Irritable bowel syndrome and Amitriptyline

Hi, sorry for not getting back to you last night, I explained what has been going on and Amitripyline had been prescribed. Her first words were WTF. It’s used as a painkiller or for mental health issues / anxiety, I’m sure you have googled it and the side affects. My wife said  she was prescribed it for a back injury, she stopped taking it as in her words, “ it nearly sent me mad,” it sounds as if you maybe are  asking for a younger person, so more caution.

The other drugs are just for reflux, IBS is just something that some people unfortunately live with, glad  Crohns has been ruled out, more autistic people have stomach problems, whenever IBS patients are scoped, they very rarely find anything. Diet obviously plays a big part, the usual suspects, fry ups, spicy food and alcohol. Too much fruit is not good as it can be full of acid. She uses peppermint tea or buscopan. You are trying to stop the stomach from spasms. There are quite a few over the counter products, there unfortunately isn’t much more help than that. The stomach gut axis is basically the brain and stomach communicate, you have heard of a ‘knot in the stomach’ or when we get anxious we often need the toilet,( things like a driving test) it sounds as if the doctor is trying to help the anxiety and lessen the brain triggering the stomach.

Thanks Roy - that’s really helpful. Yes - I have looked at the side effects of Amytriptyline and they are extremely concerning. I’ve advised my family member that it might be a good idea to pause and try other alternatives first - but they’ve been struggling with the symptoms for years and are feeling at the ‘I’ll try anything at this point’ stage. So they plan to take this drug - and it worries me to be honest. Part of me thinks the long term use of the PPIs has actually made the situation much worse, And as they’re autistic coping with the pain etc is perhaps harder to tolerate, and they have certainly had a huge amount of stress these last few years. As ever these things are often multifactorial and therefore hard to solve. 
I really appreciate the advice you’ve shared with me - please thank your wife for me too. We were relieved it wasn’t crohns too - but my family member wanted a clear diagnosis and a clear solution  - and he wasn’t given that. There are one or two academic papers online about Amytriptyline helping with IBS - so who knows - mayb3 it will help. I have to say that if it was me I wouldn’t take it. I think I’d try the natural, improve the gut biome route, and maybe fasting sometimes too. I always try a natural solution first before taking pharmaceutical drugs. My relative isn’t quite as averse to them as I am though. I’m just keeping my fingers crossed that their experience with this drug isn’t as bag as your wife’s was. I’ve heard lots of bad things about it. 

Thanks Roy - I really appreciate your help

You’re welcome, if they are happy to try it and it is a lower dose, they can always stop if it doesn’t agree with them. You are most probably similar to me , I don’t even take paracetamol unless there is no other option.

Yes, I have a friend with high bp who does exercise and seems to have a reasonable diet, he has to take the pills. And I am glad of my arthritis pills, and my husband takes meds too, but we try to keep it to a minimum. I don't want to end up having to take pills for the side effects of pills ad infinitum!

It’s great that you managed to get your blood pressure down through diet and exercise - and off course your whole health (mental and physical) will benefit from that too. I really do believe that if it’s possible it’s the best approach. Of course sometimes it’s not - and there’s little option but to take the drugs. My husband has asthma for example - he really needs that medication. 

It’s great that you managed to get your blood pressure down through diet and exercise - and off course your whole health (mental and physical) will benefit from that too. I really do believe that if it’s possible it’s the best approach. Of course sometimes it’s not - and there’s little option but to take the drugs. My husband has asthma for example - he really needs that medication. 

Yes, I have a friend with high bp who does exercise and seems to have a reasonable diet, he has to take the pills. And I am glad of my arthritis pills, and my husband takes meds too, but we try to keep it to a minimum. I don't want to end up having to take pills for the side effects of pills ad infinitum!