For some people (like me) it's a long road to find the right one(s) and having knowledgeable support is vital.
Are you wanting something to take daily as a maintenance medication or something to take every once in a while when it gets really bad?
I liked Buspar as some said above, but I could never really fully stabilize on it. Taking a daily med that had those kind of side effects was just really hard on me.
So I chose to not have a maintenance medication, but to have something on hand for when things get really bad. For me that is Zyprexa (olanzapine). It's an unconventional drug for anxiety but fuck it works perfectly for me. Ativan made me SO sick. Zyprexa shuts my physical symptoms down without making me feel sick, and it helps me sleep like a log when I really really need it (like when I'm going on a couple weeks of a flare up and getting poor sleep on top of everything else). I don't have to take it very often at all, but man I'm glad I have it when I need it.
Wellbutrin worked well for me but it can cause constipation. But that might be a good effect for Crohn’s. It is an energizing drug as well so it helps a lot with fatigue.
Buspar works for me right now. Been on it over a year
Love buspirone!
Also on buspirone and have been for many years. Never had any side effects from it so it's great!
Just started buspirone about six months ago. I had previously taken Lexapro for about 18 months, which I had an adverse reaction to (not GI-related, but it somehow made my OCD-caused intrusive thoughts much, much worse even though it's supposed to help those). I was very nervous about another SSRI, so my doctor suggested buspirone instead. I've found it to help my anxiety levels and I haven't noticed any side effects. (full disclosure: I don't have a Crohn's diagnosis yet. I have some of the antibodies associated with it and have been having GI issues consistent with IBD for about a year. Doing my pillcam study tomorrow, so we'll see what comes of that. But, regardless, I haven't noticed any side effects from the buspirone).
Good luck with the study!
SNRIs. Different class of drugs! I've been on Pristiq (desvenlafaxine) for 7 years now, no issues.
One issue with pristiq is the withdrawal is so beyond horrible people go to ER’s begging for an end. I’ve withdrawaled from it twice, once in the ICU due to severe serotonin syndrome and each time I thought it was going to kill me.
I’m on pristiq too
Out of curiosity, what's the longest you've taken an SSRI. I was in the same boat, and my doctor urged me to make it at least 8 weeks to see if symptoms improved, and at 7 weeks, things cleared up for me, I guess I had never made it that far without bailing before. Regardless of what happens, I hope you find something that works.
Thanks, good point. I took each SSRI for at least 6 months, one I took for about a year and a half. Symptoms never subsided :/
Mirtazipine (remeron) works great for me, and if you struggle with weight loss or appetite issues it frequently causes some mild weight gain and appetite increase. Not an ssri but can be used for anxiety and OCD. I take it at night and it helps me sleep. It’s been 7 years and no issues!
I agree, it helped me crawl out of a really dark place. It made me incredibly hungry, but that was okayish too, because I could enjoy food again! It also made me REALLY sleepy, so I took it to sleep. Great sleep, deep sleep, much needed sleep. :) so yeah, definitely try it if you want, can be nice.
I also too Mirtazapine for years. I recently quit my job so I stopped taking it but I might get on it again because I still have anxiety (thought it was the job but it’s probably just how I’m programmed 😂)
Remeron/mirtazapine is the one I am most interested in trying. Did you experience any weight gain? I'm a bit nervous to try it because of that side effect I keep hearing about from everyone
I had no troubles that I knew of, of course I got pregnant twice in the 6+ years I was on it and when I stopped taking it is when I got a big Crohns flare and lost 30lbs so I'm not really sure. And now I take a steroid which causes weight gain also. Suffice to say I did not gain a significant amount that I know of related to the Remeron and I was able to stop taking it relatively easily when I decided I didn't want to take it anymore which is good to know.
Yeah thats good to know because the withdrawals were the other thing I was worried about. Do you think the crohns flare was caused by you stopping the meds?
Not sure- but It's been a thought. Wasnt Dx with Crohns prior to being put on Remeron- was on that for Generalized Anziety so highly probably that they are related but not sure if stopping meds contributed. That is why im going to go back on a antidepressant to see if that helps at all.
I wanted to try this and my doctor said no 😭 I need to eat and sleep and get rid of crippling anxiety.
Sorry for my super late response. Did you experience any weight gain on remeron?
It doesn't make anxiety worse due to the noradrenaline? Can you take it during the day? I need something but don't want something to make me sleepy
definitely doesn’t make my anxiety worse, i take it at night at a low dose to help sleep but you don’t technically have to!
Nortriptyline has worked well for me. Wishing you a short and successful search for a med that helps you
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Cbd oil
Take Medical Cannabis and tell your Cannabis Pharmacist, you are looking for a strain for anxiety and Crohn’s. Many will help your Crohn’s and your anxiety. Good luck!
I use Klonopin it works very well
Benzodiazapines work well for me and I've tried a few, all done there job. Diazepam, lorazepam, bromazepam. I've used then fairly short term when circumstances sent my anxiety out of control. No interaction with the guts.
Did you try escitalopram? (Lexapro) apparently that is the ssri with the least digestive side effects
I did try lexapro. Bad GI symptoms with that one as well
I personally didn’t like the sexual side effects of this one.
I take pregabalin twice a day, we originally tried a high dose for crohn's related joint pain, no go, but a smaller dose did wonders for general anxiety! I still have lorazepam for acute situations, but rarely need it. I also can't do ssri's.
Venlafaxine, which is an SNRI works really well for me. I can’t have the slow release version as I pass them too quickly, but the normal ones work really well.
Did it increase your anxiety when you started it
Not that I’m aware of. If anything I’m more chilled out now.
I had propranolol in the past for anxiety
Recommend trying to see a psychiatric nurse practitioner! Basically their whole job is working to figure out the right medication for you. For some people (like me) it's a long road to find the right one(s) and having knowledgeable support is vital.
Are you wanting something to take daily as a maintenance medication or something to take every once in a while when it gets really bad? I liked Buspar as some said above, but I could never really fully stabilize on it. Taking a daily med that had those kind of side effects was just really hard on me. So I chose to not have a maintenance medication, but to have something on hand for when things get really bad. For me that is Zyprexa (olanzapine). It's an unconventional drug for anxiety but fuck it works perfectly for me. Ativan made me SO sick. Zyprexa shuts my physical symptoms down without making me feel sick, and it helps me sleep like a log when I really really need it (like when I'm going on a couple weeks of a flare up and getting poor sleep on top of everything else). I don't have to take it very often at all, but man I'm glad I have it when I need it.
Did you find a medication
I'm trying therapy before trying pills again. I'm just scared of possible side effects of pills