Cholestyramine For Diarrhea (Page 5)
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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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I have had IBS-D since 2003, and that was the year I retook all my childhood shots to get into nursing school- so we figure thimerisol (mercury) damage to the mast cells, which are plentiful in the gut. Antihistamines help but don't cure. Pepcid is an antihistamine of sorts and helps. It is worse when fasting. My doc has pinpointed pituitary and adrenal. Studies on fasting rats stressed show they put out high histamine and this can create an ulcer- which i do have. It took a few years after the initial diarrhea to show up as a duodenal ulcer. I suspect the adrenal became involved (and the thyroid then along with it) due to B vitamin deficiency. There was a book published in 1914, when they were first discovering the vitamins and what they did, and pigeons, monkeys and rats all were made deficient in the B complex, vitamin A and vitamin E. The B deficiency caused lesions in the gut, ulcers and enlarged the adrenals, gonads and thyroid. I am negative for H pylori, tested about 5 times, including a biopsy, negative for lactose intolerance, negative for gluten intolerance (in fact eating whole wheat bread helps slow it down) . Eating in general stops or slows it. Going without eating for a few hours to all night causes it to be loose again. I used to be awakened every morning at 3 am- that was my main cortisol (adrenal/pituitary) symptom. For years. I was better than an alarm clock. I worked 2 hours away and had to get up at that time too so that worked out. Now I am unemployed from the recession, and have taken up to 100 mg of melatonin to go to sleep and stay asleep- and the diarrhea often ruined my sleep. Now the melatonin does nothing and I must take 50 mg of benadryl to sleep- and as an antihistamine it helps there too- and now the diarrhea starts at 6 am. So I get more sleep, but am still forced up by the scoots.

I cleared my gallbladder of stones with a quart of vinegar, and must keep the gallbladder clear with various GB stimulators at mealtime- vinegar pills, tumeric, cumin, fenugreek seed, beet powder, even coffee. If I don't have one, I have the other.
I have seen some improvement with berberine, maca root (which helped the thyroid and adrenal- relieved the depression and gave me some energy) whole thyroid Rx, and most recently, the 12 tissue salts. These are more gradual, but I am seeing improvement. I can use fewer gall bladder stimulants. Maybe 1 or 2 pills rather than 4-5. Stools having more brown color-more consistantly, even when diarrhea.

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Thanks for all the answers. My Dr is now checking me for Celiac Disease (gluten allergy) . Also doing some tests for couple autoimmune disease. Hopefully he'll find answers. I'm also only 48, and this IBS -D has ruined my life on total disability since 2008. I don't get out of my house except a couple times a year. Hopefully these tests will finally given me some answers! Best of health to all!

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Take one scoop before each main meal. Try taking it 30 mins to hr before eating.

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Hopefully you've found a solution by now but just in case someone else is reading this. I've had chronic ibs-d for over 30 years. I am 48 years old. It has affected my entire life: where I work, when I work, what restaurants and how often I can go out to eat with my family, etc.. Recently my ibs went haywire, but at the same time my cholesterol increased and my dr put me on a statin. Instead of searching ibs cures I started looking for a relationship between cholesterol and ibs..and I found two things that have changed my entire life..even if for only 2 weeks so far---florastor and cholestyramine (par manuf)--- The cholestyramine can actually lower your cholesterol but at the same time binds your stools...try it. And if that doesn't work for you..don't give up. Try an allergic to see if you are allergic to glutens, lactose(found in medications),etc..don't stop until you find something that works for you. It's out there..you just need to ask the right question to the right person with the answer..

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I take 1 pouch (5.7 g pouch which contains 4 grams cholestyramine resin) daily mixed in water (about 1 1/2 cups water). I take it before food in the morning but then can eat right after. It is cholestyramine for oral suspension USP light. The light one uses nutrasweet and dissolves best and tastes the best to me.Sandoz brand really makes a difference too. Some of the others taste like plastic. Obviously who ever makes some of those other brands never tasted it. The Dr. told me that the cholestyramine absorbs bile salts. After surgery, small bowel resection due to Crohn's 18 years ago, I have been able to lead a normal life. I remember the urgency, the horrible cramping and searching for a bathroom immediately after eating. I would recommend talking to your gastroenterologist to see if this is a good option for you.

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My doc prescribed it after gall bladder surgery: mixed in applesauce 2x / day, it's not too horrible, and it works!

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I got the Sandoz brand, it didn't help with diarrhea, just made my nauseated. Along with IBS-D, I also have diverticulosis. How many times a day do you take the Cholestyramine & what dose?

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I have been taking cholestyramine for 18 years after a small bowel resection necessitated by Crohn's disease. It has made my life normal. I am able to eat anything without the horrible diarrhea effects that I had been having even after surgery. Some brands are absolutely horrible. I suspect that I have tried them all. The best brand that I have found is Cholestyramine light (sweetened with nutrasweet) by Sandoz. I mix it with water and drink it straight down before breakfast everyday.

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I was prescribed cholestyramine for IBS-D. It didn't help but made me nauseated, so I stopped taking it. I was treated with Cleocin and Cephalexin, recently for an abcessed tooth, now have C. difficile. I'm currently taking Flagyl. I'm having severe diarrhea with incontinence, rectal pain, sores around my rectum. I'm taking 8mg/day Lomotil, 6mg Robinal Forte & 4 Immodium & still having severe diarrhea! I'm also on Verapamil 180 mg./day. Would it be good to try taking the Cholestyramine again? I just don't know what to do anymore, I feel like I'm going to die. Can't keep anything in for more than 5 minutes. I'm eating yogurt also. Any recommendations? PLEASE HELP! THANKS. I'M 48 yo female disabled from IBS-D, fibromyalgia, CFS, malnourished.

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To Verwon: Thank you so very much for this post/reply to my post of the last few days.. I knew it had something to do with bile acids but did nto understand it until now. So I now will be able to look up a little bit more about the osmotic part of which you wrote. Thanks again.

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Cholestyramine can be used to treat diarrhea, because it makes bile acids, such as those that may be secreted after gall bladder surgery, from being osmotically active. When they are osmotically active, they attract more water from the body into the bowel, which can cause diarrhea.

It may cause side effects, such as: constipation, nausea, tooth discoloration and premature tooth decay.

Learn more:

https:/­/­rxchat.com/­wiki/­Cholestyramine/­

Is there anything else I can help with?

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