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VSL#3 at Costco, just got it today

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 9/4/2009 11:04 PM (GMT 0)
Hi i just got VSL#3 today at my local Costco. Pill form $42.00. they ordered it yesterday, came in this morning. what do you recommend is a good dosage to start at 2 in morn 2 at Night?. Thats what i was going to start at.
Posted 9/4/2009 11:37 PM (GMT 0)
Considering it has the highest CFU count of all the probiotics out there, I would start with one/day and then increase it if you find it necessary (that's what I would personally do).

:)
Posted 9/5/2009 12:25 AM (GMT 0)
I agree that it's good to build up the dose over a few days, so that it's gradual.

However, eventually try you follow the right dose, as recommended by VSL3, based on your symptoms. They have guidelines on their website on how much to take based on how severe your symptoms are.
Posted 9/5/2009 12:55 AM (GMT 0)
Got it, thanks. just looked on there site it says Active UC 16-32 pills a day!!!!!!!!!! ? really
Posted 9/5/2009 1:08 AM (GMT 0)
16-32 is a lot of pills, so I use the packets and not the caps....The packets for active UC is 4-8 a day. This is a very expensive probiotic, but I have realized that if you're going to use it then use it the right way. I have tried lower doses and they weren't as beneficial. And once you're in remission then it's a lot better as it's only about 1-2 packets a day then. Good luck with it.
Posted 9/5/2009 2:06 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the info Rio. so i should have got the packets it sounds like, easier to do.
Posted 9/5/2009 2:45 AM (GMT 0)
Holy smokes, that's alot of pills...don't know what to advise, but that almost sounds like it's a type o or something, man that seems like alot, sure will be expensive taking those at the recommended amount....how many pills in the bottle?


:)
Posted 9/5/2009 3:35 PM (GMT 0)

pb4 said...
Holy smokes, that's alot of pills...don't know what to advise, but that almost sounds like it's a type o or something, man that seems like alot, sure will be expensive taking those at the recommended amount....how many pills in the bottle?


:)

No kidding...60 pills in the bottle. i just took 2 last night. im going to stay on that i guess i dont know. 2 in morn, 2 at night. maybe up it?
Posted 9/5/2009 4:31 PM (GMT 0)
The VSL#3 people have done studies on UC with their probiotics and made suggested amounts for when you are in a flare, which I am in now unfortunately. You really should take the recommended dose other wise you probably will not see the result you are looking for.
I am taking 4 packets now because of the flare and yes, it is expensive. However, I will try just about anything to pull out of it.
I tried VSL#3 before when I was first diagnosed and did real well. However, because of the expense I dropped it and went onto another pro biotic. Now I am back because I could not get remission with the other one. You do have to be patient with it.
Posted 9/5/2009 5:10 PM (GMT 0)

psychocolon said...
The VSL#3 people have done studies on UC with their probiotics and made suggested amounts for when you are in a flare, which I am in now unfortunately. You really should take the recommended dose other wise you probably will not see the result you are looking for.
I am taking 4 packets now because of the flare and yes, it is expensive. However, I will try just about anything to pull out of it.
I tried VSL#3 before when I was first diagnosed and did real well. However, because of the expense I dropped it and went onto another pro biotic. Now I am back because I could not get remission with the other one. You do have to be patient with it.


So your saying im not taking enough when im in a flare. i should have probably got the packets and gone that route. seems easier than 16 pills
Posted 9/7/2009 8:57 AM (GMT 0)
Hi,
First I took two VSL#3 and I did not see any improvemnt. Later I took VSL#3DS and I noticed the difference before and after VSL#3DS.
Now I am taking 3 packs a day. I noticed that If I do not take it within about 12 hours, my intestine start to generate gas and more gas as time goes by. Then soon after I take it, I noticed that no more gas in my intestine. Just note that I got colitis right after I had my dental work done.
Good Luck to you
Jin
Posted 9/13/2009 8:03 AM (GMT 0)
It says to take it with under a doctors supervision that freaked my husband out, why so intense?
Posted 9/13/2009 3:36 PM (GMT 0)
I took 2 packs a day for 2 months and it did not do anything for me and my D. I suppose I could have taken more but the 2 a day should have shown SOME even minor change, IMO. Before VSL#3 I downed 2 Culturelles a day for 3 months with no positive results either.
Posted 9/13/2009 4:36 PM (GMT 0)
Mitzo, taking just 2 packets a day would not necessarily show any effect, especially when you're in a flare. It's sort of like when I was initially diagnosed and expecting 2 Asacol to show an improvement during a severe flare, when I needed to be taking 6-12 Asacol to show any effect at all.

That being said, VSL#3 is expensive, and for the past 4 weeks or so I've been giving another (slightly cheaper) brand a try. I'm still not sure it's as effective as VSL#3, and I might try using a combination of both later on to see how that works, and then post an update.

