Posted 7/3/2015 8:28 PM (GMT 0)
Hi phixgrrl: If I recall correctly (and I'm not at all sure), I think it was Bentyl I took about 20 years ago for chronic diarrhea. I honestly don't remember much about it, but I believe it was a fairly strong medication. If it WAS Bentyl, I think I took it (or whatever the doctor put me on) after spasms; yes, probably when my stomach started "getting active."
I was later put on Elavil (amytriptyline) daily, which has a strong drying side effect. It's an old medication, I think, and it took a while (months, actually) for me to see improvement, but it certainly slowed down my digestive system. Maybe you could discuss it with your gastro. It made me extremely sleepy, and I could feel the effects the next day. I took 50 mg an hour or so before bedtime.
I don't blame you for being a little scared to take something new. Maybe phone your gastro's office and tell them your concerns. Usually, they work well with patients. Perhaps you should also mention your other meds, if you haven't already, to make sure there is no interaction. I'm guessing you've probably already have done that.
Sometimes I go to sites like drugs.com and look up further info on meds. I don't know if that's wise or not--sometimes we just get too much info!
My gastro gave me a prescription for Anaspaz, which also helps slow spasms. I take it as needed. It seems to work pretty well.
My "IBS" sounds like yours--don't know what's going on, either, though my gastro said my digestive system just doesn't function properly or move things through correctly. Maybe yours is like that? Have you had a colonoscopy? That's when I finally learned my system doesn't work correctly.
I don't know if this is helpful, but I know where you're coming from. Bathroom trips get old fast! Hope you're having an otherwise good day! :)