Sandy Says:
Cholestyramine For Diarrhea (Page 3)
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Wynn Says:
I do have high cholesterol and high triglycerides(sp?) but the Cholestyramine was prescribed for me for diarrhea and such since my gall-bladder surgery. i am confused as it is not on the instructions re: what I went to the doctor to have "fixed"? I was losing my stools 3 or 4 times per day.
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Hi I had 2 to 3 foot of my small intestine removed when a abscess ruptured that was 3-3-15 it is now September I have been taking cholestyramine for about 5 months. I find it works great and everything is fine for a few days then all of a sudden diarrhea again. Have to take two to three packets when my intestines act up. I eat lots of protein and take two fiber tablets before bed and usually I am normal. I find I can't eat spicy foods,fried foods,drink alcohol I mostly exist on chicken and Turkey and cheese.I just read it can take 4 to 5 years to heal and where mine ruptured I get blockages which the doctor says will happen no m matter what I eat it's from scar tissue. I try new foods when I have been normal about a week sometimes I can handle it sometimes I can handle it just once second time my stomach starts rolling and gurgling and I am in bathroom for a couple days even with cholestyramine. Good luck life is different and I accept that just wish I could eat jalapeno again!!!
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Stage 4 Survivor Says:
If you are referring to me, notice my dates are August 2015.
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Valoree Says:
It looks like you posted this over a year ago but hey, I'm going through this right now soooo - they now market cholestyramine with the primary purpose of binding to bile leaking back from the liver into the digestive system with diarrhea as the primary result, and secondarily as a way to keep cholesterol down. I think the meds that are solely for that - HCTZ, etc. - are better but they also don't have the bile binding secondary purpose. I have been doing incredible on the cholestyramine for the last two weeks, skipped it two days due to vacation and could absolutely tell it was missing - though my doctor didn't mention the potential iron deficiency issue. Since I'm borderline anemic I will have to to touch base with him on that
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Stage 4 Survivor Says:
Dosage has now been reduced to every other day = 4mg between meals once a day.
Seems to control my loose stools, now more compact. Yes!!!!
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Stage 3 Survivor Says:
My original dosage was 4 mg twice a day WITH meals. I developed more diarrhea, so doc has me now once day, mid-day when I am not just finishing nor starting with a meal. It now seems to do the job. Yay
!
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Stage 3 Survivor Says:
I had colorectal resection (cancer) 11 years ago. Have been living with fecal incontenance since then. Very problematic for travels and leading a normal life. Dr. suggested cholestrymin powder (Sandoz). Trial and error has me taking one 4 mg in water once a day. The jury's still out, but I do notice a great relief from constant diarrhea and all the inconveniences associated. I know to take meds way prior or after taking a dose of this med. I am hopeful and confident that this may the answer. Many who have commented seem to have had success. Boy, am I looking for that!
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Barb Says:
Recent gallbladder surgery. Colon/rectal cancer 23 yrs ago. Radiation, surgery and chemo at that time. Since the gallbladder surgery I have developed fecal incontinence
but have had IBS like symptoms since the cancer. Dr. prescribed Cholestyramie for Oral Suspension USP powder. Does anyone know how long this takes to kick in? Also I am taking Levothyroxine and Atorvastatin . In some of my research it mentions these drugs may interact wit the Cholestyramine. Does anyone know if I should not be taking
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Dino Says:
Hi, When I was on a low-fat diet with lots of fruits and vegetables, I found that I was able to go without the cholestyramine for a few days. I also had one low-fat yogurt every day, which is a probiotic that helps to add good bacteria to your stomach and colon to aid with digestion. Just a thought. Good luck to you.
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Carol Says:
For Loreva, Jill and Rhonda - I have had this problem for years and all since my gall bladder operation in 1996. Thank God for Chlorestamine - I can finally eat. The liquid diahreha was the worst ever and kept me at home. Have faith - it really works!
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Loreva Says:
I have had severe diarrhea for five weeks. My doctor prescribed Cholestyramine for Oral Suspension, with instructions to use "as needed". I am still having explosive diarrhea; am afraid to leave the house. Does anyone have advice as to what to do next? I've used the BRAT diet but still have the problem. Help, if you can.
