My current trial of VSL#3 - mle_ii

[Pat]

How do you know VSL # 3 has dairy in it? I am very interested because I take it and I am casein intolerant.

Pat

[tex]

Pat,

The unflavored packets and capsules are free of the sweetener maltose, as is the DS powder but all of the preparations may contain traces of dairy. There is extensive scientific data on VSL#3 in the literature. Based on some of that data, I am prescribing VSL#3 DS powder and recommending over the counter VSL#3 capsules and unflavored powder to my patients regularly. I am advising my patients to avoid the flavored form of VSL#3. Some of my patients report nausea with VSL#3, especially the double strength powder. Reducing the dose often helps prevent this side effect. I also caution those who are dairy allergic or sensitive to avoid VSL#3.

The above quote is from The Food Doc Journal:

http://thefooddoc.blogspot.com/2008/01/ ... -only.html

Polly, Andrew, and Matthew are/were all dairy intolerant. I was thinking that Mike is/was also, but I'm not sure.

If you read some of my fairly recent posts about my dairy "issues", (in the "Treatments Discussions . . ." forum), you will see that I have found that since my gut has healed, casein no longer causes most of the typical symptoms that it once did, however, if I eat significant amounts of it, for an extended period, it seems to activate my arthritis.

Maybe the amount present is below your threshold for triggering a reaction.

Tex

[ErinD]

I was thinking of trying Ultimate Flora but i am currently on 9mg of Entocort daily. Is it ok to take them together? or should i wait to try it whenever i am off of Entocort?

[tex]

Erin,

I'm not aware of any research specifically directed at using Entocort and a probiotic together, though there has been some research that shows that a good probiotic helps to minimize the side effects of treatment to control H. pylori, for example:

http://www.patienthealthinternational.c ... /4063.aspx

In the absence of any disclaimers by the manufacturer of Entocort, related to contraindications concerning the concurrent use of probiotics with budesonide, I see no reason why they cannot be used together. In fact, since Entocort is an immune system suppressant, it's highly likely that a good probiotic might be quite beneficial to help to keep the gut flora properly balanced, and reduce the chances of a toxic strain getting out of control, while the body's natural defenses are restrained.

Additionally, the Entocort will probably eliminate the risk of an adverse reaction to any traces of casein that might possibly be in the probiotic.

Tex

[mle_ii]

Erin,

I'm not aware of any research specifically directed at using Entocort and a probiotic together, though there has been some research that shows that a good probiotic helps to minimize the side effects of treatment to control H. pylori, for example:

http://www.patienthealthinternational.c ... /4063.aspx

In the absence of any disclaimers by the manufacturer of Entocort, related to contraindications concerning the concurrent use of probiotics with budesonide, I see no reason why they cannot be used together. In fact, since Entocort is an immune system suppressant, it's highly likely that a good probiotic might be quite beneficial to help to keep the gut flora properly balanced, and reduce the chances of a toxic strain getting out of control, while the body's natural defenses are restrained.

Additionally, the Entocort will probably eliminate the risk of an adverse reaction to any traces of casein that might possibly be in the probiotic.

Tex

There is one possible issue with probiotics and Entocort, though it may be only for certain types of meds which Entocort may not be one of. Anyway, this issue might be part of the following. Some medications are taken up by the body due to what the bacteria due to the meds. Supposedly the med wouldn't even work without the bacteria being present. I wish I could remember which one(s), but I do remember coming accross this at one point and found it odd.

Anyone know anything more about this?

Mike

[mle_ii]

Polly, Andrew, and Matthew are/were all dairy intolerant. I was thinking that Mike is/was also, but I'm not sure.

I was, but I'm thinking it was more the lactose, but then I do remember trying a lactose free cheddar cheese and having major symptoms. I can eat dairy now without problems, but I still do limit it due to it helping SIBO to grow at larger levels if you eat too much of it. So it could have been that it was the proteins, but since my gut healed to some point I don't react or react as much. Could be due to producing more of the needed enzymes. Who knows, but VSL#3 hasn't been a problem as far as I can tell.

