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Re: Wellbutrin washout suggestions for BP II? » super

Posted by Wendy B. on June 22, 2001, at 18:17:34

In reply to Re: Wellbutrin washout suggestions for BP II?, posted by super on June 22, 2001, at 7:50:17

> Dear Sulpicia,
> My p-doc has absolutely no ideas how to get rid of my constipation, other than lowering the dosage (tried that, get depressed) or switching to another AD (tried Paxil and Serezone with hypomanic response to each). I don't have a science background that would enable me to infer from the prescribing information for Wellbutrin; I'm not even sure what you are suggesting I look for. Do you know something that my p-doc and I don't know?
>
> Super


Hi Super & Sulpicia,

I, too, suffer fr bipolar II, soft, or depressed end of the stick, hardly any hypomania, etc. like your daughter, but maybe not as bad as she is, I can't tell. I'm on wellbutrin (300) and neurontin (2400), and that keeps me on a pretty even keel, tho the down moods do come around, just for not as long and not as deep. I wish I knew more about the tapering off, sorry.

Regarding the constipation, these drugs and a lot of ADs, are known to affect the digestive tract in this way (they are anti-choleringenics, how is that spelled??), which means they dry you out. This is also why a lot of people suffer from dry-mouth from these drugs, which sometimes leads to problems with teeth and gums, etc. Do a search on these topics and you'll find a lot of people suffer from the same effects.
I really suffer from the constipation, like you, Super, and it's a pain in the a__ (sorry!). What I've found very helpful are natural remedies. Try one or all or a combo of the following:

1) Drink lots and lots of water all day long, as much as you can hold, 6-8 8-oz glasses a day, at least. The best thing is drinking it warm first thing in the morning, with a slice of lemon squeezed into it. Lemon is a natural diuretic (spelling?), which helps the body eliminate more completely. I drink warm water with lemon in it all day when I can, and take lemon slices with me when I go to work. It's very helpful for my system, maybe yours too, and it's not bad for you, and just might help.

2) Find a natural foods store or co-op with a knowledgeable herbal specialist. They can help you find digestive clean-out remedies, otherwise known as "internal cleansing" products. The brand I like is Yerba Prima. The most important ingredient in it is an herb called senna. It is very powerful, but in the Yerba Prima product, it is very well-balanced with a lot of other good cleansing herbs. You can buy senna alone in leaf form, people make teas, or more correctly, herbal infusions, from it, and it really works. So if you buy it that way, put a quarter-teaspoon of it in a tea-ball, steep it in hot water, and drink. It is not exactly the best tasting stuff in the world, but when you're severely constipated, you'll do almost anything to relieve it. Go slowly, and take mini-amounts until you get the right dosage for your system.
There is also a senna tea already in bag form (Traditional Medicinals brand, I think), that, too, tastes god-awful, but a few sips of that stuff, man, and you're on your way!
So like I say, take small doses of it at first, or you will have a lot of gastric pain, and you will have to rush to the bathroom, and that means you've taken too much, ease off on it. Try it (the tea) twice a day.

3) Try to lower your intake of all foods except fruit and vegetables for a few days, drinking lots of lemon-water and juices, too. It'll just make you feel lighter, and help you poop (sorry, I can't help it...)

4) Get regular, aerobic exercise.

This all may sound too wacky for a lot of people, but some combination of the above 4 things will help you a lot, I can pretty much guarantee you...


> > Bipolar is a bear isn't it?
> > Thanks,
> > S.

Yeah, it sucks! Hope your daughter feels better soon...

Wendy


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poster:Wendy B. thread:67299
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010618/msgs/67518.html