Anxiety And Depression In Remission After 4 Years gluten-free?

[LynneM]

In 2003 I was diagnosed with severe depression/anxiety disorder and was prescribed Paxil. It worked wonderfully for me, and I have been on 20mg. per day ever since. In 2006 I discovered that I have celiac, and have been on a gluten-free diet since then. I am currently enjoying excellent health, both mentally and physically. I now want to try to wean myself off of Paxil and am hoping that the depression and anxiety were caused by the celiac, and will not return after I am Paxil-free. (I realize that I will experience symptoms as I wean myself from the Paxil, I am doing it VERY slowly. After four days of cutting down to 17.5mg I am already experiencing insomnia and minor heart palpitations.)

Wondering if anyone here has experience with this. Have you had success with eliminating anxiety/depression with a gluten-free diet? I feel fairly confident that celiac is the cause of my problem, because my mom, both my brothers, my mom's brother and his son all developed mental illnesses at middle-age (none of them ever did a gluten-free diet).

As anyone who has tried to get off Paxil knows, the withdrawal symptoms can be severe, and I'd hate to go through it (it's going to take months) and then have the anxiety and depression come back. So I'd really appreciate hearing from anyone who has been through this! Thanks all.

[Skylark]

I was on SSRIs for many years and then ended up bipolar. I was able to taper the psych meds after I went gluten-free, but I also require a high dose vitamin/mineral/micronutrient supplement that is designed for people with mood disorders. If I try to taper off it, I start getting mild symptoms including depression or mild hypomania and sleep disturbances.

I understand tapering SSRIs. I thought I was going crazy when I went off Effexor. I was getting "brain zaps" and palpitations if I tapered too fast and it took weeks and weeks. I ended up breaking open the capsules and counting the little grains inside into health food store gelatin caps. I think I was able to stop when I got down to six grains or something ridiculously small.

[lucia]

About a year before I came down with the GI symptoms of celiac, I started suffering crazy panic attacks. They started as if out of nowhere. I saw a therapist, but nothing worked until I started taking an anti-depressant. Finally, my panic subsided on the medication.

After 3 months gluten-free, I went off of it (because of concerns about soy and corn in the medication). I've had no incidences of panic since.

[ravenwoodglass]

Have you talked to your doctor about weaning off the drug so you can get some guidance from him while doing it? It would be a good idea. It can be hard to wean off of this type of med and your doctor may be able to help with the process. There may be something you can take that is not addictive to help with the issues you are experiencing while you go through this.

[LynneM]

Thank you for the responses. Skylark, I had read on another thread your response with the information about the vitamin supplements. That sounds like a very good idea. I can't afford those at the moment, but if my symptoms come back I will definitely consider that before I try anything else. Lucia, that gives me hope! ravenwoodglass, yes, I discussed it with my doctor, but to tell you the truth, I know more about it than she does. She's one of those that doesn't really understand how addictive paxil is, her advice about tapering is way too fast, you know, "oh, just take half a pill for a week or so then stop." I've moved recently and will be finding a new doctor, and I'm determined this time to find one who is knowledgeable about celiac.