By the way, nothing major to report. I did eat and drink some things I normally don't during the Superbowl and so I didn't feel quite right. But nothing compared to the problems I've had in the past to these same foods. In fact I enjoyed a few rum and cokes all without any issue whereas in the past I'd get very sick afterward. Strange... but good. :D

Mike

[Pat]

That is so good, Mike, that you can eat and drink more things. I am looking forward to someday being able to add some more things back in my diet.

Pat

[tex]

There is one possible issue with probiotics and Entocort, though it may be only for certain types of meds which Entocort may not be one of. Anyway, this issue might be part of the following. Some medications are taken up by the body due to what the bacteria due to the meds. Supposedly the med wouldn't even work without the bacteria being present. I wish I could remember which one(s), but I do remember coming accross this at one point and found it odd.

Anyone know anything more about this?

Mike

That would have to be an antibiotic, wouldn't it? In general, corticosteroids work by acting within cells to prevent the release of certain chemicals that are important in the immune system, (chemicals that are normally involved in producing immune and allergic responses, which result in inflammation). Budesonide is specifically not recommended for treating bacterial infections, (presumably because it has no effect on them).

Tex

[ErinD]

Thank you for the info on Probiotics and Entocort, i am still thinking of going ahead and trying it. I am not doing well on the Entocort and diet alone, not sure why

[mle_ii]

That would have to be an antibiotic, wouldn't it? In general, corticosteroids work by acting within cells to prevent the release of certain chemicals that are important in the immune system, (chemicals that are normally involved in producing immune and allergic responses, which result in inflammation). Budesonide is specifically not recommended for treating bacterial infections, (presumably because it has no effect on them).

Tex

Maybe, perhaps it was a vitamin (Biotin or K) that I was thinking of which is produced by bacteria.

[mle_ii]

FWIW Today I'm a bit more on the constipated side than normal. Though mostly in form rather than it being a problem to go.

[Gloria]

Are all of these probiotics available over the counter or is a prescription needed? Do they have to be (or can they be) ordered over the Internet? I need to take one that is dairy-free, so I'm especially interested in Ultimate Flora.

Gloria

[mle_ii]

Are all of these probiotics available over the counter or is a prescription needed? Do they have to be (or can they be) ordered over the Internet? I need to take one that is dairy-free, so I'm especially interested in Ultimate Flora.

Gloria

There is only one Probiotic that I know of that requires a prescription, all the others do not. VSL#3 normal strength all kinds, and all the other probiotics are available over the counter and thus you can't even get a perscription for. The only one that I know of that requires one is VSL#3 DS (Double Strength), but you need to have Ulcerative Colitis or Crohns, at least that's what I remember.

Most of the better ones (high bacteria count, etc) seem to only be available over the internet, though some stores supposedly carry the, but I've yet to find one that does. That said it's probably cheaper over the internet anyway.

Thanks,
Mike

[tex]

Gloria,

If you Google "Ultimate Flora", you will turn up about a zillion sites that sell the product.

Tex

[mle_ii]

There is one possible issue with probiotics and Entocort, though it may be only for certain types of meds which Entocort may not be one of. Anyway, this issue might be part of the following. Some medications are taken up by the body due to what the bacteria due to the meds. Supposedly the med wouldn't even work without the bacteria being present. I wish I could remember which one(s), but I do remember coming accross this at one point and found it odd.

Anyone know anything more about this?

Mike

That would have to be an antibiotic, wouldn't it? In general, corticosteroids work by acting within cells to prevent the release of certain chemicals that are important in the immune system, (chemicals that are normally involved in producing immune and allergic responses, which result in inflammation). Budesonide is specifically not recommended for treating bacterial infections, (presumably because it has no effect on them).

Tex

Aha! Here's what I was talking about:
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewt ... 5asa#34834

Bacteria are involved in Asacol and making it useful for the body. I wonder what else is.

Whoa! And I just had a thought. No idea where I'm going with this, but found it interesting. Let's say that for folks who had a bad reaction or got worse with Asacol that they had SIBO, that means that it would be being released in the small intestine rather than the colon.

Mike