Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Mood Stabilizers- Lamictal?

Guest BERNESES

By Guest BERNESES
in Related Issues & Disorders

Recommended Posts

Guest BERNESES
Guest BERNESES
Posted

I don't know why I'm scared. I've been on them before- Neurontin- and it was fine to augment my antidepressants. But, I'm bummed. I thought going gluten-free would help my depression and mood swings and it has to some extent, BUT when I get glutened I have horrible mood swings and it's scary. I get so bummed out. I haven't felt like myself since my Celiac symptoms started to come on full-force over a year ago and it's gotten better, but the mood swings scare the hell out of me.

Is anyone else on them? If you don't mind telling what you take and how you like it, I'd be grateful. If you don't want to post it here, please email me through the board. Thanks, B

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


nettiebeads Apprentice
nettiebeads
Posted
I don't know why I'm scared. I've been on them before- Neurontin- and it was fine to augment my antidepressants. But, I'm bummed. I thought going gluten-free would help my depression and mood swings and it has to some extent, BUT when I get glutened I have horrible mood swings and it's scary. I get so bummed out. I haven't felt like myself since my Celiac symptoms started to come on full-force over a year ago and it's gotten better, but the mood swings scare the hell out of me.

Is anyone else on them? If you don't mind telling what you take and how you like it, I'd be grateful. If you don't want to post it here, please email me through the board. Thanks, B

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Me, I'm zoloft 50 mg a day. I had celiac disease before I developed dysthymia. My first depressive episode was when I was nine. I don't think my celiac disease caused my depression, I'd been treated for it a few times before I developed celiac disease, but I'm sure in looking back that my celiac disease sure aggravated my depression. Of course, living with an emotionally abusive husband didn't help. He's gone, but the dysthymia stayed.

Of the two, I'll stick with the dysthymia. But then, like you, no matter what meds I'm on, when I've been glutened, the depression is back in full force. But I just tough it out in my work room away from my (current and last) hubby until it passes. Or curl up with a book and ignore everything/everybody. Hope this helps! Want to know something funny? I'm more willing to talk about my depression than I am about celiac! Go figure. :unsure:

Guest BERNESES
Guest BERNESES
Posted

Thanks nettiebeads- I guess i'm just really questioning adding another medication because when I get glutened, I don't think it's going to matter if I'm on a million drugs. maybe I'll just tell my doctor I want to hold off as I only have the mood swings when I'm sick. Like yesterday. The problem is, they scare me, but if i remind myself they'll pass when the glouten gets out of my system, it helps. Thanks!

amydstar Newbie
amydstar
Posted
I don't know why I'm scared. I've been on them before- Neurontin- and it was fine to augment my antidepressants. But, I'm bummed. I thought going gluten-free would help my depression and mood swings and it has to some extent, BUT when I get glutened I have horrible mood swings and it's scary. I get so bummed out. I haven't felt like myself since my Celiac symptoms started to come on full-force over a year ago and it's gotten better, but the mood swings scare the hell out of me.

Is anyone else on them? If you don't mind telling what you take and how you like it, I'd be grateful. If you don't want to post it here, please email me through the board. Thanks, B

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I didnt know this could cause depression! I have been on lexapro for two years and it works pretty good. I seem to be very sensitive to different medications so I asked the doctor to put me on something with very few side effects. Lexapro is generally a good one for woman, even a little better than zoluft which I have also tried. I tried the lamasil that is some pretty hard core stuff, I got worse from it not better, but if there is one thing I know different medications work for different people.Try lexapro though its pretty good stuff.

amydstar Newbie
amydstar
Posted
I don't know why I'm scared. I've been on them before- Neurontin- and it was fine to augment my antidepressants. But, I'm bummed. I thought going gluten-free would help my depression and mood swings and it has to some extent, BUT when I get glutened I have horrible mood swings and it's scary. I get so bummed out. I haven't felt like myself since my Celiac symptoms started to come on full-force over a year ago and it's gotten better, but the mood swings scare the hell out of me.

Is anyone else on them? If you don't mind telling what you take and how you like it, I'd be grateful. If you don't want to post it here, please email me through the board. Thanks, B

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I didnt know this could cause depression! I have been on lexapro for two years and it works pretty good. I seem to be very sensitive to different medications so I asked the doctor to put me on something with very few side effects. Lexapro is generally a good one for woman, even a little better than zoluft which I have also tried. I tried the lamasil that is some pretty hard core stuff, I got worse from it not better, but if there is one thing I know different medications work for different people.Try lexapro though its pretty good stuff.

