Psyllium: when to take

I believe Metamucil, which is psyllium husk, has in its info a statement about being taken apart from some meds because of potential interference with the absorption.

I asked my GI about this, and he said yes, psyllium should not be taken at the same time as any meds which may not be taken with food. Meds whose absorption are not affected by food would also not be affected by psyllium.

I am doing my probiotics midafternoon, which seems to be working fine. I've read on this forum that probiotics in general should be taken on an empty stomach, but I take VSL which is supposed to be mixed with food or a cold drink. I mix mine with applesauce and taken it roughly between lunchtime and dinnertime doses of Asacol (which I take 4 times a day.)


When we take so many things, it's hard to space them....!

psyllium should be taken on its own two hours before or after meds

I take the seeds whole with water before bed, well after meds

keep in mind that husks and seeds have completely different effects

Refer to lookingforthecures post below

www.mountainroseherbs.com/learn/psyllium_seed.php

Summary
The authoritative Complete German Commission E Monographs states that psyllium seed can be used to treat: "Chronic constipation; disorders in which easy bowel movements with a loose stool are desirable, e.g., in patients with anal fissures, hemorrhoids, following anal/rectal surgery; during pregnancy; as a secondary medication in the treatment of various kinds of diarrhea and in the treatment of irritable bowel."

The question most frequently asked about psyllium is, how can the same herb treat both constipation and diarrhea? The answer is that psyllium regulates the amount of time waste matter takes to transit the colon. In diarrhea, the fibers in psyllium absorb excess fluid and slow down movement through the colon. In constipation, the same fibers add volume to the stool and make it easier to pass through the colon.

Research studies show that psyllium seed is more useful than wheat bran for treating constipation caused by irritable bowel syndrome. The dosage of psyllium seed required to treat the condition is half the dosage of wheat bran, and psyllium results in less bloating and more frequent bowel movement.

Psyllium seed has certain advantages over psyllium husk. It contains a range of nutrients the husk does not. Having less pectin, it degrades more slowly in the digestive tract, releasing acetates and butyrates that may protect the lining of the colon from mutations that lead to colon cancer. It does not, however, relieve constipation as quickly as psyllium husk.