Antidepressants for Stomach Problems

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PeterOut - 24 Sep 2007 01:35 GMT

My son has had intermittent stomach problems for some time now. He
has had tests for various conditions but nothing has been identified.
We think that it is stress related. We have heard that some
antidepressants treat stomach problems by suppressing seratonin. The
physicians my wife has taken him to appear to think that would need to
go to a psychiatrist to get antidepressants but that doesn't make
sense to us since it is to treat a stomach problem, not a psychiatric
problem. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Peter.

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KarenK - 24 Sep 2007 18:06 GMT

Any M.D. can prescribe medications for anxiety and depression. It does not
have to be a psychiatrist.

> My son has had intermittent stomach problems for some time now. He
> has had tests for various conditions but nothing has been identified.
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> Thanks,
> Peter.

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Linda - 25 Oct 2007 02:25 GMT

> My son has had intermittent stomach problems for some time now. He
> has had tests for various conditions but nothing has been identified.
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> Thanks,
> Peter.

This might make more sense than you would think at first. There are
serotonin receptors (susceptible to antidepressants) in the intestines
as well as in the brain.

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FurPaw - 26 Oct 2007 15:04 GMT

>> My son has had intermittent stomach problems for some time now. He
>> has had tests for various conditions but nothing has been identified.
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> serotonin receptors (susceptible to antidepressants) in the intestines
> as well as in the brain.

And several neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine are
disrupted by the body's stress response. Antidepressants may help modify the
stress response by altering the levels of these neurotransmitters or the body's
ability to respond to them.

A psychiatrist might also be able to help him deal with the stressors and to
modify how he deals with them. Body, brain, behavior, mind - they're all just
facets of one complex system.

FurPaw

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