Another GI's opinion- Robinul Forte
#205155 - 08/13/05 05:58 AM
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I went yesterday to have a second opinion on my tummy- actually over the past 5 years this was the 6th GI I have seen. But in the past 3 I have been with the same guy who I really liked but always felt pressured to do a "study" at the university. Anyway, I liked him but just got mixed feelings- and almost felt rushed. He wants me to try Robinul Forte- I have never tried this before- has anyone?? and also equalactin- which Iknow has been around for a while??? I am IBS-A mainly D but trying to be stable.
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If you like your usual doctor, you could try telling him you really, really don't want to participate in a clinical study. That might get him to back off a little.
As for the new guy's suggestions, Robinul Forte is an anticholinergic (antispasmodic). I did a quick Google search and found this. It looks to me like lactose is an ingredient. Presumably the amount is small so that might not be a problem unless you're super sensitive to dairy derivatives. I also found a reference to it in Google that said it was used as a medication for excessive sweating (!?) so I'd ask about side effects.
There are some references to Robinul on the Diet Board, so you might try a Search here. Search for just Robinul, not Robinul Forte.
Equalactin is a Soluble Fiber Supplement. It comes pretty highly recommended on the Boards - again you might try a Board Search. I just bought some yesterday to try. If I tolerate it okay, it will be nice to have with me when I'm going out to dinner and so on, because it's chewable and supposedly tastes OK.
The problem with Equalactin is that it's pretty expensive to use as an everyday SFS. I bought 24 tablets at CVS for $4.28. According to Heather, 2 tablets provide 1 gram of soluble fiber. That's 36 cents per gram of SF. By comparison, Acacia costs $13.95 for a bag containing 180 teaspoons; that's 7.75 cents per teaspoon. Since each teaspoon provides 2.5 grams of SF, that's 3.1 cents per gram of SF. Since I take 20 grams of SF per day, using Equalactin as my only SF would cost me $7.20 per day; using Acacia costs me 62 cents.
If you can handle the cost, you might give it a try for a while and see if it helps more than the other SFS you've tried. I'd think the usual start low and go slow rule would apply.
HTH.
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[Research tells us fourteen out of any ten individuals likes chocolate. - Sandra Boynton]
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Jessica, Yes, back at the end of April my GI put me on it.
The first few days it seemed to help, my stools were larger
and easier to pass, but after that, zip, back to the thin
stuff. At the end of May, I saw a GI at Northwestern Univ.
down in Chicago who said Levsin was better, but it didn't
work either. Right now I'm trying Bentyl, which seems at
bit better, but time will tell. -Bob
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<img src="http://www.math.mtu.edu/~rwkolkka/BritPicA.jpg">
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thanks for the search tips- I did the search on just Rubinol Forte and nothing showed- I will try it the other way. I have tried the Acacia- I think I just need to be more patient with increasing it slowly. I am just so trapped for time- I work ful-time and have 2 kids so I am sure you all have been there!! Thanks for the info!!
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For what it's worth, I have tried both Fibercon caplets and Equalactin. They were both effective for me; both worked very well for my away-from-home SFS. I've stuck with Fibercon more, though, because it's less expensive and easier to transport in my purse. (I have a little tin I put the caplets in.)
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I tried Bently- couldn't stay awake!! that's my problem with most of them- they knock me out!! Levsin does nothing for me!!
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I just saw this post and decided to put my 2 cents in. I have tried this before and it did work for a little while but I am more C than D (only have few episiodes). The only thing that really bothered me was the dry mouth. I drank more water and anything else with this medication than with any other medicine I have taken.
I hope it works for you. Give a little time and if it doesn't then I would go back to the doctor and have him give you something else. Bentoyl also works for a while.
I hope this helps. 
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Michelle
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I have found Robinul works very well for me. Does make me sleepy, but takes the pain away. I am a C, so it kind of makes C worse short term, but when you are really hurting, it's worth it to me.
All drugs with hycosamine in them (Levsin ect...) also worked well but gave me a migrane in substitute for my belly pain. So, Rubinal was a good thing for me.
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God is Faithful!
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