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alternatives to Questran?

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 9/1/2007 5:39 PM (GMT 0)
Hi all,

I was reading about questran since both my GI and surgeon think I may need something like that to help with my D since my Sx.  I am finding in articles that the powder doesnt disolve and with things like that I tend to vomit.  I was wondering if there are alternatives to questran (nothing like imodium though since C was my issue before my perforation).  Also can Questran work if you place the powder in those empty capsules they sell? 

Thanks

Stef

Posted 9/1/2007 7:19 PM (GMT 0)

I'm a big fan of questran, i highly recommend it. It was a wonder drug for me, gave me normalish BM's once every morning. Until I got a narrowing in my small intestine and was forced to stop taking it. It doesn't dissolve, however it isn't all that bad. I would mix it with my favorite juice (mango in my case). I drank it quickly, don't hold it in your mouth, straight down the hatch. I think you should try it, you may be really glad you did.Give a few tries, it might work for you.

Kristine

Posted 9/1/2007 7:59 PM (GMT 0)
You can put it in things like apple sauce, so that might really help with the texture for you. There really is no alternative that I know of. It works great for me, has literally given me my life back!

You do have to mix it with something, so you can't just put it in a capsule unfortunately. It's really just a trial and error with finding something you can mix it with that you like. I mix mine with Koolaid fruit punch, and I'm completely used to it.
Posted 9/1/2007 8:06 PM (GMT 0)
They put me on questran in the hospital, and I just couldn't take it.  Every time I tried to swallow, the liquid would go down and I'd be left gagging on a mouth full of powder.  It was never offered with applesause, and I never thought to ask.  If I'm ever in that position again I'll try it that way.  But mixing it in juice or water didn't work for me.
Posted 9/1/2007 8:44 PM (GMT 0)
I will definitly ask my GI about mixing it with applesauce, I use to take meds that way before Dx with CD. Mainly my theodore for asthma obviously until the CD then I was told that med isnt good for CD so I chabged to inhalers for maintenance. I can now swallow pills and probably be in a pill swallowing contest if there were one.
Posted 9/2/2007 8:42 PM (GMT 0)
I have never had a problem with questran not dissolving. You have to be patient enough to wait until it drops to the bottom of the glass of water and then stir before drinking.
Posted 9/3/2007 12:40 AM (GMT 0)
Can this drug be used to control diarrhea in patients who have not had a resection?
Posted 9/3/2007 1:36 AM (GMT 0)
tastroman, I take it because I have bile salt diarrhea from not having a gallbladder. I've never had a resection.

Now Questran won't stop diarrhea from a flare. When I flare I know it, because I'll get the big D, irregardless of me taking the Questran. So it is really helpful if you have excess bile from gallbladder loss or resection. But not good for the typical Crohn's flare. I still have to treat my Crohn's with other medications for that.

You really do have to stir it up good, to make sure it gets properly dissolved. I never have a problem with that either. But I really stir it like crazy and smash any small clumps up against the side of the glass. I've been taking it for 3 years now, so it's just part of my morning rutine.
Posted 9/3/2007 2:41 AM (GMT 0)
I took questran many years ago and found that it did help control the D. The best way for me to take it was to mix it into a glass of a thick nectar like pear or peach or apricot. Tried many other liquids but found the nectar made it most palitable.
Posted 6/16/2015 4:28 PM (GMT 0)
I take Questran 4 times a day for diarrhea after a small bowel resection, done from an obstruction.

I too, had a VERY hard time keeping it down. YUK! I tried mixing it with juices but here's what finally worked for me. Hope it helps.

Just use water. For me, making the already thick liquid, even thicker- didn't help. Maybe try half the amount for the first couple times. I find I can mix it up faster, using a fork. (i've even thought of using a protein powder shake bottle for when I'm not home but haven't tried that yet)

For me, it's a mind game. If I focus on something else while drinking it -for me, it's looking out a window and saying a prayer of thanks for the drug that seems to be helping my diarrhea.

7 months past getting 3 1/2 ft of small intestine and the oleo secal valve removed and I'm still WAY too skinny but the diarrhea is finally slowing down.
Good luck!!!!!!
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