Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Anti-depressants?

StrongerToday

Recommended Posts

StrongerToday Enthusiast
StrongerToday
Posted

Hello. Just wondering if anyone had advice on anti-depressants and their side effects?

I went GFDF in August, and while it was not fun I did feel great. I was sleeping well, happy, making plans w/ friends etc. Ever since Thanksgiving I have not been doing great. While I fall asleep quickly, I wake around 4:30 and now am so anxious about it I can't get back to sleep. I've had a few stress issues come up (work related, and my daughter was very sick for a couple weeks) but those are mostly over and I'm still feeling very anxious.

I keep thinking if I could get some good sleep, I"d be ok again - but I admit I"ve been taking Xanax and Ambien at night and still not doing so well. I'm wondering if my next step is to consider an anti-depressant? I really don't want to take one - I am SO afraid of the side effects - but would like to hear other's thoughts.

Thanks!

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


lovegrov Collaborator
lovegrov
Posted

It depends so much on the person.

I was having terrible anxiety attacks and depression after my daughter died not quite a year ago. Zoloft helped me become functional again and I've had no side effects that I know of. I've also had some counseling and try to exercise (something I need to do more of). As I approach the anniversary of her death I'm regressing some, but I expected that. Zoloft has been important for me, but these medications affect different people in different ways.

richard

Canadian Karen Community Regular
Canadian Karen
Posted

Antidepressants have been a godsend for me personally, but I agree with Richard that it is different for every person. I have struggled with depression for a very long time, and have been taking anti-depressants for almost a decade now. This time of the year is absolutely brutal for me (from November to February) due to Seasonal Affective Disorder, and anti-depressants have changed my life and made it much more bearable during this time......

Hugs.

Karen

jerseyangel Proficient
jerseyangel
Posted
It depends so much on the person.

I was having terrible anxiety attacks and depression after my daughter died not quite a year ago. Zoloft helped me become functional again and I've had no side effects that I know of. I've also had some counseling and try to exercise (something I need to do more of). As I approach the anniversary of her death I'm regressing some, but I expected that. Zoloft has been important for me, but these medications affect different people in different ways.

richard

Richard, Please accept my sincere condolances on hearing about the death of your daughter. I can not imagine what you have been through this year. Please know that my prayers and my thoughts are with you and your family.

Guest missyflanders
Guest missyflanders
Posted

I currently take cymbalta and it has been wonderful for me. Before I was depressed and in a lot of physical pain from it. Now I don't hurt and am a much happier person. I have not noticed any side effects from it either. I have tried many others but this is the one that works best for me. Zoloft made me sleepy. Lexapro worked great for awhile and effexor just did not work for me.

I also exercise to help my mood and attend therapy on an as needed basis.

Missy

Guest BERNESES
Guest BERNESES
Posted

Richard- I am so sorry to hear about your daughter. The one year anniversary is especially difficult. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

I have been on anti-depressants for over 15 years now and they have helped tremendously (actually, I would credit them with saving my life the first time I got depressed). But, like Richard said, it depends on the person. Each person reacts differently to different medications. My sister takes Lexapro and it makes me sick as a dog ( but I also have other friends on it and they LOVE it). If you feel as though your moods/sleep are affecting your life and it goes on for more than two weeks you should see a doctor. And in my opinion, you should see a psychiatrist. Many primary care doctors are more than willing to prescribe these medications, but because so little is known about the brain and how they actually work, it's best to see someone who has a lot of experience with these medications so they can figure out which one is right for you.

Other options to try, if you don't want to go that route yet, are fish oil (it has been proven to be good for heart and mood) and i've heard that SAM-e and St. John's Wort work well for some people, although I don't have any experience with them myself.

The side effects really vary with drug/person. I have literally no side effects whatsoever from the medication I'm on (Celexa). Really! It's hard to believe because I have had side effects from other ones I've tried, but this one has been really good for me. Keep us posted on how you're doing.

Best, Beverly

StrongerToday Enthusiast
StrongerToday
Posted
  • Author

Thanks for the responses. Richard, I am so sorry - I'm glad you're doing better now.

