Antidepressants may be a treatment option for IBS. They can influence the time it takes for food to move through your digestive tract, reduce pain associated with that movement, and help alleviate IBS-associated anxiety.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a condition that impacts your gastrointestinal (GI) tract. It can cause symptoms like diarrhea, constipation, and abdominal pain.
IBS is common. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease, it affects
There are a variety of lifestyle changes, medications, and therapies that are used to treat IBS. One type of medication that may be recommended is antidepressants.
The article below will explore which antidepressants may be a treatment option for IBS, how they’re used, and their associated risks or side effects. Continue reading to learn more.
Antidepressants are medications that are typically used in the treatment of depression. However, they can be used to treat several other conditions as well.
Many people use antidepressants to manage depression or other conditions. According to the
Antidepressants are a potential treatment option for IBS. However, whether they’re recommended for your IBS depends on factors like the type of symptoms that you have as well as their severity.
How may antidepressants help with IBS?
Antidepressants may be useful for IBS because they can affect GI motility, which refers to the muscle contractions that move food through your GI tract. This can influence the time it takes for food to pass through the GI tract.
It’s also known that some antidepressants can help to reduce visceral pain. This is pain that’s related to internal organs like those of the GI tract.
Antidepressants can also help to address anxiety and depression that happens with IBS. Depression and IBS can often occur together. One
There are two types of antidepressants that may be used for IBS. These are tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs)
TCAs are an older type of antidepressant and are actually not used so often anymore to treat depression. However, they may be beneficial for other health conditions like IBS. The TCAs that may be prescribed for IBS are:
- amitriptyline (Elavil, Vanatrip)
- desipramine (Norpramin)
- imipramine (Tofranil)
- nortriptyline (Pamelor)
TCAs block the reuptake of the chemical messengers serotonin and norepinephrine. In addition to being important for psychological processes, both of these chemical messengers also play a role in GI function.
When the reuptake of serotonin and norepinephrine is blocked, there are more of these messengers available in the body, increasing their activity. TCAs also act on several other chemical messengers as well.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
SSRIs are the most commonly used type of antidepressant. Some examples of SSRIs that have been used in the treatment of IBS are:
- citalopram (Celexa)
- fluoxetine (Prozac)
- paroxetine (Paxil)
- sertraline (Zoloft)
SSRIs work by reducing the reuptake of serotonin. This leaves more serotonin available, increasing serotonin activity.
Antidepressants aren’t a first-line treatment for IBS. That means that your doctor will recommend that you try other IBS treatments first. If first-line treatments aren’t effective at easing your symptoms, antidepressants may be suggested.
The American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) recommends the use of TCAs for relief of the overall symptoms of IBS. The ACG has not issued a recommendation regarding the use of SSRIs for IBS.
Meanwhile, the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) suggests using TCAs to treat IBS while recommending against the use of SSRIs. They state that, based on the current evidence, SSRIs do not significantly improve IBS symptoms.
If your doctor recommends an antidepressant for IBS, they’ll typically start you on a low dose and slowly increase it over time. The goal is to get to a dosage that helps to alleviate your symptoms but has the lowest level of side effects.
A 2021 review notes that the dose of TCAs used for IBS is lower than the dose that’s typically used for depression. Meanwhile, SSRIs are given at similar doses to those used for depression.
When selecting an antidepressant, it’s important to take your IBS symptoms into account. A
It’s important to be patient after starting antidepressants, as they may take several weeks to be effective. Because of this, you may not notice an improvement in your IBS symptoms right away.
It’s also likely that antidepressants will be used along with other IBS treatments. These may include other medications to manage IBS symptoms as well as various lifestyle changes.
Both TCAs and SSRIs are associated with a variety of side effects. While there’s some overlap between the two types of medications, each type also has more unique side effects as well.