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JillE Says:
Wanted to share my experiences with chronic, watery diarrhea. I, too, could expect diarrhea within ten minutes of eating. A biopsy during a Colonoscopy revealed I have lymphocytic colitis, apparently an added bonus of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and specifically the auto-immune disease which RA automatically comes with. For more than 20 years my primary doctor thought I had fibromyalgia, but the rheumatologist told me it was something else that hadn't emerged yet; that something was the RA which finally showed up in deformity of knuckles, increased pain, etc. and I'm convinced that for all those years I was experiencing the auto-immune symptoms (feeling like you're coming down with the flu, temps, and a host of other symptoms), while the RA had not yet shown up.
The diarrhea showed up about 7 yrs ago, and the gastroenterologist treated the lymphocytic colitis with Pepto Bismol, the commonly used treatment. It didn't work for me, so the doctor put me on steroids, which did help but can't be taken for long periods of time. During the next several years, I realized that I'm not just lactose intolerant also, but must be allergic to cow's milk (or whatever they eat). I balked when the gastroenterologist told me the next step would be immuno-suppressive drugs and I asked my primary doctor if she had any ideas. She put me on a trial of Cholestryamine powder, which seems to be working, at least for now. Good luck to us all.
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Rhonda Says:
IBS ran my life for at least 20 years. I had just learned to live with it. Six months ago, I asked my doctor if not having a gall bladder had something to do with it and he said let's try the cholestryamine. It's been like a miracle. We can eat out now, and not worry about getting home quickly. We have gone on several weekend trips and actually ate away from home. I want to tell everybody about it, because it really has got my life back to normal.
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Dino Says:
I have been taking Cholestyramine powder for a couple years to help control diarrhea post gallbladder surgery. Recently I had to have a tooth pulled, and had excessive bleeding afterwards. Because the bleeding would not stop, I had to have 3 stitches to stop the bleeding. My dentist asked me if I was on a blood thinner, and I said as far as I knew I was not. Then when I read online of the possible side effects of taking this medicine, excessive bleeding was one of the number one problems. Why aren't people warned about this side effect?
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Barbara Says:
Could you have celiac disease?
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cheri Says:
What is something over counter to take as I have no insurance anymore and have taken Cholestermine for about 5 yr. the pills they suggest are too expensive.
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Steve Says:
Cholestryamine packet once a day is like asilver bullet after gall bladder removal. I use to have to go to the bathroom within 10 minutes of eating. Now I can eat any thing when ever I want.
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Carol Says:
Thank you for this information. I will definitely check with my doctor as you suggest - thank you for the prompt reply.
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Penelope Says:
I would ask your primary care physician about that. Make sure the increase doesn't affect your absorption of other vitamins and minerals you are consuming. I ended up going to a hematologist for low iron absorption (ferratin which is needed to make blood) and was told that the problem with cholestyramine is that all minerals and vitamins bind to it and you pass them as well. The medication also needs to be taken hours before and after other medications,etc. As mentioned earlier, I had to receive iron iv's for over a month. Interestingly I found that my body formed solid stools again once my iron storage level was increased. If your doctor gives you the okay for the increase ask them to write a new prescription showing the increase in dosing with the correct quantity that will now be needed to make a 30 day supply.
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Carol Says:
Is it possible to take two doses ( not at the same time) of the Cholestyramine if you are going to be out for the entire day and not sure what meals you will be having. I have had a problem with this - embarrasing sometimes - if I haven't taken the meds before I'm ready to eat. Please let me know - thank you.
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Penelope Says:
@Sarah: I think cholestryamine was created to help lower cholesterol but it seemed to have a common side effect--it constipated the patients.
Years ago I found that brand Cipro seemed to give me solid stools...it is now, more than twenty years later... used to treat the bowel. Side effect..turned medication.
I don't eat fat..because of my chronic IBS (24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 356 days a year)..but I have high cholesterol. Family history,..I inherited. As the cardiologist explained to me: You might not eat it..but you inherited it. Your body produces it! That being said--I think of cholestrymine as an IBS Drug with the side effect that it may help lower my cholesterol. Good luck.
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