Did Anyone Need To Decrease Meds After Going gluten-free?

[Guest BERNESES]

Hi Everyone- I'm wondering how many people if any, needed to cut down on depression meds (or any meds) after going gluten-free because their bodies actually started absorbing them? I'm on Celexa 60 mg and I was on 3 mg of klonopin for anxiety. Within a few months of going gluten-free I cut my klonopin down to 2 mg (very gradually). I've noticed that for the last six months or so I have been VERY VERY tired and I'm wondering if cutting down the klonopin a tad more is the answer. I've gained back all the weight I lost (20 pounds) so clearly I'm absorbing something. My doctor told me that if you're on too much it can have the effect of making you tired, depressed and irritable (which is why we initially dropped the dose slowly). Thanks much, B

[Rachel--24]

I had to cut down my thyroid dose after going gluten-free. I am now taking only 1/3 of what I was taking previously...it seemed to me that I wasnt absorbing it until I started the diet.

[Guest BERNESES]

Rachel- Thanks- that's good to know. I'm thinking the reason I'm so tired might be that I'm overmedicated now that I'm actually absorbing something. It wouldn't be nice if I could go down on something for a change! Did your medication level change due to a blood test? Unfortunately, there's no test for klonopin levels but I can try and see how it goes. Tapering isn't fun, but in the long run, I might have more energy. Thanks for responding. B

[Ann1231]

I'm having to lower several meds after being gluten free. I'm hoping to get completely off of them!

[Guest nini]

After going gluten-free, I was able to lower my Paxil then eventually got off of it for good and the 20 other odd medications I was taking, I was able to get off them completely. I'm still taking atenolol for blood pressure but am going to the Dr. tommorrow about weaning off of that, and I still take Tramadol for fibromyalgia pain... other than that, yeah, got off most of my meds!

[Guest BERNESES]

Nini- How did you figure out you needed to get off the Paxil (and 20 other meds- OMG!). I'm wondering becuase initially I had to lower my klonopin by 1 mg and I've stayed the same ever since but lately I've been more and more tired, irritable and mood swingy and I'm wondering if now that I'm absorbing things if I'm actually on too much and they're having the reverse effect.

I'm seeing a Celiac specialist on Wednesday so I'll ask her about it. Thanks, B

Ann- Your dad looks like a beautiful man. I'm sorry you lost him- I lost my mom April 8, 2003 to stomach cancer.

[Guest nini]

I started noticing that the borderline depression and anxiety that had always hung on despite taking Paxil and several other things that after being gluten free for a while I didn't notice ANY anxiety and depression. After being sent to a psych for an "eating disorder" and being told "why are you here?" I talked with my Dr. about lowering my meds and so thus began the process of weaning off of them. The depression and anxiety has NOT resurfaced! I no longer needed the antacids and anti diarrheals and anti nausea meds, no longer needed Diclofenac (a pretty strong anti inflammatory) shoot, I can't remember all the meds I used to take! Some of them were to treat the side effects of other meds! Crazy! Glad to be off them.

[minibabe]

I was up to 13 medications a day at one point, but since I have been gluten free, for the most part I am off of all my medications. I was taking prevcid (60mg a day) and then I cut down to 30mg and now I am completly off of it. I would def. talk to your doctor if you think that you are being over medicated. Always go with your gut feeling, your body knows what is best for you. Good Luck.

Amanda NY

[tiffjake]

I, too, have been able to get off of all meds. I was on Celexa, Ativan, Xanax, Nexium, 800 mg Ibuprofin for headaches, BC pills, just to name the ones I took daily. I am down to NOTHING!!!! LOL It is a cool feeling to be off of everything. I was taking one to counter-act another. I don't recomend just getting off of everything. My doctor walked me through it. But turns out that most of my "problems" were gluten related somehow. Good luck to you!!! I hope that you are able to get off, or find lower levels that work for you!!

[Rachel--24]

Rachel- Thanks- that's good to know. I'm thinking the reason I'm so tired might be that I'm overmedicated now that I'm actually absorbing something. It wouldn't be nice if I could go down on something for a change! Did your medication level change due to a blood test? Unfortunately, there's no test for klonopin levels but I can try and see how it goes. Tapering isn't fun, but in the long run, I might have more energy. Thanks for responding. B

My blood tests were kind of unstable for 2 years before the diet. They were usually within the "normal" range but the range is big and I would go from one end to the next without changing doses. Regardless, I felt EXTREMELY hypothyroid. About 1 week into the diet that changed and I felt my body temp. go up and lots of other changes. No more dry, brittle hair either. About 1 month into the diet my lab tests were high so I lowered my dose.

