antidepressant GI side effects

What GI side effects are you experiencing? Just stomachache?

Hi Pookie-
I have had a hard time finding the right antidepressant before too. The SSRI's (like Zoloft) did not work for me. They primarily deal with serotonin. I currently take Wellbutrin which is a different kind of class on antidepressants that work with Dopamine and Norepinephrine. I am not sure if the side effects have to deal with which neurotransmitter the med works with, but the serotonin ones make me like a zombie who poops a lot! Wellbutin has been great, the only side effect I get is that it kills my appetite. I have to force feed myself sometimes, but it is not so bad. People use wellbutrin to help with quitting smoking too - pretty interesting. I would ask your doctor about it to see what he or she thinks. Wellbutrin is available in immediate release, sustained release, and extended released tablets. I take the sustained release twice a day. Does not have a problem with having no colon & absorption - I think it gets absorbed in the upper GI tract.
Good luck - I know it is not an easy thing to deal with.

I was prescribed Cymbalta for severe nerve pain. This medication, apparently, has been used as an anti-depressant. Well, even at very low doses, Cymbalta gave me nausea which had me feeling the need to throw up even when my stomach was empty. I stuck with the medication for several months but decided I'd rather not go through this nausea on a daily basis. So, I stopped taking it. No more nausea.

I experienced diarrhea (previous to my UC diagnosis, so obviously before the j pouch) on the Zoloft and changed to Wellbutrin. I am currently taking Prozac, with no issues, either (the change on this one was due to abnormal liver enzymes--the doctor thought that medicine may be the case, which it wasn't). I didn't have the same side effects with that one. I would make sure to discuss the issue with your doctor, they should be willing to work with you on finding one that works for you, without the rotten side effects.