Help with IBSsymptoms

[emmajane1983]

I was diagnosed with IBS last year, having suffered with it since i was around 16 years old but never relating it to anything.
A trigger to my symptoms cramping and diarhoa/constipation appears to be stress.
My Gp prescribed Citalopram a mood stabiliser and anti depressent to help me cope, when i had a bad series of episodes last year and it did help in controlling the symptoms, but i am now coming off of this because i do not want to be any kind of prescribed anti-depressents and do not feel it the best way to cope with the problem.
Since withdrawing from the Citalopram i have had a bad episode and am now looking for advice on any alternative natural remedies.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[patient915]

Sometimes antidepressants are used to treat the pain of IBS (however I have never heard of CIralopram doing this).  You might want to consider going on a med that is technically an antidepressant, but is used at a different dose for treating pain associated with IBS.  Examples of this would include Amitriptyline and Nortriptyline.  Acidophilus is a group of probiotics.

[emmajane1983]

Sorry I think withdrawing was maybe the wrong word, my gp has slowly reduced my dose, I didn't just stop suddenly. My symptoms include severe cramping I am doubled over in pain at times, severe diarrhoea and this alternates with constipation, also nausea at times. Regarding probiotics an advisor at barretts suggested acidophilus capsules.

[patient915]

What do you mean withdrawing from the Citalopram?  Did you go off the medication quickly and get withdrawal symptoms?  It is very important that you come off these types of meds slowly so that you don't get withdrawal symptoms.  Have you tried taking probiotics?  What are your current symptoms?