I also took prescription pain meds every day for about a year. My doctor told me they were highly addictive and I'd have to be weaned off them. I stopped taking them the day I started the diet and havent taken once since. My doctor was surprised I had no withdrawl or problems getting off them. I think I probably wasnt absorbing them anyway. Suppossedely they were strong but I could pop 2 in at a time and feel nothing....some days it did help with headaches though.

[nettiebeads]

I've been on 50 mg of zoloft for 5 yrs now. My dr and I are going to try weaning me starting this April or May. I had been glutening myself for a very long time (pesky malt) and when I finally cut that out (thanks to this board) I started feeling loads better. I did try on my own w/o success and confessed to my dr. He told me it was way too soon, gave me a six month script so we could try later after my body has completely healed from the gluten (neuralgia).

Nini - now I understand your statement regarding MD standing for More Drugs. You've come come a very long way!!!

Annette

[Guest BERNESES]

This is so encouraging to read! I started cutting down my klonopin this week. Only.25 mg but with benzos (as they are fondly known) you have to go quite slowly. I'm hoping this will help. I'm wondering how much of my problems are gluten related too and now that I've been free of the stuff (except for occasional accidents) I wonder how things have changed. I'll keep you all posted. Thanks for the good news! B

[Nancym]

I'm also finding I need less thyroid hormone. Still tweaking it to figure out the best combination of synthetic to natural. But it kind of seems like I'm utilizing the thyroid hormone better than before.

[Rusla]

I have had my Synthroid dropped by 50 micrograms since going gluten-free.

[carriecraig]

I haven't had to take my Claritin or Flonase for a while now (2+ months). It may be the colder weather, or it may be the gluten-free diet. I'm not sure, but I'm not complaining - they made me so thirsty!

[jerseyangel]

I have been able to stop my Claritin, too. I had been on it for about 12 years--used to get it by Rx. I haven't taken it since last summer. Same with the Flonase.

[Guest BERNESES]

OK- did my first "cut" over the last ten days- 10 mg on the Celexa and .25 mg on the klonopin and WOW what a difference it has made. I feel SO much better! No lie- much more motivated, energetic and happy! This is encouraging- it's like Nini says. MD=More drugs. I'm not looking to rock the boat here because I had problems with depression and anxiety long before the onset of my symptoms of Celiac's BUT any little bit I can cut down is a good bit. Thank you all for your input, B

[nettiebeads]

OK- did my first "cut" over the last ten days- 10 mg on the Celexa and .25 mg on the klonopin and WOW what a difference it has made. I feel SO much better! No lie- much more motivated, energetic and happy! This is encouraging- it's like Nini says. MD=More drugs. I'm not looking to rock the boat here because I had problems with depression and anxiety long before the onset of my symptoms of Celiac's BUT any little bit I can cut down is a good bit. Thank you all for your input, B

Wonderful news! So glad to hear that you're doing so much better. For me, my depression started when I was 9. I'm sure Celiac just aggrevated the issue. I can't wait to start trying to cut back my Zoloft in April or May. And didn't I read on another of your posts that schizophrenia and celiac might be connected? My mother's brother had schizophrenia. And one of her aunts. I'm pretty definite that the celiac came from her side.

[Guest BERNESES]

Thanks nettiebeads. Yes, there is some correlation between celiac's and schizophrenia. I can't remember the title of the articlle- I think I was reading about autism and the gluten-free diet and it said that some types of schizophrenia are highly correlated with Celiac's and they are now (in a nother country, England maybe?) recommending that people diagnosed with schizophrenia also be tested with Celiac's.

It's kind of odd but it makes me think about the whole salem Witchcraft hysteria and how there is one theory that exists that something happened to the rye crop that year that made everyone paranoid and delusional. It's just a theory buit it's an interesting one.

