Maintenance drugs for IBS?

Maintenance drugs for IBS?

I need the names / recomendations / experiences with maintenance drugs for IBS.   Meaning - drugs I can take on a daily basis to prevent me running for the toilet at the drop of a hat or cramping up while I am trying to work.

I used to take Bentyl every morning - it worked GREAT!!!  Until I took it for 4 years and my body became immune to it

Got any ideas?  I go to the GI monday.  I have been off Bentyl about 1 year....? Should I start it again?

I actually take Probiotics and Fiber/calcium Metamucil pills. This is what I started after the GI work-up.

Yep - between my TUMS and Metamucil with calcium pills I get at least 1500 a day.

Thanks for all the help 7Lil - in all my posts!! =)

If you have bile in your diarrhea (burns, yellow in color)--which is espcially common in post-gall bladder people--get your G.I. to give you Welchol. It's a cholesterol medicine, but it binds up bile and keeps the bile from causing your dirrahrea. If bile's not causing your problem, though, it won't help a bit. I take it and calcium to keep myself almost normal.

Also, there's an expert on calcium running around here who has made previous posts. The type of calcium you take is important. If it has a lot of magnesium in it, it won't help. The recommended type is Caltrate 600 w/ vitamin D. It doesn't have too much magnesium in it (magnesium couteracts the calcium-induced consipation in normal people).

Oh, and I just read on MSN the other day that calcium can't be absorbed all at one time by the body; people who take it for bone health need to space out their doses over the course of the day. So you may play around with when you take your calcium. If you take it all at once, try a pill in the morning and one at night. OF course, it's the calcium that doesn't get absorbed that helps us, so you may want to try and take all of it at once right before that time of the day that you're sickest. Me, I take one before bed and one first thing in the morning because I'm sickest in the mornings. I keep some in my desk at work and take a third at lunch if I've been a bit "off" during the morning.

i use buscopan and that helps, anyone ever used that before?

Thanks for all the help guys. I was going to ask for Nulev for my flare ups. I think I need something as a "daily" helper - but I guess I will live with a "as needed" RX. I just used to be hooked on (I am serious - addicted) to Donatol. But I am off of it now.

Hi Butterfly, welcome to the board! I'm sure you will find this place as helpful and friendly as I have.
I would suggest trying Beano before your first bite of food and/or Gas-X after your meal. Those 2 anti-gas OTC meds do wonders. Also, try staying away from gassy foods like leafy greens, cauliflower, bell peppers, onions, apples, and there are plenty more.... but I can't list them all.
Keep posting! :)

Hi i just put on the new drug zelnorm for ibc i have been on it for 2 weeks it works wonders

Shel, I'm sorry you haven't been well enough to start Zelnorm. Hopefully you will start feeling better soon. Try and relax and eat healthy.
I think that is smart to wait until the weekend because it is possible to get D. I didn't get D, I got a headache instead. If you do get any of the side effects try to push through it, unless it is too terrible, then go off and consult your doctor. Zelnorm worked great for me. I have been on it for 8 months and I plan on staying on as long as my doc will let.

No, not a cure... unfortunately.    It should make you more regular though.  I assume you were prescribed it because you have IBS-C (or you go back and forth from C to D)?  The first couple months on it, it worked like a gem.  I was "going" everyday and wasn't having any bad D episodes anymore.  It seemed to fix my constant C and my occasional D.  After a couple months it seemed as though I built up a tolerance and I would start to skip days again (only poop every other, or every couple days).  No worries though, I stayed on it because I knew it was still helping.  My doctor told me that new studies have shown that long term use is not harmful; that I can stay on as long as I want (or until she thinks I'm ready to try nothing and manage my IBS on my own).

So, if you get D from Zelnorm that is normal for up to a week.  However, if you get dizzy or bloody stool or extreme D, then stop and call a doc ASAP.  If you get only a headache like me, pop some headache med and hang in there. 

I really hope it works for you.  I am much saner now that I'm on Zelnorm (and Digestive Advantage & probiotics - the combo is great for me).  Feel better this weekend and tell us how it goes. 

Butterfly,

If you are taking maalox you will be giving yourself more diarrhea because it has magnesium in it. If you want the calcium info to help with diarrhea just email me and I will send it to you and that is for anyone else also who may want to try the calcium to control diarrhea.

Linda

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Hi Shel, did you try the Zelnorm this past weekend? How'd it go?