Guest BERNESES
Guest BERNESES
Posted

Hi Amydstar- Yes- there is definitely a correlation between celiac's and depression- a big one actually. The Celexa works fine for me but when I get glutened I get really depressed. What I have been doing is taking a little bit extra when I get glutened and that seems to do the ttrick. I think I'm going to tell him no on the lamictal because frankly, I don't think it's going to make a difference when I get glutened.

I tried Lexapro and it didn't work well for me (but it works great for my sister) so I think I'll just stay with the celexa and concentrate on NOT getting glutened. Thanks for your input, B

brookridge Rookie
brookridge
Posted

I don't want to scare you any further but is Lamictal the one that has a rare chance of giving its paitents a horrilbe rash? I stayed away from that one when it was offered to me. Give Zonegram a try...no side effects whatsoever. Quite expensive but a wonderful drug. Good luck!

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


NYCisTHEplaceTObe Rookie
NYCisTHEplaceTObe
Posted

i actually am on Lamictal for a seizure disorder and it is a very safe medication. the chances of actually developing that rash are extremely unlikely. it is very rare, i would definetly not be worried about that. i also have absolutely no side effects from it and i can be pretty sensitive with medication. one of my friends was actually on it as a mood stabilizer and it worked well for her with no problems. i'm sorry you are going through this!

Guest BERNESES
Guest BERNESES
Posted

Lamictal is the one that can give you a rash but only if you are allergic to it and go up too high too fast with the dosage. It's pretty rare as NYC pointed out. But the thing is, I don't have these horrible mood swing every day- only when I get gluten in my system so I'm a little leery of adding another medication if it's just when I get glutened. I don't know what to do.....

skbird Contributor
skbird
Posted

I'm wondering if this is in my future. I have been revisiting the idea that I might be bipolar and in evaluating my life, I have designed my habits, etc, so that I cause the least impact on myself and least stress. I don't tend to have mood swings, what makes my doc suspect this again is the fact that so many meds cause me to feel manic.

For example, I recently tried birth control hormones again and got manic right away. I didn't know that estrogen, which can act as an antidepressant for those depressed, can cause manic episodes in people who are bipolar, and even some who aren't. Also, antidepressants always make me manic.

I get the impression my doc wants to start me on a med in a couple of weeks to stop the pain/gut problems I have which, as they seem to not have strong physical causes, might be perpetuated by mixed signals and my anxiety over them getting worse. I don't know if he's thinking of a mood stabilizer or not - I don't think that's exactly what I need, but for now he has given me some ativan which I used to take. Weirdly, the ativan is making me more aware of my racing thoughts, which I have as it wears off between doses.

Let me know how lamictal works for you, if you decide to take it. Some of the stuff you write about sounds like things that happen to me, so I think we have similar reactions to some things and I would like to stay in touch.

Stephanie

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,548
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Lunaluv
    Newest Member
    Lunaluv
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Scott Adams
      Taken Seriously

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Your post demonstrates the profound frustration and isolation that so many in the Celiac community feel, and I want to thank you for channeling that experience into advocacy. The medical gaslighting you endured for decades is an unacceptable and, sadly, a common story, and the fact that you now have to "school" your own GI specialist speaks volumes about the critical lack of consistent and updated education. Your idea to make Celiac Disease a reportable condition to public health authorities is a compelling and strategic one. This single action would force the system to formally acknowledge the prevalence and seriousness of the disease, creating a concrete dataset that could drive better research funding, shape medical school curricula, and validate the patient experience in a way that individual stories alone often cannot. It is an uphill battle, but contacting representatives, as you have done with Adam Gray, is exactly how change begins. By framing it as a public health necessity—a matter of patient safety and protection from misdiagnosis and neglect—you are building a powerful case. Your voice and your perseverance, forged through thirty years of struggle, are exactly what this community needs to ensure that no one else has to fight so hard just to be believed and properly cared for.
    • Scott Adams
      Looking for a gluten-free roomie in Denver CO

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      I had no idea there is a "Louisville" in Colorado!😉 I thought it was a typo because I always think of the Kentucky city--but good luck!
    • Scott Adams
      Allergy medication: cetirizine by the HealthA2Z is it gluten free?