TCAs have broader effects on various chemical messengers. As such, they’re typically associated with a higher likelihood of side effects. Some of these are:
- constipation
- dry mouth
- urinary retention
- dizziness
- drowsiness
- blurry vision
- unintended weight gain
- arrhythmias, particularly fast heart rate
Some of the side effects of SSRIs include:
- diarrhea
- nausea or vomiting
- dry mouth
- dizziness
- headache
- unintended changes in weight
- increases in restlessness or agitation
- trouble sleeping
- sexual dysfunction, such as low sex drive or difficulty maintaining an erection
IBS is a lifelong condition. However, when it’s properly managed, you can experience long spells of time during which you have no symptoms.
The effectiveness of various IBS treatments can vary by individual. As such, some treatments, such as antidepressants, may work well for some people but not others.
Generally speaking, research tends to support the use of TCAs over SSRIs for IBS. As such, organizations like the ACG and AGA currently recommend or suggest the use of TCAs, but not SSRIs.
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Medication comparison table
The table below gives a helpful comparison of TCAs versus SSRIs for IBS.
| TCAs | SSRIs | |
| Example medications | amitriptyline (Elavil, Vanatrip), desipramine (Norpramin), imipramine (Tofranil), nortriptyline (Pamelor) | citalopram (Celexa), fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft) |
| Processes targeted | multiple processes, including serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake | serotonin reuptake |
| Time to work | up to several weeks | up to several weeks |
| Side effects | constipation, dry mouth, urinary retention, dizziness, drowsiness, blurry vision, unintended weight gain, arrhythmias | diarrhea, nausea or vomiting, dry mouth, dizziness, headache, unintended changes in weight, increases in restlessness or agitation, trouble sleeping, sexual dysfunction |
| Side effect frequency | more common | less common |
| Effectiveness | stronger evidence of effectiveness at easing IBS symptoms | weaker evidence of effectiveness at easing IBS symptoms |
| Recommendation | recommended by the ACG suggested by the AGA | no recommendation from the ACG recommended against by the AGA |
What are the best antidepressants for IBS?
There are two types of antidepressants that may be used for IBS: tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
TCAs may be preferred for IBS with diarrhea, while SSRIs may be preferred for IBS with constipation.
What medication is used for IBS anxiety?
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may used to treat anxiety associated with IBS. Examples include: citalopram (Celexa) and fluoxetine (Prozac).
TCAs can also be used to treat anxiety in IBS with diarrhea (IBS-D).
What other conditions besides depression are antidepressants used for?
In addition to IBS, there are other conditions besides depression for which a doctor may recommend antidepressants. These are:
- other mental health conditions, such as:
- generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
- panic disorder
- obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- chronic pain
- migraine prevention
- insomnia
What are the other medications for IBS?
There are several other medications that may be used for IBS. Which ones are recommended depend on the type of IBS that you have.
- anti-diarrheal medications like loperamide (Imodium)
- fiber supplements
- laxatives
- antispasmodic drugs, such as dicyclomine (Bentyl)
- antibiotics, such as rifaximin (Xifaxan), to help manage gut bacteria
- medications developed specifically for certain people with IBS, such as:
- alosetron (Lotronex)
- eluxadoline (Viberzi)
- linaclotide (Linzess)
- lubiprostone (Amitiza)
- plecanatide (Trulance)
Can diet changes help with IBS?
Yes. IBS symptoms can be brought on by certain foods, especially high-FODMAP foods. As such, reducing or eliminating foods that trigger your symptoms can help manage IBS.
Are there complementary therapies for IBS?
Maybe. The
- hypnotherapy
- mindfulness meditation
- yoga
- acupuncture
Antidepressants are a potential treatment option for IBS. Your doctor may recommend antidepressants if first-line IBS treatments haven’t worked to manage your symptoms.
The types of antidepressants used for IBS include TCAs and SSRIs. So far, research evidence is stronger for the effectiveness of TCAs in the treatment of IBS.
Both TCAs and SSRIs are associated with various side effects. Be sure to discuss these with your doctor before starting on antidepressants for IBS so that you know what to expect.
