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imodium to slow things down??

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 2/15/2008 1:08 PM (GMT 0)
Alright, I have made a few posts over the last little while about this flare I'm in. I went to see a new GI yesterday because I haven't been happy with the responses from my previous GI. This one had some totaly different ideas.

My symptoms right now are as follows....

I wake up in the morning and have a full bowel movement, usually small soft stools with some mucus but definitely a bowl full.
Usually up to another 5 times in the morning I have soft formed stools of various amounts.
Towards the later end of the afternoon I am still going to the bathroom quite frequently however by end of day it's mostly just mucus.
All of these bathroom trips are usually brought on by pretty high urgency.

So after explaining all this to the new GI he seems to think that I have IBS on top of my UC. He is telling me that the IBS is the dominating factor in my issues and has recommended that I start to take imodium during the day to control the urgency. He has also prescribed cortenima to help with the UC that may still be active.

Please let me know what you think of this idea... I always thought that if you have UC you should never take imodium.
Posted 2/15/2008 1:19 PM (GMT 0)
I occasionally use Imodium (if flaring and have long car ride, etc). I think the whole problem w/ long-term use is the risk of toxic megacolon. That being said I think we have several members that regularly use Imodium.

You have been on Imuran since Jan of this year? Keep in mind it usually takes several months to work. I'm not sure what the last three meds on your current list are for (the pantoloc, buscopan or clonazopam).

Are you on any anti-spasmatics? Those help w/ the urgency.

I have IBS in addition to UC. While I'm no doctor your symptoms sound like a flare to me not IBS acting up. Just my opinion:)
Posted 2/15/2008 3:13 PM (GMT 0)
I took Imodium two to three times a day for years, with my GI's blessing. He just said not more than three a day. I recently tapered it off and was doing fine until I had to take antibiotics. Now I'm back on, and probably will be for another couple of weeks because I have to take another Z-pack starting today.

I would think Imodium might be more problematic for people with pancolitis, because so much of their colon is not functioning the way it should, but I don't really know that.
Posted 2/15/2008 3:44 PM (GMT 0)
In UK and Ire the instruction on the Imodium is to not use for severe UC. From which I deduce that it is appropriate to use it for maybe a mild active flare.

Imodium works very well for my IBS. Slows things down and eliminates gas. I've logged out to a similar website based solely for people with IBS. Their recommedation is that Imodium is okay for maintenance use for mild IBS. "Once a day" use is reported as fine by them. They have pointed me towards surveys showing tht the body in general does not become "addicted" to the drug and neither is there in general withdrawl symptoms. However the body can build a resistance to Imodium as it in a sense performs a function that the body should itself be able to form.

Once a day Imodium seems to be fine for IBS maintenance therapy. Imodium as a short-term reliever of mild IBD symptoms seems okay. If the flare is severe I think it will limit the effectiveness of the drug.

D

 

Posted 2/15/2008 7:25 PM (GMT 0)
From personal experience, I'd say it's okay to use Immodium occasionally for symptom control, but I think it's much more important to get to the source of IBS. From everything I've read, IBS can be much improved by rebalancing the gut ecology and eliminating your problem foods. Yes, it takes time, trial and error, but it's better than only continuing to supress symptoms.
Posted 2/15/2008 7:27 PM (GMT 0)
Numb....Hope the cortenema helps....are you still tapering the pred?

One a day imodium shouldn't have any ill effects....some take high dosages and NO meds..not good...you're on meds.

I would say IBS is what most of us have with UC...hard to distinguish symptoms sometimes....but the fact that you're going sooooo often with severe urgency spells f-l-a-r-e!

Hang tough...your butt will get a bit of a break. Try not to excede the dosage the doc gave you....and once you start improving from the meds, try to maybe not take the imodium as often so that you see where exactly your meds have taken you.

I think an antispasmodic would be a good choice for you to request from the doc when you see him next.

Imodium can be a perfect addition to one's med regimen....but it's not something that should be used constantly when flaring. I think it gives a false sense of "doing better".

Fibre supplements would bulk up the stool and slow down the bms especially once your rectal inflammation gets controlled.

It's a fine act of juggling meds/supplements that you'll eventually figure out.

Keep us posted as to how you're doing.

quincy
Posted 2/15/2008 8:36 PM (GMT 0)
I've read posts on IBS forums (not the IBS one on this site) about IBSers taking 30 imodium a day over period of years...thirty a day...i have to spell it out to believe it...that is surely gonna lead to major complications!
Posted 2/16/2008 2:57 AM (GMT 0)
Before I was diagnosed I used to eat the stuff like candy. It never occured to me that it could be bad. Makes sense now, but back then I just had to get through the day. Cortenima is our friend. =)
Posted 2/16/2008 1:49 PM (GMT 0)
I have similar issues about going multiple times in the morning only. Usually 3-4. Based on my GI's assistant advice, I tried Immodium the night before and it didn't help. Let us know if it works for you. As a side note, she also said that I could take up to 3 Immodium per day without any problems. But I don't think it's worth it.
Posted 2/16/2008 5:17 PM (GMT 0)
My GI recommended Immodium to me, well I took 2 and no help, took 2 more and no change. I tried 4 pills a few times after and no help. Lomitil works like a charm for me most the time. Too bad I get so drowsy on it.
Posted 2/16/2008 8:26 PM (GMT 0)
princesscolon....Lomotil....I was given it by my GP at the time I assumed were my first symptoms....I was totally stoned and didn't have one pain anywhere for the first time in my life. It did help the diarrhea for the few days I took it, but I couldn't function otherwise at all.

Interesting the Imodium didn't help you even a bit...wow.  They'll never use YOU for their commercials...lol!

quincy
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