Antidepressant Medication for IBS?
April 14, 2024
Antidepressant medications are sometimes prescribed for IBS for various reasons. They can either help calm an overactive bowel or stimulate a “sluggish” one. The signaling from the gut to the brain is reduced, which means that some people feel less pain. So far, so good. However, when these medications do not have the desired effect, cause strong side effects, and sometimes even worsen symptoms, one might question their use as a good first-line treatment for IBS and digestive issues.
Quick to offer pills
Swedish healthcare is very adept at offering pills in general and antidepressants in particular, especially when it comes to classic women’s health issues like IBS, hypothyroidism, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, PMS, menopause symptoms, and endometriosis. The question is, does everyone really know how antidepressants work and what the long-term consequences are? Not only can they cause short-term effects like weight gain, dry mouth, reduced sex drive, or mood changes, but more and more studies are showing negative long-term effects as well.
Diet first
For those with IBS, there is now an effective dietary treatment called FODMAP. It helps reduce digestive symptoms in 75% of people with IBS. That’s a fantastic figure, and it’s a treatment completely free of side effects. It should be the first-line option for everyone with IBS in Sweden, just as it is in countries like the USA, Australia, and England.
One might ask how many people prescribed antidepressants for their IBS could have avoided it by instead adjusting their diet? Enduring side effects only to be stuck with antidepressants for a long time is not a sustainable solution for anyone. There is certainly a place for antidepressant treatment in cases of depression. There are also those who have tried everything for digestive problems without success, and in those cases, antidepressants can play a role. But offering antidepressant treatment before trying other, side-effect-free treatment methods that don’t involve experimenting with brain neurotransmitters is literally starting from the wrong end when it comes to IBS.
Sofia Antonsson
Reg. Dietitian, Belly Balance
Read more about
IBS - What is it?
Bloated , constipated or having a gassy stomach? IBS or Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a functional gastrointestinal disorder, meaning no physical issues can be found in the stomach or intestines; they just don’t function quite as they should.
How the app works
Download the app and become part of our community. We assist you in achieving a calm and happy stomach through treatment and tools available directly in the app.
About FODMAP
By learning which foods upset your stomach, you can make conscious choices and get quick symptom relief. With the low FODMAP diet, you receive structured assistance in understanding which foods your body tolerates better than others. No more guessing and pondering – you get the answer straight away!
