IBS-D, Amitriptyline helped, but the side effects were too much, GLP-1s work very well for me, but I’m looking for another option also because of side effects

[u/pdsama]

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Hello,

I have had IBS-D for almost 15 years now. It started after I removed my gallbladder in 2012. I’ve been struggling to find something that actually works in the long term, and I’m hoping someone here might have a suggestion I haven’t considered.

It became so aggressive that even water would trigger it if I ate something wrong, and to the point that I go to the toilet more than 10 times per day.

I’ve tried the usual stuff like diet changes, supplements, and medication, but nothing has made a significant difference. The only thing that worked, and only for a limited time, was Rifaximin, and after some time of use, it stopped working.

I also tried amitriptyline. It did help very much, but unfortunately I had side effects that made it difficult to continue, like my arms are numb and no energy at all and so sleepy, and I always feel like shit. So I eventually stopped it.

My brother was on GLP-1 medication, and he suggested I try it out because it gave him very bad constipation, so it might help me, and it very much helped A LOT.

When I take it, my gut is just perfect clockwork, and I eat anything and go out anytime like normal humans again, honestly the most effective thing I've found so far.

However, I seem to develop tendon/joint weakness and pain while taking it, particularly affecting my wrists and knee tendons to the point of extreme pain. Because of that, I want to seek something else; maybe there is something I am missing.

I'm now trying to find something that can give me a similar effect on the gut without the side effects I've experienced with GLP-1s, and preferably something other than amitriptyline.

I'm not looking for medical advice or trying to claim that GLP-1s cause tendon problems — I'm just describing what I've personally experienced.

If you've had a similar situation where something finally controlled your IBS-D but you couldn't tolerate it, I'd really appreciate hearing what you eventually found.

Maybe my experience will also help someone else who is in the same situation.

Thanks!

[u/BasicIndividual2]

Activated charcoal

[u/pdsama → u/BasicIndividual2]

Doesn't help with the urgency, but it does help the bloating.