Welchol and IBS

Personally, I'd quit taking a medicine that was making me worse, but there are times when it's better to ask you doctor first, just because there are some drugs you need to be weaned off of. And I have no idea what viokase does--other than not make you better!

If you're not getting anywhere with the doctors fast enough, and you're desparate to correct the problem, ask a pharmacist for advice.  He probably can't tell you how long it will take to work--if it will work--but he can tell you if it's safe to quit it cold turkey. 

Post Edited (Keriamon) : 6/25/2009 12:16:36 PM (GMT-6)

I am also new to this site.  I have had IBS for a few years now.  I practically begged my doctor for help, I couldn't leave the house many times because of the symptoms acting up.  He prescribed Welchol about 2 years ago and it changed my life.   It is amazing.  After a while I thought I would try not taking it to see if it was really helping or a coinincidence.  Let's just say, it was  REALLY helping!  I can't go without it.  I still have break-throughs if I eat too much at one time., but I can honestly say it is a god-send!  I had Stage 1 colon cancer in 2002.  complete recovery but wonder if that triggered  everything.  Hope this information helps someone else.

I just discovered this site. So far, it's great.

I have IBS, GERD, and some food allergies. Up until 2 weeks ago, I also thought I was lactose intolerant. I had my gallbladder out when I was 21 (8.5 years ago) and recently had the flu. It wrecked my immune system, digestive system, respiratory system...

Because my older brother has really serious Crohn's, no one ever questioned why I have IBS. Then when I went to see our gastro a few weeks ago (we have the same gastro - he's great), he asked if I'd had IBS symptoms before having my GB out. I honestly couldn't remember any but couldn't be sure either.

He started me on a trial for two weeks of Welchol. It was amazing. I was feeling like a completely new person. My D was pretty much gone. I went back to my factory defaults of a BM every 2-3 days (I know that seems infrequent to most, but that was normal for me when I was young so even having 1 a day was a major thing for me and I was sometimes having to stay glued to the toilet through most of the day), my constant cramps were mostly gone, hell, I even felt like my constant distended stomach was reduced! I could eat whatever I wanted, even dairy!!

Then when I called him to say, yes, it works. Write me a real scrip, there was about 4 days where I didn't take it. Everything came back with a vengeance! I guess that's a pretty sure sign it was the medicine and not just "feeling better" that was having the effect.

I did want to share a weird thing though. Now that they've developed this oral suspension version (significantly cheaper), I'm desperate to try it (I'm a starving artist), but I have an oral allergy to orange-flavored things! Ugh. What a freaking pain.

Anyone else run into odd problems with minor allergies that keep them from taking meds?

After three months of my IBS being so active as to curtail my life, I asked my Doc to prescribe Rifampin because of a blub in Readers Digest. She did so reluctantly, said one other patient had used it with no improvement. I took Rifampin 300mg three times a day for three weeks. Either the IBS attack had run its course, and the stress I was under at the time let up, or this drug REALLY WORKED. IBS stopped and I have been fine for two months! A record. I don't know why it worked, or if I could take this drug again, (a one time treatment??) but I am just happy in the present.

I have been taking Welchole for 2 months. I call it the magic pills. I am so enjoying being regular. Going out to eat without worry. I take 3 morning 3 night. I love this medicine. They first thought I had mild crones and I used some meds for that but after a fees years it wasn't working as well.So back to the Dr. I went a he suggested I try this. It is a lot of pills in a day but it works. Magic!
Very Happy