I did go the the dr., I've been dealing with this too long. He's started me on Paxil, took the first one last night. Now I'm just hoping I'm one of the lucky ones who don't feel too many side effects. I'm axious to get my anxiety over with (ha!)

Thanks...

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Guest BERNESES
Guest BERNESES
Posted

My brother-in-law took Paxil for anxiety and it worked wonders for him. He had no more anxiety and no weight gain or any side effects that he ever complained about. Keep posting and let us know about your progress. Best, Beverly

StrongerToday Enthusiast
StrongerToday
Posted
  • Author
My brother-in-law took Paxil for anxiety and it worked wonders for him. He had no more anxiety and no weight gain or any side effects that he ever complained about. Keep posting and let us know about your progress. Best, Beverly

Well, Paxil doesn't seem to be my friend... jitters, headache and I'm more sick to my stomach now then I ever was - including pregnancy! I called my dr who had my cut my dosage, but still no luck. So tomorrow I try Lexapro... I've heard good things about it... keep your fingers crossed!

Mahee34 Enthusiast
Mahee34
Posted

The dr. put me on neurotrythipalyne...........definately not spelled right but i don't have the medicine near me to spell it correctly....it's a mild anti-depressant/anti-anxiety that they give to people for IBS...I've been having a lot of stomach issues as of late and he put me on it as a trial basis, so far so good....it even helps with my anxiety about going out and my obsession with having to know where a bathroom is at all times. i tell you what, with this disease you learn to have no shame......if i had a penny for every sketchy bathroom i've stopped at on road trips i'd be a rich person.

floridanative Community Regular
floridanative
Posted

One of my closest friends, my assistant and my sister are all on Lexapro. They all love it. No one has any side effects that they've complained about except my assistant says her sex drive is really low on it but her appetite is too which she likes. My doc likes natural remedies when possible so when I went off the pill and had horrible mood swings, I started on St. John's Wort. Well it did the trick along with some other supplements but if ever stops working, I'd go on Lexapro too. My doc actually read a recent study that she says shows that Lexapro is one of the safest SSRI's you can take.

Richard - please accept my sincere condolences regarding your loss. You're very strong to get through something like that.

tarnalberry Community Regular
tarnalberry
Posted

I agree - it depends on the person and why you're not doing well. Depression itself can be caused by a lot of things, and hence there are a number of different treatments. The gluten free diet may not be helping you at this point (with respect to depression - I'm not suggesting you go off it!), but you note that it was in November this happened, so I wonder if SAD (seasonal affective disorder) is a part of the problem here. A change in exercise habits, or even the situational pressure of extended following of the gluten-free diet could be problematic. It could be purely chemical as well, of course - either brain chemistry or vitamin/nutritional issues. While I would ordinarily suggest counseling (to help determine if this is more of a situational thing) to start with (along with regular moderate intensity exercise (which really is a chemical treatment, but a pretty natural one)), anti-depressants can help a lot of people.

I personally believe that GP's are far too eager to prescribe them without their patients properly being evaluated - they won't help everyone, and they've got enough side effects, they're not necessarily a good first-line attack for most people. But they have their place.

  • 3 weeks later...
BB22 Newbie
BB22
Posted

If you want to try this route. (anti-depressants) You have to be willing to try. The first or second might not be right, but if you double the third's dosage that might be just the ticket.

A doc doubled my dosage about 3 weeks ago. Gluten-free Casein-free & soy free + anti-depressants have changed my life. Now, that the pain has abated, perhaps I can address the rest of my life.

BB22

Canadian Karen Community Regular
Canadian Karen
Posted

BB22,

It sounds like you are on the right track and that's very good news. There is no feeling quite like it in the world when you finally see that light at the end of the tunnel.

