Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards | Paregoric (Rx) for IBS-D

Hi all---

I'm a 40-yr-old male who's had Diarrhaea-predominant IBS since at least 1990, which worsened until I was diagnosed in 1999, and I'm mostly homebound since then. But in mid-August I was recommended Paregoric (aka "Camphorated Tincture of Opium") by my GP. (My Gastroenterologist has basically given up on me!)

For 5 weeks I took one TEAspoon per day, usually at bedtime since it can make one drowsy. It COMPLETELY PREVENTED DIARRHAEA, and shortened my time on the toilet from max. 5 hrs. per day to 2 or less, often less than one!

2 more weeks and it was clear to me it was having less effect, so I upped it to 2 TEAspoons per day, bedtime and after lunch/dinner, and it has mostly returned to full effectiveness.

Paregoric is a Schedule II Narcotic and said to be capable of habit-forming. It has a very strong taste and smell, and I think it's almost half alcohol. Apparently after WW2 it was used alot on teething kids' gums, for random diarrhaea, and also as cough medicine. For our purposes it's an ANTI-PERISTALTIC, which means it slows the operation of your GI system, presumably so that more fluid is absorbed from stool while in the colon, preventing diarrhaea. DO NOT TAKE IF YOU'RE ALREADY CONSTIPATED!!!!!!!!!! Also, OVERDOSE CAN CAUSE RESPIRATORY DEPRESSION, COMA, AND DEATH!!!!!!!!!!

It's also hard to find; I had to call around to several pharmacies around the major city where I live, before finding one with it in stock...and when they ran out they couldn't get any more, so I had to switch to another pharmacy. BUT LET ME TELL YOU IT'S WORTH IT!!!!! Some online Pharmacies say they have it too, so if you can use them/if they're on your health plan or anything, more power to ya. For that matter, I think it's under 10 dollars US per 150 ml bottle - that's one month's worth at 1 TEAspoon per day...30 days. (1 tsp = 5 ml)

This was inspired by a Heather research link regarding Naltrexone, an opioid substitute therapy for heroin addicts etc., which in tiny doses seemed to bring all types of IBS, male or female, under control within one month. They're still in clinical trials, but my GP said, What about Paregoric, since it too is derived from the opium poppy. It's so old she wasn't even sure it was still Scheduled!...that's how 'out of left field' this idea was. But it just may change your life...even let you HAVE one!!!

Blessings,
Leo

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