Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards | Re: Immodium

Maybe prescription strength Immodium is different, but I've always taken it OTC since I was a kid. I really try not to take it unless I'm not going to have easy access to a bathroom (like a road trip, plane, train, etc.), and here is why.

I was told by my gastroenterelogist not to take immodium anymore because immodium actually contributes to the upset of the balance between diarrhea and constipation. I really didn't believe him b/c I had been taking it for so long and had come to depend on it, but I decided to try for a week and wean myself off it it and then go a week and not use it at all. I'll tell you what, it made a big difference. I really never paid attention to the frequency of needing to use it, it became a natural thing to reach for it after after loose BM, but that week I weaned myself off was HARD, I ended up taking a few days off work so I could be sure to be close to the bathroom when needed (there was only 1 stall for women on the other side of the building), but the following week, as each day passed, I noticed the IBS symptoms actually did improve. I still buy immodium just to have on hand "just in case!", but rarely use it anymore. I've gone down from using 5 or more a day to about 5 a month...and that's if it's a bad month. I had my gall bladder removed a year ago and had to go to an extremely low fat diet, I don't usually get more than 30grams of fat per day now, and I think having to change my eating to like was a big reason my IBS symptoms are a lot less frequent. I just found this site so I haven't yet tried this IBS diet, but I'm going to give it a shot if I can work around the other medical problems that restrict my food as well. I'm anemic, insulin resistant, and IBS and some of the foods I need for 1 thing conflict with another (like whole wheat for insulin resistance blocks absorption of iron!).

I really suggest those who take immodium to try and wean themselves off for a period of time and see if that makes a difference. Sometimes something can really help us and at the same time using too much can contribute to the problem. I've read things on this site that talked about other foods that contribute to the inbalance between constipation and diarrhea and Immodium can be added to that list. Of course that may not be true for everyone!

Good luck!

Erin

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Erin
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IBS-D, GERD...
I got it comin' outta 1 end or the other!

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