I have been on Prozac for almost a decade now. The last few years, a small dose of Wellbutrin has been added to restore a sexual desire that took a nosedive. It works. B);)

Karen

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. DebD5
      - DebD5 commented on Scott Adams's article in Spring 2026 Issue
      1

      The Dark Side of Gluten-Free: Counterfeit Labels and Global Food Safety Failures

      Exactly. What about King Arthur gluten free flour selling a gluten free bread flour containing “gluten free wheat starch” and says in allergens “contains wheat.” I don’t care if it contains a trace amount of wheat ok’ed by the food industry. For a celiac…100% gluten free and that’s all is acceptable. Hard alcohols and ciders and hard seltzers say gluten free...
    2. Jmartes71
      - Jmartes71 replied to Jmartes71's topic in Doctors
      6

      Second chance

      Thats the thing, diagnosed in 1994 before foods eliminated celiac by biopsy colonoscopy at Kaiser in Santa Clara now condo's but it has to be somewhere in medical land.1999 got married, moved, changed doctor's was with former for 25 years told him I waz celiac and that.Fast forward to last year.i googled celiac specialist and what popped up was a former...
    3. trents
      - trents replied to EssexMum's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      2

      Concerning GP advice

      Welcome to the celiac.com community @EssexMum! First, let me correct some misinformation you have been given. Except in the case of what is known as "refractory" celiac disease, which is very rare, it is not true that the "fingers" will not grow back once a consistently gluten free diet is adopted. Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition whereby the...
    4. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams replied to Florence Lillian's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      5

      Gluten-Mimicking Proteins that can affect some Celiac individuals.

      Here are some articles on cross-reactivity and celiac disease:
    5. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to HectorConvector's topic in Related Issues & Disorders
      327

      Terrible Neurological Symptoms

      @HectorConvector, Here are some articles about "dry Beriberi" and neuropathy. I hope you've been able to acquire thiamine hydrochloride or Benfotiamine. I'm concerned. Dry Beriberi Due to Thiamine Deficiency Associated with Peripheral Neuropathy and Wernicke's Encephalopathy Mimicking Guillain-Barré syndrome: A Case Report and Review of the ...
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      133,640
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    JennaK23222
    Newest Member
    JennaK23222
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.6k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Jmartes71
      Second chance

      By Jmartes71 · Posted

      Thats the thing, diagnosed in 1994 before foods eliminated celiac by biopsy colonoscopy at Kaiser in Santa Clara  now condo's but it has to be somewhere in medical land.1999 got married, moved, changed doctor's was with former for 25 years told him I waz celiac and that.Fast forward to last year.i googled celiac specialist and what popped up was a former well known heard of hospital. I thought I would get answers to be put through unnecessary colonoscopy KNOWING im glutenfree and she wasn't listening to me for help rather than screening me for celiac! Im already diagnosed seeking medical help.I did all the appointments ask from her and when I wanted my records se t to my pcp, thats when the with holding my records when I repeatedly messaged, it was down played the seriousness and I was labeled unruly when I asked why am I going through all this when its the celiac name that IS what my issue and All my ailments surrounding it related. I am dea6eoth the autoimmune part though my blood work is supposedly fabulous. Im sibo positive,HLA-DQ2 positive, dealing with skin, eye and now ms.I was employed as a bus driver making good money, I loved it for the few years my body let me do until I was yet again fired.i went to seek medical help because my body isn't well just to be made a disability chaser. Im exhausted,glutenfree, no lawyer will help and disability is in limbo thanks to the lax on my health from the fabulous none celiac Google bay area dr snd team. Its not right.
    • trents
      Concerning GP advice