[ravenwoodglass]

Hi Everyone- I'm wondering how many people if any, needed to cut down on depression meds (or any meds) after going gluten-free because their bodies actually started absorbing them? I'm on Celexa 60 mg and I was on 3 mg of klonopin for anxiety. Within a few months of going gluten-free I cut my klonopin down to 2 mg (very gradually). I've noticed that for the last six months or so I have been VERY VERY tired and I'm wondering if cutting down the klonopin a tad more is the answer. I've gained back all the weight I lost (20 pounds) so clearly I'm absorbing something. My doctor told me that if you're on too much it can have the effect of making you tired, depressed and irritable (which is why we initially dropped the dose slowly). Thanks much, B

When I went on my elimination diet I went off all my meds (5 different scripts), I told my doctor first and we had one that was an anticholorgenic mixed with valium that I had to decrease gradually. I have never had to go back on anything. It took a little while )1 month) for the joint pain and fibro to resolve but gluten free it was bearable. Interestingly enough I found later that 3 of my scripts contained gluten so if I hadn't quit them I might never have know gluten was the problem.

I'm not looking to rock the boat here because I had problems with depression and anxiety long before the onset of my symptoms of Celiac's

I am one of the believers that celiac is the cause of much of the depression and anxiety and other neurological problems that we see. In many it is the first symptom and for some the only one for years. In my family depression was the first symptom along with learning problems. In one family member it is their main symptom, we all now see a strong corelation between glutening and depressive episodes. I just wish when kids get depressed they would check for that first before trying meds. Meds are quite effective for many, but for some young people with celiac they can be deadly.

[Guest BERNESES]

Ravenwoodglass- Thanks for your reply. I did another cut last night. I'm going to have to go slowly because my body has really strong reactions. But, I think you are right about the neurological symptoms of Celiaac's. I think for some people it's the first symptom (and for some the ONLY symptom). It's so strange because my husband was like, "You've been gluten-free and you haven't reevaluated your medication in months." At first I was really resistant to decreasing, but then I thought about it and I thought, you know, he's right. If depression was one of the symptoms and now that I've been gluten-free for a year, maybe things are different. So, I'm going to see what happens slowly.

It amazes me to think that it's quite possible I have been sick for over 20 years.

[Guest nini]

It amazes me to think that it's quite possible I have been sick for over 20 years.

I know what you mean... after I was able to go off the Paxil, my mom commented that wouldn't it be interesting if that is why I was so depressed as a preteen and teenager (DUH!!!!!) And to think, they just kept drugging me and sending me to shrinks... sheesh... no wonder I rebelled...

[Guest BERNESES]

Hi Nini- I know it's so strange because back then (1987- when I first started showing gastro symptoms like random acts of vomiting) I would never have thought the two were related. I was an EXTREMELY anxious kid - just all kinds of bizarre fears and phobias. As time went on in my twenties, my therapist was basically like "You are the most clear-cut poster child for a biological depression." She was right, we just didn't know why back then.

Thanks for being supportive about all this, Beverly

[Guest nini]

Hi Nini- I know it's so strange because back then (1987- when I first started showing gastro symptoms like random acts of vomiting) I would never have thought the two were related. I was an EXTREMELY anxious kid - just all kinds of bizarre fears and phobias. As time went on in my twenties, my therapist was basically like "You are the most clear-cut poster child for a biological depression." She was right, we just didn't know why back then.

Thanks for being supportive about all this, Beverly

shoot, I just thought all those symptoms were NORMAL! my Dr.s and my family just kept telling me, oh you have a nervous stomach (?!!!!???) yeah ok, so what do I have to be nervous about???

[jerseyangel]

I'm right there with ya B and Nini. I was always told I had a nervous stomach and that I was just "sensitive". I used to get stomaches quite often as a kid, and it was always somehow my fault--either too sensitive, ate too much, etc. No one seemed to take it seriously, I think that's why, as an adult I tended to live with it--even after I began having panic attacks in my 30's. I never linked the 2 things and never talked about the panic attacks or the anxiety I always had. I thought it was something I could get through if I relaxed. I slowly began to shy away from doing many things--it was gradual and at the time, I couldn't see it was becoming a pattern. My boys were small, I was home with them and we lived in a different state than the rest of our families. It was pretty easy to keep to the small world I was creating for myself. The gluten-free diet had helped, but I still have feelings of anxiety about going out sometimes.