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What Causes Diarrhea After Using Cipralex For GAD?
Question: I had my gallbladder removed about 7 years ago and had diarrhea for 7 months but it went away. Recently I was put on Cipralex for GAD. I started on 10mg in September and a month later went onto 20mg. In November I started to have diarrhea and have I had it constantly since - usually a couple of times in the morning. I also have pain on the right side below the ribcage. I take a Magnesium Bisglycinate and Calcium supplement as I also have restless legs. The Mag Bisglyciate is not meant to cause diarrhea and I don't necessarily take it every night. I know that Cipralex can cause diarrhea in some people. Having had 6 years of diarrhea free stools (Although I did have diarrhea for about 6 months sometime after post gallbladder surgery after a tummy bug but that went away). I have cut back to 10 mg of Cipralex but it is still the same and the diarrhea is cloudy brown water with some solid stool in it but recently had been oily. I get checked for colon Cancer regularly as Mum had colon cancer. I check for blood every time I have a bowel movement. Do you have any ideas? Also I did have pain now and again on right side and pain in between shoulders which I still get. Thank you XXXXXXX (65)
Brief Answer:
Need to rule out malabsorbtion
Detailed Answer:
Dear patient,
Thanks for your query. As you very well indicate, Cipralex can be associated with diarrhea and there may be a temporal connection between both; if that would be the case, gradually weaning off the medication until discontinued would result in resolution of symptoms if that was the culprit. Nonetheless, you bring up a very important clue to your story: oily stools, which can be representative of malabsorbtion, which could come due to a variety of reasons.
My suggestions:
1) Appointment with an internist or GI physician with basic testing: fecal fat stainin, fecal electrolytes, ova and parasites in stool.
2) Consider trial off Cipralex guided by prescribing provider.
Hope this helps, wish you the best,
Dr Brenes-Salazar MD
Mayo Clinic MN
Depertment of Internal Medicine
Division of Cardiology
Need to rule out malabsorbtion
Detailed Answer:
Dear patient,
Thanks for your query. As you very well indicate, Cipralex can be associated with diarrhea and there may be a temporal connection between both; if that would be the case, gradually weaning off the medication until discontinued would result in resolution of symptoms if that was the culprit. Nonetheless, you bring up a very important clue to your story: oily stools, which can be representative of malabsorbtion, which could come due to a variety of reasons.
My suggestions:
1) Appointment with an internist or GI physician with basic testing: fecal fat stainin, fecal electrolytes, ova and parasites in stool.
2) Consider trial off Cipralex guided by prescribing provider.
Hope this helps, wish you the best,
Dr Brenes-Salazar MD
Mayo Clinic MN
Depertment of Internal Medicine
Division of Cardiology
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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