Posted by yxibow on May 17, 2006, at 0:56:35
In reply to What to do about Dad, posted by stickywicket on May 16, 2006, at 15:07:16
> My Dad (age 79) has IBS (irritable bowel syndrome). He admitted to me he's depressed and nervous because of his condition. He showed me an article from '04 that claimed Paxil can effectively treat IBS pain. But he considers using an AD his last choice because he's afraid of *addiction*. He's seen a gastroenterologist who didn't even suggest medications for the pain. Everyone else in the family thinks he's seriously depressed and needs to see a pdoc to address that problem. He's lost alot of weight because he's eating very little. He's scared of food now.
>
> I'm the oldest sibling near Dad so basically this is falling on me. I'm walking that fine line between acting as Dad's child or Dad's parent. This is stressing me out and exacerbating my own illness. I'm at my wits end.
>
> Any suggestions?IBS is a serious condition and affects a non negligible part of the population. Its very uncomfortable. I've had bowel upsets that mimic it but I've never actually had it.
Zelnorm is now approved for IBS in men, but only for IBS without constipation. Why there is still this sexual divide, I'm not clear. To me a bowel is a bowel.
TCA antidepressants are also indicated in the management of irritable bowel syndrome.
Somehow you will have to approach your father and as mentioned before explain the difference between habituation and addiction, neither of which particularly would happen on Paxil or one of the TCAs typically used for IBS. And as noted before it might brighten his mood.
Now whether its Zelnorm or an antidepressant, of course, dosages are different in the elderly, but that doesn't mean they cannot be used judiciously.
-- tidings
Jay
poster:yxibow
thread:644808
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060515/msgs/645034.html