Posted by mila on April 23, 2001, at 22:46:16
In reply to Effexor XR makes me burp a lot!, posted by AmyL on April 23, 2001, at 21:29:50
Hi Amy,
serotonin stimulates gastroenteric nerves, which increases contractions of smooth muscles. When you take one large dose of effexor you drastically increase the time serotonin stays in contact with nerve receptors. More sensory nerves thus respond, and the effect of the stimulation of the mucosa is magnified. Thus, gases that accumulate in the fundus region of your stomach are expelled either more frequently or more violently. With time, however, the receptors will desensitize. You'll get relief from burping.
That is a rather common picture of the effects of SSRIs on the gut: first, nausea, vomiting, burping; then, diarrhea; and finally, the intestinal disturbance can progress to constipation.
I got initial nausea with every SSRI, and severe constipation with effexor xr.
If you are terribly interested in nervous disorders of the stomach and intestine, I would recommend reading The Second Brain by Michael Gershon, M.D. It demonstrates that the human gut has a brain of its own, and that antidepressants have their own special effects on the gut, which up to now were considered to be 'side-effects' of ADs.
mila
poster:mila
thread:60918
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010417/msgs/60929.html