Hello everyone! I'm just a layperson, and I'm very sorry if this particular post doesn't belong here, but I'm extremely curious about the utility of neuromodulators to treat IBS.

I've had first-hand experience of an SNRI (Effexor) providing benefit to my global symptoms of IBS when all of the conservative methods failed to stop my extreme diarrhea and cramping.

However, earlier this year I was diagnosed with ADHD at age 34 and was placed on Vyvanse. It helped my symptoms of ADHD a lot by calming my mental symptoms substantially - however, it has wreaked havoc on my physical body. I always have shooting pains in my chest and even in my hands and feet at times. Echocardiogram and stress test ruled out any serious problems so that's comforting.

However, I am also noticing a drastic return of my IBS symptoms. The cramping, the bloating, diarrhea, and discomfort WHILE eating have all returned with a vengeance.

From my understanding, most ADHD medications work as both NDRI's as well as N D releasers. I also understand that non-stimulant options like Straterra and Wellbutrin are norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors.

However, outside of my personal negative experience with harsh physical effects from my stimulant, I'm finding very little in the literature to suggest that stimulants (and the two non-stimulants mentioned above) are useful for chronic pain conditions. I even asked my psychiatrist, when he first prescribed my Vyvanse, if stimulants could help with pain and he flat out said no.

So I feel like I'm at a fork in the road where on the one hand, i'm told stimulants don't help (and can even worsen) pain, but on the other, purely serotonergic agents like Paxil and Prozac aren't useful for pain because they don't engage noradrenergic receptors, like Cymbalta or Amitriptyline do - hence the greater pain relief.

If anyone could explain this to me, I would be GREATLY appreciative. THANK YOU!!