      By trents · Posted

      Welcome to the celiac.com community @EssexMum! First, let me correct some misinformation you have been given. Except in the case of what is known as "refractory" celiac disease, which is very rare, it is not true that the "fingers" will not grow back once a consistently gluten free diet is adopted. Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition whereby the ingestion of gluten triggers an inflammatory process that damages the millions of tiny finger-like projections that make up the lining of the small bowel. We call this the "villous lining". Over time, continued ingestion of gluten on a regular basis results in the wearing down of these fingers which greatly reduces the surface area of this very important membrane. It is where essentially all the nutrition from what we eat is absorbed. So, losing this surface area results in inefficiency in nutrient absorption and often to medical problems related to nutrient deficiencies. Again, if a gluten-free diet is consistently observed, the villous lining of the small bowel should rebound. "We was informed that her body absorbs the gluten rather then rejecting it and that is why she doesn't react to the gluten straight away, it will be a build up and then the pains start. " That sounds like unscientific BS to me. But it does sound like your stepdaughter may have a type of celiac disease we know as "silent" celiac disease, meaning, she is asymptomatic or at least the symptoms are not intense enough to usually notice. She is not completely asymptomatic, however, because you stated was experiencing tummy aches off and on. Cristiana gives some good suggestions about ordering "safe" food for your stepdaughter from restaurant menus in Europe. You must realize that as the step parent who only has her part of the time you have no real control over how cooperative her other set of parents are with regard to your stepdaughter's needs to eat gluten free. It sounds like they don't really understand the seriousness of the matter. This is very common in family settings where other members are ignorant about celiac disease and the damage it can do to body systems. So, they don't take it seriously. The best you can do is make suggestions. Perhaps print out some info about celiac disease from the Internet to send them. Being inconsistent with the gluten free diet keeps the inflammation smoldering and delays or inhibits healing of the villous lining. 
    • Scott Adams
      Gluten-Mimicking Proteins that can affect some Celiac individuals.

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Here are some articles on cross-reactivity and celiac disease:      
    • knitty kitty
      Terrible Neurological Symptoms

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      @HectorConvector, Here are some articles about "dry Beriberi" and neuropathy.  I hope you've been able to acquire thiamine hydrochloride or Benfotiamine.  I'm concerned.   Dry Beriberi Due to Thiamine Deficiency Associated with Peripheral Neuropathy and Wernicke's Encephalopathy Mimicking Guillain-Barré syndrome: A Case Report and Review of the Literature https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30862772/ Dry Beriberi Manifesting as Acute Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy in a Patient With Decompensated Alcohol-Induced Cirrhosis https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7707918/ A Rare Case of Thiamine Deficiency Leading to Dry Beriberi, Peripheral Neuropathy, and Torsades De Pointes https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10723625/
    • cristiana
      Concerning GP advice

      By cristiana · Posted

      Good evening @EssexMum You are quite right to be concerned about this situation.  Once diagnosed as coeliac, always a coeliac, and the way to heal  is through adopting and sticking to a strict gluten diet. That said... I have travelled twice to France since my diagnosis, firstly in May 2013 and again in August 2019.   My spoken French isn't bad, and whilst there I tried my best to explain my needs to chefs and catering staff, and I read labels very carefully when shopping in supermarkets, but both times I came away with worsening gastric symptoms and pain. Interestingly,  after the second holiday, my annual coeliac review took place the following month and although I'd been very careful to avoid gluten all year, thanks to that August holiday my coeliac antibodies were elevated,  Clearly I hadn't been imagining these symptoms and they must have been caused by gluten sneaking in somehow. When I spoke to my gastroenterologist on my return, who is an excellent doctor, he told me with a smile that this was a very common experience in France among his patients, and not to worry too much about it! In fact, before we went away in May 2013, which was just after I had been formally diagnosed, he told me not to even bother trying to adopt a gluten free diet until I returned, knowing what France was like, but I was feeling so awful at that time I ignored his advice and at least tried to make a start with it. (I ought to say - both these visits were some time ago, so perhaps things are a lot better there now.) So what to do?  I would say at least try to explain to catering staff the situation - they should be able to rustle up a plate of cheese, boiled eggs, tuna, salad and fruit, and if things like crackers and gluten-free pot noodle or oats can be packed in the UK, those can be produced at mealtimes.    Of course, most larger supermarkets in France do now cater for coeliacs, but when I was last there the the choice wasn't as wide a range as we have in the UK but I think that is partly because the French like to cook from scratch, whereas our gluten-free aisles have quite a lot of dried or pre-baked goods in them/convenience foods, because I think we as a nation tend to use them more. I would be worth doing a bit of research on the internet before the trip, - the words you want are 'sans gluten'.  I've just googled 'sans gluten Disney Paris" and this came up.  I do hope at least some of this is of help. https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurants-g2079053-zfz10992-Disneyland_Paris_Ile_de_France.html  Whatever befalls in France, at least your stepdaughter can resume her usual diet on her return. On a related tack, would you be happy to post any positive findings/tips upon her return - it might be of use to others travelling to Disneyland Paris with children in future? Cristiana
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.