Medications And Supplements That May Be Used By MC Patients

Here you can find information on medications found by the members of this discussion board to be generally safe and effective, and to minimize the risk of provoking a microscopic colitis flare or relapse.

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tex
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Post by tex »

FWIW I had the same experience with Claritin when I tried it for fall pollen allergy symptoms. Allegra seemed to work when it tried it, so I've stuck with it.


Monica,

You're very welcome,
Tex
:cowboy:

It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
WhirledPeas
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Ranitidine 300 mg and loose stool/diarrhea

Post by WhirledPeas »

I am very discouraged. I did everything possible to get a good nights sleep and be peaceful/positive place this morning. Since Saturday night and especially Sunday, I had wicked burning in my stomach gastritis and burning in my throat which would start 2-4 hours after eating first meal of the day. From Sunday night until yesterday afternoon I was taking Ranitidine 150 mg twice a day before breakfast and dinner ( Turkey tenderloins and rice crackers). I was so miserable yesterday afternoon that I called my doctors office and told them I was not getting any relief. My doctor is on vacation so one of his partners spoke to me on the phone which took some doing. He suggested I increase it to 300 mg twice a day which I started before dinner last night and he told me I could take it 2 hours before the Budesonide 9 mg try take at 9 AM. I was taking the 150 mg at 11 AM previously and this morning I took it at 5:30 AM when I got up to go to the bathroom and go back to bed. I ate my first meal of the day and was having a hard time having an appetite to eat it like I usually do and then had urgency and had a partially broken up with some liquid BM.

The only thing that had changed was increasing the dosage and changing the time to before taking the steroid at 9 AM. The doctor told me I could take Ranitidine on an empty stomach. With my very limited diet I was having very small formed BMs last week. To give you an example it took me Monday to Saturday to get a cup of stool for the Enterolab C1 and (A1 repeat). I went to physical therapy for my neck which I haven't done in a long time since my flareup started on May 1 and the stretching they did with me I think helped move my bowels on Saturday morning And then I had a long massage on Saturday late afternoon and on Sunday morning I had the most normal and largest BM since this all started. Then I made the mistake of trying a fourth of a cup a very steamed yellow squash that had the yellow part peeled off and within 45 minutes I had urgency and had a small loose movement a few hours after the very normal one. Monday and Tuesday I didn't have any significant movements. The burning in the stomach and throat started Saturday after being facedown with an empty stomach during the massage and I remember my tongue feeling tingly and weird which I later deducted it was reflux. Then on Sunday it got so bad that I called the after hours doctor on call and he put me on 150 mg twice a day and yesterday afternoon I still was so miserable that I called during working hours and was told to increase to 300 mg. Do you think that the increase in milligrams cause my loose movement since diarrhea and constipation or listed as side effects for that acid reducer? Or do you think it was still that fourth of a cup of yellow squash from mid day Sunday? It's hard to imagine that's the culprit because you think it would happen on Monday rather than Wednesday like it usually does with me.

I feel like I'm back at square one in someways. I tried so hard to keep things normal by restricting my diet. I usually don't find out if the burning comes back until a few hours or longer after eating. Do I continue eating the turkey and rice crackers despite having broken up diarrhea? Or liquids for the rest of the day? Yesterday afternoon I was 136 pounds and this morning I was 135 pounds which obviously is because I hadn't eaten or drank anything. I was 149 pounds on April 30.

Every day I say it's going to get better the next day and the next day is always the new thing to deal with or the same issue comes back.

On Monday and Tuesday I thought perhaps I was slightly constipated from taking a few Tums which in the past have done that to me, but surprise surprise it was not that.

I need some advice and encouragement and I have to decide if I'm going to call the same doctor I spoke to yesterday. From what he said he probably will try to get me to take Prilosec or tell me to keep on the same dosage for another day or two and see what happens.

My goal was to go to physical therapy across the street at 3 PM and I hope my body lets me.

😥😥
Wen
1st severe flare 5/1/17 Budesonide started 6/7/17. MC/Gastritis 5/2013; IBS/GERD 2001nobiopsy. Celiac biopsy neg2013. Protonix2001-2006.
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Post by tex »

Wen,

IMO trying to micromanage all of the daily intricacies of MC is a lot like trying to herd cats. It ain't likely to happen the way you want it to happen, and it will drive you up the wall eventually if you persist in trying to do it. Your stress level is dominating and defeating all your other recovery efforts. You've got to learn to relax, and go with the flow. Allow your body to heal. Give it the freedom it needs to heal.