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Navigating medication safety with Celiac disease can be incredibly stressful, especially when dealing with asthma and severe allergies on top of it. While I don't have personal experience with the HealthA2Z brand of cetirizine, your caution is absolutely warranted. The inactive ingredients in pills, known as excipients, are often where gluten can be hidden, and since the FDA does not require gluten-free labeling for prescription or over-the-counter drugs, the manufacturer's word is essential. The fact that you cannot get a clear answer from Allegiant Health is a significant red flag; a company that is confident its product is gluten-free will typically have a customer service protocol to answer that exact question. In situations like this, the safest course of action is to consider this product "guilty until proven innocent" and avoid it. A better alternative would be to ask your pharmacist or doctor to help you identify a major national brand of cetirizine (like Zyrtec) whose manufacturer has a verified, publicly stated gluten-free policy for that specific medication. It's not worth the risk to your health when reliable, verifiable options are almost certainly available to you. You can search this site for USA prescriptions medications, but will need to know the manufacturer/maker if there is more than one, especially if you use a generic version of the medication: To see the ingredients you will need to click on the correct version of the medication and maker in the results, then scroll down to "Ingredients and Appearance" and click it, and then look at "Inactive Ingredients," as any gluten ingredients would likely appear there, rather than in the Active Ingredients area. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/   
    • Scott Adams
      Protein or fat?

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      What you're describing is indeed familiar to many in the Celiac community, especially in the early stages of healing. When the intestinal villi are damaged from Celiac disease, they struggle to properly digest and absorb fats, a condition known as bile acid malabsorption. This can cause exactly the kind of cramping and spasms you're seeing, as undigested fats can irritate the sensitive gut lining. It is highly plausible that her reactions to dairy and eggs are linked to their higher fat content rather than the proteins, especially since she tolerates lean chicken breast. The great news is that for many, this does improve with time. As her gut continues to heal on a strict gluten-free diet, her ability to produce the necessary enzymes and bile to break down fats should gradually return, allowing her to slowly tolerate a wider variety of foods. It's a slow process of healing, but your careful approach of focusing on low-fat, nutrient-dense foods like seeds and avocado is providing her system the best possible environment to recover. Many people with celiac disease, especially those who are in the 0-2 year range of their recovery, have additional food intolerance issues which could be temporary. To figure this out you may need to keep a food diary and do an elimination diet over a few months. Some common food intolerance issues are dairy/casein, eggs, corn, oats, and soy. The good news is that after your gut heals (for most people who are 100% gluten-free this will take several months to two years) you may be able to slowly add some these items back into your diet after the damaged villi heal. This article may be helpful: Thank you for sharing your story—it's a valuable insight for other parents navigating similar challenges.
    • Beverage
      Diagnosed celiac for 1-2 months ago and everything makes me bloated.

      By Beverage · Posted

      I had a very rough month after diagnosis. No exaggeration, lost so much inflammatory weight, I looked like a bag of bones, underneath i had been literally starving to death. I did start feeling noticeably better after a month of very strict control of my kitchen and home. What are you eating for breakfast and lunch? I ignored my doc and ate oats, yes they were gluten free, but some brands are at the higher end of gluten free. Lots of celics can eat Bob's Red Mill gluten-free oats, but not me. I can now eat them, but they have to be grown and processed according to the "purity protocol" methods. I mail order them, Montana Gluten-Free brand. A food and symptoms and activities log can be helpful in tracking down issues. You might be totally aware, but I have to mention about the risk of airborne gluten. As the doc that diagnosed me warned . . Remember eyes, ears, nose, and mouth all lead to your stomach and intestines.  Are you getting any cross contamination? Airborne gluten? Any pets eating gluten (they eat it, lick themselves, you pet them...)? Any house remodeling? We live in an older home, always fixing something. I've gotten glutened from the dust from cutting into plaster walls, possibly also plywood (glues). The suggestions by many here on vitamin supplements also really helped me. I had some lingering allergies and asthma, which are now 99% gone. I was taking Albuterol inhaler every hour just to breathe, but thiamine in form of benfotiamine kicked that down to 1-2 times a day within a few days of starting it. Also, since cutting out inflammatory seed oils (canola, sunflower, grapeseed, etc) and cooking with real olive oil, avocado oil, ghee, and coconut oil, I have noticed even greater improvement overall and haven't used the inhaler in months! It takes time to weed out everything in your life that contains gluten, and it takes awhile to heal and rebuild your health. At first it's mentally exhausting, overwhelming, even obsessive, but it gets better and second nature.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.