By the way, I hope the GSE and other supplements are still working well for you.
Posted 9/13/2009 4:37 PM (GMT 0)
All the studies show effectiveness at only very high doses. IMO if in a flare you are wasting your money with one or two packets a day even more so with the pills. One reason could be that the bacteria are, in effect, just blown out of the intestines with the frequent bowl movements. So I would recommend following their guidelines or waiting until things are under control with meds and then begin VSL as part of your maintenance regime.

The deal about Dr. supervision is in my opinion a red herring and an attempt to integrate their product as a medicine rather than a supplement. Thus, we have the perscription only VSL DS which is the exact product at a double strength. This all about money, getting insurance companies to pay for the product and marketing, getting Docs to prescribe the product. IMO it has nothing to do with safety.
Posted 9/13/2009 4:43 PM (GMT 0)
rdm, I agree that all the studies are based on high doses, and taking a low dose is probably the same as not taking it at all. Also, the Dr. supervision part does look like slick marketing to make it seem like a medicine rather than a supplement, and get people to speak to their doctors about this, or maybe it's just their Legal advisors exercising caution.
Posted 10/7/2009 10:21 PM (GMT 0)
where is everyone getting VSL #3DS? I can't find this high dosage version anywhere. I've called several pharmacies!
Posted 10/7/2009 10:27 PM (GMT 0)
I'm curious about it, too. The "D" strength used to be listed on the Sigma Tau website, but I can't find it there now!
Posted 10/7/2009 11:19 PM (GMT 0)
As I recently posted elsewhere, I used to take the pack and make SCD yogurt out of it. This way I'd turn 1 $3 packet into 20 or so doses. Very cost effective, and worked just as well as the packets.
Posted 10/9/2009 12:39 AM (GMT 0)

I have been interested in giving this a try for sometime but $42 a bottle is very expensive.

 how long does a bottle usually last you? a month?

Posted 10/9/2009 1:01 AM (GMT 0)
According to their recommendations, a 60 capsule bottle (~$45) will last you 2-4 days if you are using it for the treatment of Active UC, or 8-15 days for less severe symptoms (i.e. maintain remission). 30 pills a day seemed ridiculous to me, as did 4-8 packets (recommended for active UC). That's why I started making VSL#3 yogurt. A couple spoonfuls would work just as effectively as an entire pack (or many pills), and would cost very little. This allowed me to stretch a $60 30 pack to 2 months ... normally this would have only lasted a week based on their recommended dosage.
Posted 10/9/2009 1:33 AM (GMT 0)
The VSL yogurt really intrigues me (I do love homemade yogurt!) - but, LL, question: how do you guess at how much yogurt would equal a packet? or, to rephrase, how many bacteria per spoonful/cupful/whatever of the yogurt?
Posted 10/9/2009 4:04 AM (GMT 0)
1 sachet (packet) of VSL#3 contains 450 Billion bacteria. 1 mL of SCD-style yogurt (fermented 24 hours) contains up to 15 Billion bacteria ... less if fermented for a shorter period of time. This means that 30 mL = 1 packet (30 mL = 2 tablespoons = 1/8 cup). I would typically eat 2 cups per day, or roughly equivalent to 4-16 packets depending on how tart I made the yogurt. My 2 quart yogurt maker would thus turn 1 packet into the equivalent of 16+ packets.

Note that if you follow normal yogurt making instructions (4-6 hours), the bacteria content will be in the 1-3 Billion/mL range. This equates to roughly 1-3 cups equaling a packet. To get the equivalent of 8 packets, you'd then have to eat A TON of yogurt, which would likely hurt more than help.

I went back and forth between the VSL#3 and my tart yogurt and found both to be effective. I ended up giving it up after a while, as I was tired of making yogurt and didn't want to pay $300+/month for the VSL#3 at the doses necessary.
Posted 9/26/2010 11:56 PM (GMT 0)
I didn't know you could get it at Costco so cheap!  Do you need a prescription for it?

I guess you ask at the Pharmacist?  I'm using Renew Life - critical colon care but if I get sick and need antibiotics I would definatly want to swtich to VSL3 during that time. 

Hopefully I'll have a lucky winter.

Posted 9/27/2010 11:40 AM (GMT 0)
This is an old post, so you should check to see if Costco carries it now....
Regular VSL is available without prescription; VSL DS (double strength) is Prescription only.
Some of us have prescription insurance that will cover part of the cost of the DS - so for me, it's cheaper to get the DS.

Not only a lucky winter - but I would think you'd feel pretty good about all the new tools you have for dealing with flares! I can tell from your posts that you are learning things right and left - always a good thing! :-)
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