Why is my Dr prescribing antidepressants?

[JeanBean]

I just met my new gastro today...I thought he was nice and knowledgeable. It felt better to know that I am finally being taken care of. He sends me home with a prescription of Bentyl which has worked well for me before and a prescription of Nortriptyline, a drug that seemed new to me. We'll, I just searched on the web for what it's for and I'm kind of disappointed. Why would my new gastro prescribe an anti-depressant? It makes no sense at all.

 

[InkyStinky]

Hi there! I've never taken Nortriptyline, but did a quick search on the forums. A bunch of threads popped up - here's one where it was rx'd because of D and pain: http://www.crohnsforum.com/showthread.php?t=21369

Do you have a diagnosis? A quick google search found some links about using it with IBS...?

 

[Orchid]

Nortriptyline is sometimes used off label to treat neuropathic pain and IBS. It is not IBD medication.

 

[my little penguin]

Yep that ^^^^
DS has been on both in addition to crohn's meds since the cells in the gut can become overly sensitive from being inflamed so much. Reduce the inflammation but the cells still overreact . The other two drugs can help in some.
Bentyl helped DS somewhat the other did not .

 

[2thFairy]

I was on antidepressants for years due to pain. It helped me a little bit.

 

[UnXmas]

Hi, I'm on Amitriptyline, an anti-depressant that's very similar to Nortriptyline. Amitriptyline is used for all sorts of purposes besides being an anti-depressant, including treating diarrhoea and stomach pain, so I'd imagine that you've been prescribed Nortriptyline for similar reasons. Your doctor should have explained it to you though.

 

[Mountaingem]

I take Nortriptyline. It is not just an antidepressant but is also used to control nerve pain. Are you having IBS-type symptoms or abdominal pain? It can alleviate that and it also helps you sleep better.

 

[JeanBean]

I'd imagine that you've been prescribed Nortriptyline for similar reasons. Your doctor should have explained it to you though.

unfortunately he did not

 

[JeanBean]

I take Nortriptyline. It is not just an antidepressant but is also used to control nerve pain. Are you having IBS-type symptoms or abdominal pain? It can alleviate that and it also helps you sleep better.

I have Crohns (terminal ileum) abdominal pains. After reading some of this and doing more research I decided not to take them. I'm going to throw the bottle away. The side effects are strange ...don't want to add to the symptoms I already have.

 

[Orchid]

Dispose of it properly, tricyclics are incredibly toxic to plants and fish and throwing it in a dump is selfish and damaging to local environment.

 

[UnXmas]

I have Crohns (terminal ileum) abdominal pains. After reading some of this and doing more research I decided not to take them. I'm going to throw the bottle away. The side effects are strange ...don't want to add to the symptoms I already have.

It does have a lot of side effects, so I understand why you wouldn't want to take them, though it does have a lot of potential benefits as well. With a medication like that, the doctor should have gone through all the side effects with you when he prescribed it. But you said you were quite pleased with him in the appointment, so it's odd that he'd prescribe you something without giving you any information about it. Maybe if you see him again you can ask him for an explanation.

I agree with the post above as well - take care of how you dispose of any medication.

 

[JeanBean]

Dispose of it properly, tricyclics are incredibly toxic to plants and fish and throwing it in a dump is selfish and damaging to local environment.

so just tossing the bottle in the trash wont suffice? the bottle does not have any of those indications...perhaps I should contact the Pharmacy first.

 

[Orchid]

You never ever dispose of bottles in the trash unless it is otherwise stated (mostly with drugs considered highly addictive because it's important to simply Get Them Out) because many drugs are toxic to the local environment, fish and amphibians especially. The DEA should have listed drop sites for pills that are the only proper way to dispose of them besides taking them to your doctor.

 

[JeanBean]

It does have a lot of side effects, so I understand why you wouldn't want to take them, though it does have a lot of potential benefits as well. With a medication like that, the doctor should have gone through all the side effects with you when he prescribed it. But you said you were quite pleased with him in the appointment, so it's odd that he'd prescribe you something without giving you any information about it. Maybe if you see him again you can ask him for an explanation.

He said that he was going to include another prescription for something that would work better than Bentyl. That is all he said.

 

[UnXmas]

He said that he was going to include another prescription for something that would work better than Bentyl. That is all he said.

Definitely sounds like you should ask for an explanation.

I'm not sure about where you are, but here (in the UK), you take medications you don't want to a pharmacy to be disposed of.