Desipramine for Irritable Bowel Syndrome User Reviews

• Mrs...
• April 9, 2017

"I had irritable bowels ever since I was a young teenager, and I just couldn't figure out what was exactly wrong. I thought it was menstrual related. I suffered for years until I was about 40 years old, dealing with cramps in my bowels (lower abdominal area). I realized after I had a hysterectomy that it wasn't my endometriosis, I still had this cramps feeling every day! :( I started taking desipramine, a fiber pill (Citrucel), and a probiotic (Align), and I haven't had hardly any issues! I am like 95% better. Sometimes, if I feel a little crampy, I drink a Moroccan mint tea, and it settles things down really quick. I got lazy one week about taking this regimen, and I got so irritated. So I know it works, and I'm sticking with it."

• Chl...
• April 27, 2015

"I have IBS and am trying to follow the FODMAP diet, which is very difficult and limiting. I began to take just 5 mg of Desipramine a week ago and haven't had any IBS symptoms. Are other people using the FODMAP diet? If Desipramine quiets the symptoms of IBS, I would love to get off the FODMAP diet because of the strict limitations. Thanks for any feedback."

• Bob...
• September 10, 2015

"I have had IBS all of my life and have tried many things, and none of them did anything for my IBS. I started taking it as my doctor said it is a side benefit of this drug, which was not intended for IBS. It works very well. I used to go to the bathroom 3-5 times a day with frequent diarrhea, now I go just once or even every other day, and no diarrhea or bloating. I only use 25 mg, as more gives me constipation."

• Scu...
• October 5, 2016

"Have tried all families of the tricyclics and Xifaxan for my IBS-D. Desipramine is the only medication that has helped and continues to provide relief. It takes about a month to start working and gets better and better over time. The only side effect is trouble sleeping, and it does have an odd effect on my testicles, which makes them feel tight. However, for IBS-D, this is the only med that works. I take Imodium as well when I am having a bad day or before a big event, and this calms my nerves because Imodium always helps. After about 3 months on desipramine, Imodium is no longer needed."

• Ton...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 29, 2020

"My doctor prescribed this to me about 3 weeks ago. I had severe abdominal pain in my upper right quadrant that he is attributing to IBS. I have had no decrease in my pain levels while eating or my ambient pain levels. The diarrhea that I've had for the past 9 months stopped abruptly, ending in constipation. I've had panic attacks, mood swings, I'm already prone to suicidal ideation, so I don't know how much it's actually affected that, but it's present. I don't really have restful sleep anymore. Nobody can help me."

• So...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 31, 2023

"Been on a tiny dose for two weeks, 10 mgs, and it has helped! The top GI doctor at the hospital recommended it. I have had no side effects, and my pain is down by at least 60-70 percent. I am eating anything I want, too."

• xca...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 14, 2020

"I was put on this medication for irritable bowel syndrome and nausea. It did nothing for my symptoms, and after a few weeks, I realized how depressed I was. I would start crying over the littlest things and felt extremely negative. Use with caution, it can really affect your mind!"

• Lin...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 9, 2018

"So I just started desipramine for IBS 25 mg 2 weeks ago. While I am sure that it is helping my IBS, I have had some very serious issues with taking this medication because I was also on Cymbalta (30 mg) and Trazodone (75 mg). My gastro doc knew I was taking these other antidepressants when he prescribed the desipramine for the IBS. On day 6 of taking all three of these drugs, I started experiencing SSRI syndrome. They immediately took me off the Cymbalta and the Trazodone, and now I am suffering major withdrawal symptoms. Has anyone else had this happen to them? How long before the Cymbalta and Trazodone get out of my system for good?"

• Bes...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 24, 2016

"Looking for an alternative, but there was a time when I would have killed to find this. I noticed effects at the lowest dose and no more diarrhea now: 10 mg in the morning, 50 at night. Helps anxiety and is better than SSRI (took before) which helped psychosomatic. With this, too much equals constipation (!!) Alcohol, pizza, extreme grease equals still diarrhea. Occasionally I will stop for a weekend or days, because of sexual side effects: NOT as bad as SSRI. But less interest in sex, lack of sensation leading up to orgasm. Can orgasm, but not the same level. (I'm female). Compared to life without it though? It's a lifesaver and I am normal again. Mostly. [Also take Wellbutrin 450 and Clonazepam 0.5x2. Wellbutrin helps with sexual effects (+lose weight and more energy, social).] Plus, so cheap."

• Tri...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 8, 2018

"I have been on this med for three weeks and have really found it helpful for IBS-D. I am also following the FODMAP diet mostly. The diet is really helpful to know which foods are triggers. Now I am having trouble without diarrhea, I have a bowel motion up to three times a day. Dry mouth is so far the only side effect. I also got an extreme sunburn when, in normal circumstances, I would not have."

• Aan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 22, 2021

"Desipramine did initially lessen the severity of my abdominal pain, but it also caused such severe constipation and slowing of the digestive tract that I had to go to the ER multiple times. I have no idea when I’ll recover and be able to eat again."

• Bgc...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 8, 2024

"This is the only thing that has given me relief from intense cramping, that turns into nausea and vomiting when bad. I have suffered from horrible IBS symptoms since I was 18. I am 38. Had my gallbladder removed, several colonoscopies and endoscopies, and every possible procedure related to IBS known to man. None of my previous GIs had ever tried this medication. When I suggested a medicine I had heard of, my doctor suggested 10 mg of Desipramine. Within four days, my cramping has stopped completely, I am having comfortable bowel movements, and relief I haven't had since I was a teenager. If you are suffering and nothing else has helped, and you haven't tried this before, ask your physician if it could work for you, it is working wonders for me, and I have only been taking it a week!"

• Anonymous
• May 11, 2011

"I've been on and off of medication for years for IBS, and this has kept me from having a major attack in over a year now!"

• ede...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 8, 2017

"I'm suffering from IBS since I was 13 years old. Today I'm 24. This medicine made my IBS symptoms almost completely disappear."