Enteragam

Gigi · Post by **Gigi** » Sun Oct 11, 2015 6:12 pm

I searched the forum for this but hardly anything came up so I don't know if many people have tried it. Enteragam is a medical food so it requires a prescription. It is a concentrated bovine immunoglobin powder. Basically it is a very high dose of bovine colostrum. Other than that the only ingredients are dextrose and a minute amount of sunflower lecithin.

I have been using this for a week and I have to say I think it may be working. Wit this disease you hate to get too excited, I know. You can look at www.enteragam.com and see that it is prescribed and marketed for people with diarrhea predominate IBS, IBD, pediatric malabsorption and for AIDS patients. I had been recently flared up due to an accidental gluten ingestion. I was having watery diarrhea 4-8 times a day for the last month. I started taking this a week ago and immediately went to 2-3 non watery bowel movements a day. Online reviews on WebMD are favorable. If you can get a doctor to prescribe it and have insurance you can get the first month supply free. See the website for the details on this. Seems to me to be a fairly risk free potential treatment option. After that not exactly cheap, but not terrible. They told me it would be $49 a month.

Gigi

Lilja · Post by **Lilja** » Mon Oct 12, 2015 2:11 am

Hi,

It says it contains "SBI". What is SBI? In one of the reviews it's said that D stopped, but that the product caused terrible joint pains.

Lilia

Gigi · Post by **Gigi** » Mon Oct 12, 2015 7:19 am

SBI = serum-derived immunoglobulin protein isolate.

I saw that one review. I think she also said it worked to stop diarrhea. If you read the full prescribing info I think from their studies it was effective in something like 70% of the study subjects to control symptoms of diarrhea in what they called diarrhea predominate IBS with a very low incidence of mild side effects that were equivalent to placebo. I don't think joint pain was one of them. I'm going by memory here so if anyone is interested in this information they can see for themselves at the link I gave in my original post.

Lilja · Post by **Lilja** » Mon Oct 12, 2015 7:38 am

Thank you, Gigi.

The B in SBI stands for "bovine": Serum-derived bovine immunoglobulin/protein isolate.

I thought bovine meant "from ox or bull", but where does the bull come in here?

Maybe I'm a bit slow

Lilia

Gigi · Post by **Gigi** » Mon Oct 12, 2015 7:59 am

I guess technically "bovine" can include any animal like a cow, bison, buffalo etc. however I assume this is derived from cows or beef. The company says you should not use the product if you have a beef allergy. But I guess if one is really concerned then a legitimate question to ask them would be from where and from what exactly they source the protein. This is the same question that it helps to ask about any food or food ingredient we ingest but one that is becoming increasingly challenging to answer unless you buy all of your good from a local farmer.

I'm 5 days without one watery BM. Right now I'm not asking that question about this product.

JLH · Post by **JLH** » Mon Oct 12, 2015 9:29 am

I think my doctor gave me written information on this a while ago but she never talked about it. Maybe, I should think about it now.

Is it in place of meals or in addition to them?

Gigi · Post by **Gigi** » Mon Oct 12, 2015 9:53 am

Joan, let me know if you do. We can compare notes.

Gigi

Gigi · Post by **Gigi** » Thu Oct 15, 2015 7:56 am

You simply stir this into a non acidic beverage or soft food like yogurt and eat or drink it. I just use water. There is no specific recommendation to take with a meal or on an empty stomach so I usually take it before or between meals. Still taking it and still having 2 -3 non watery movements a day. Stomach and bowel are calm. Next week I'll have used it 2 times a day for 2 weeks and at that point my doctor said to go to one time per day for 6 months. Gigi

Gigi · Post by **Gigi** » Tue Oct 20, 2015 9:25 am

I thought I would provide an update on this. I am finishing up 2 weeks of taking this in a small amount of water 2 times a day. I continue to be doing very well with two or three bowel movements a day. The first two are usually formed but if there is a third time it usually is not formed. But no watery diarrhea. The instructions from my doctor are to reduce the Enteragam to one time a day and continue for 6 months. My diet is strictly gluten free. I am mostly dairy free. I do eat an egg every one or two weeks. I manage to avoid soy but not 100% of the time because I will make an exception and occasionally eat at PF Changs where, depending on what I order, does have gluten free soy sauce. These restrictions have been in place for over a year but as I have been educated I have gotten better at following them. I am sharing all of this to put the treatment with Enteragam into perspective. I have chosen to not take this discussion to the main message board because I do not want to mislead any newly diagnosed person that this or any treatment can be expected to work without addressing food sensitivities. I also take quite a few supplements, most notably ones to address methylation deficiencies and I also take the probiotics Prescript Assist and Kirkman Pro-Bio Defense.

From the Enteragam website, this is their explanation of how their product works:

EnteraGam® uniquely binds microbial components, such as toxins that bacteria release, that upset the intestinal environment. This helps prevent them from penetrating the lining of the intestine, which can cause chronic loose and frequent stools in people with IBS or IBD.1,2

Reference
Petschow BW, Burnett B, Shaw AL, Weaver EM, Klein GL. Serum-derived bovine immunoglobulin/protein isolate: postulated mechanism of action for management of enteropathy. Clin Exp Gastroenterol. 2014;7:181-190.
Gasbarrini A, Lauritano EC, Garcovich M, Sparano L, Gasbarrini G. New insights into the pathophysiology of IBS: intestinal microflora, gas production and gut motility. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2008;12 Suppl 1:111-117.

My first two 30 count boxes of this prescription have been without charge after application of their vouchers and my insurance benefit. The benefit I have gained so far is certainly worth it. Symptom wise I am as good as I have been since being diagnosed in July 2014.

Gigi

Pat · Post by **Pat** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 2:42 pm

Gigi,

I haven't posted for a long while, but I just received my sample packets of Enteragam today! Also just got off the phone with the specialty pharmacy that my dr wanted me to use to get this. My dr's nurse said that their patients have been paying approximately $50/month for this RX. It all sounds too good to be true! Not a drug, no side effects, not expensive, results have been excellent! Generally when something sounds too good to be true it usually is but I'm willing to try. Thanks for your post. It encouraged me to try it! Will keep you posted.

Pat

Gigi · Post by **Gigi** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 3:02 pm

Pat,

Yeah! I don't think you have anything to lose and everything to possibly gain. It is very easy to take and I have had zero side effects, only significant improvement of symptoms. I will be eager to hear from you!

Gigi

Pat · Post by **Pat** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 4:10 pm

Gigi,

I just drank my first dose. Not the best tasting stuff but certainly not the worst. If it works I can learn to tolerate it!

Pat

Gigi · Post by **Gigi** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 4:55 pm

Pat, I agree. A little strange with it being sweet and a slight taste of beef broth. I think I'd almost prefer it didn't have the dextrose in it. But I think you get used to it and yes I've tasted much worse. Gigi

Gigi · Post by **Gigi** » Sat Nov 28, 2015 9:06 am

Just dropping in to say that I continue to do well using one packet Enteragam a day. I generally have 2 stools per day that are mostly formed but can still be "mush". I can't remember a day in the last month when I've had diarrhea. If the consistency or frequency deteriorates at all It seems to coincide with eating a high histamine food like tomato sauce, avocado or fish and the effect is mild and only for the day following. I continue to be strictly gluten free.

Gigi