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Tried Aline - big mistake!

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 5/16/2010 4:02 PM (GMT 0)
I keep hearing about probiotics so decided to try to speed healing by taking Aline. Wow! Horrible diahrrea as a result. No more of that, won't do that again. It seems that I am always whining about something or other, but here goes again - six months ago I had thick, naturally wavy hair. Now I have thin, straight hair. My brush is always loaded with shed hair. I've been on Asacol for all that time. Recently started on 4 mg Prednisone, but the hair was falling before the steroid. Is that a side effect of Asacol? I'm currently on ten a day. Am I likely to get bald? What fun - a bald pooping, smelly grandmother. Just how I want all my grandkids to remember me.
Posted 5/16/2010 4:22 PM (GMT 0)
You might try a different probiotic with different strains. I am taking bio-k. It's hideously expensive but my system likes it. I just added in Primadophilus Ruteri and seem to do well with that one. My next step is to try and add a more complex one like Ultimate Flora Critical Care but I am still trying to get off prednisone at the moment so I am taking things slow and being cautious.

As for the Asacol, I have seen numerous posts with people asking if it causes hair loss. So, this makes me think, hey! Maybe asacol causes hair loss! It could also be a vitamin deficiency that is common to UCers...
Posted 5/16/2010 4:29 PM (GMT 0)
S,
Have you had vitamin levels checked recently? With your hair loss I wonder if it is a possibility?
Posted 5/16/2010 4:31 PM (GMT 0)
yes some of them expensive probiotics don't work for everyone. I personally use Primadophilus Ruteri, may or may not help. I think the Asacol could be what made your hair fall out, you should look into Sulfasalazine, been around for 30+ years and seems to help fair share of people.
Posted 5/16/2010 5:03 PM (GMT 0)
hey just been put on mezavent im new to ibd on 4 tabs a day and just getting a flare up is this normal should i go back and chaange meds
Posted 5/16/2010 5:08 PM (GMT 0)
The shock of the disease to the system -- of a really bad flare --- can cause hair loss about three months later.
Posted 5/16/2010 8:03 PM (GMT 0)
Align gave me bad stomach aches. I agree, try another kind, the good kind that is refrigerated.

I haven't experienced changes in my hair, with asacol or prednisone. Prednisone made me grow fine light hair on my face.
Posted 5/17/2010 12:12 AM (GMT 0)
If you are having problems with that probiotic then the obvious answer is to discontinue it. But you need to discern if the problem truly is your reaction to that probiotic or if it is the

Herxheimer effect:

https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=38&m=1247875

But I guess the safe play is to discontinue the probiotic. Actually there are much better brands of probiotics than Align which contains only one strain and is full of fillers that may not agree with you.
Posted 5/17/2010 12:21 AM (GMT 0)
Now just to be different - Align works wonderful for me - only caused some gas for a week or two.  Been taking it every day for about 2 years.  Sometimes I take two when taking antibiotics especially.  I tried two "stronger" probiotics and they made me sick.  So - once again - we are different.  BUT I am a firm believer is stopping any supplements or medication is causing me problems.  I always let me doctors know but refuse to keep taking something that doesn't agree with me.

ElaineNY

Posted 5/17/2010 1:02 AM (GMT 0)
Hair loss is a known side effect of Asacol
Posted 5/17/2010 2:47 AM (GMT 0)
I would also get some blood tests just in case, one time my zinc was low and made my hair fall out and when I started taking a supplement it helped. But yeah, you should ask your doctor.
Posted 5/17/2010 7:23 AM (GMT 0)
I took some probiotics once which has curbed my taking them again due to the same thing it was like an explosion inside me horrible i thought it couldnt get any worse. I did read somewhere after that though that initially that may happen because your kinda starting a bacterial war inside your body and as some of the new bacteria kill off the bacteria already in your GI track it releases chemicals and toxins that cause terrible side effects, that should subside. Dont know if thats factual information or just a probiotic companys explination to keep you buying more product, makes sense but I dont know I'm still gunshy to try them again.
Posted 5/17/2010 4:04 PM (GMT 0)
I thank everyone so much for responding to my questions and complaints. I have discontinued taking Aline (only took one dose and that was explosive in my gut) The irritation from that increased the blood and mucus (I call it the SLIME) ala Ghostbusters. Anyway so the probiotic made me a little worse. It was probably silly to try something new so close to sail date. Here"s what I'm doing now - 40 mg Prednisone. It makes me a bit antsy so I am taking a sleeping pill (Ambian) at night to relax enough to sleep. Never needed sleep meds before. I have stopped noon time Mesalamine enema and night time Predniisone enemas. I may start again after the cruise, but for now, I felt that the extra fluid in the colon just made everything messier. I take multivitamins and assorted other meds for my other assorted things - like diabetes and high blood pressure. I take about 3 Immodium spaced throughout the day. I am chewing about six pieces of nicotine gum a day in case they are right about nicotine having a protective effect on the colon.I am seeing a doctor tomorrow and will ask about my thinning hair. I've lost about 20 pounds, which is not so bad, but my pants are getting loose. This is my second flare and it has been going on for about six months now. Anyway, 3 days to go. We leave on Thursday for my granddaughter/s wedding cruise. Wish me luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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