One of the primary reasons why you have MC in the first place is because of your nit-picking attempt to control everything because you're uncomfortable. But that's common among MC patients. We're all uncomfortable, and we're all control freaks. So welcome to the club. The main difference between those of us who are in remission and those who are not, is that those of us in remission have learned how to let go of at least some of the stress in our lives. Your stress level practically guarantees that your symptoms are going to continue, regardless of whatever else you do. The diet changes don't have a chance in the face of that much chronic stress. I can feel the stress all the way down here in Texas.

When did your bowels relax and perform almost normally? It was following the massage, when you relaxed for a while. Progress in recovering from MC, and how you are feeling in general, should be reviewed every month or so, not every minute, day, or week. That's tempting, but it's counterproductive. It's akin to trying to lose weight, while checking the scale once or twice a day. You're going to feel bad much of the time, no matter what you do. You've got MC. MC is not like a daydream, where we can just turn off the symptoms, or otherwise control everything, all the time. It's a serious disease, and it can alter our lifestyle. And that drives us (control freaks) up the wall.

We can't always travel first class on this journey back to good health. Sometimes we may be forced to hitchhike. Or we may have to fly by the seat of our pants (as pilots used to say). But if we push on, we can get to where we're going. We have to step back and just accept the fact that we're going to have bad days even when we do everything right, just because of the whimsical nature of the disease. But as we heal, the bad days will slowly become fewer and farther between. If we really learn how to just let go and we continue to avoid all of our sensitivities, eventually the bad days will disappear altogether and we will wake up one morning and realize that we are at our destination. We've got our life back.

Tex
:cowboy:

It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
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Post by WhirledPeas »

What I was trying to relay is that the massage helped relax my body (car accident in March = cervical issues and frozen shoulder in December). It helped me have a bigger bowel movement because she worked on certain areas that affect the colon. The negative aspect of the massage was that it started me having reflux from laying down flat for an hour. I could feel the acid on my tongue. I was scheduled for an hour 15 minute massage and she felt my body needed two hours which was a lovely gift which I tipped her generously for. since I hadn't eaten for 4 hours prior to the massage because I did not want to have to go to the bathroom or have indigestion which has happened to me in the past if I ate too close to a massage. I thought I would be eating by 515 but she didn't leave my apartment until 630 since she sat and talked with me for 20 minutes so a lot of acid built up in my stomach from not eating for 6 1/2 hours. Even under a normal healthy conditions that happens to me if I don't eat every four 1-2 hours or so. I have been doing video meditations in the morning, afternoon and before bed and doing my very best to be calm and peaceful. This is my very first severe flareup. Many of you have been experiencing this for a long time for which my heart goes out to you all. In the past I was always able to get back to my normal within a few weeks without much concern. It was like clockwork what I had to do. I was told by a number of people to keep a diary of what I consume and what medicines I take so I took that advice. I read online that Zantac especially at higher doses can cause diarrhea or constipation. I have never taken that high dose before in my life.

I'm doing the best that I can. I am navigating very unfamiliar waters.

Besides my Doctor who is on vacation and doesn't offer much beyond a prescription, I come here to vent and seek some support. No one in my life understands this condition and are dumbfounded by what I have been going through since the beginning of May.

W
1st severe flare 5/1/17 Budesonide started 6/7/17. MC/Gastritis 5/2013; IBS/GERD 2001nobiopsy. Celiac biopsy neg2013. Protonix2001-2006.
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Post by Erica »

I was prescribed Entocort about 5 years ago, 3mg capsules. I finished my 6 week treatment plan and now I take as needed. 3mg is too much for me at a time. is it possible to open this capsule and mix only half of it, 1.5mg, in water?
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Post by Erica »

have any members ever tried Amino L Glutamine, Liv Complex or HMF Forte? I have found it has helped me tremendously.
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Post by Gabes-Apg »

ERica
the capsule is designed to protect the med so it is released lower in the digestion system, taking the powder with water will only help your esophagus.

some people use 1 x 3mg dose every 2-3 days as their maintenance dose.
or you can buy empty capsules from compounding pharmacy and do the split that you are talking about.
Gabes Ryan

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Vitamin D3 recs / question about which source is best for MC

Post by WhirledPeas »

I'm looking for a Vitamin D3 1000 IU capsule that is not from a fish (liver) source and soy free. Solgar 1000 IU uses fish liver. I see one that by Nutrigold uses lanolin instead in a base of organic olive oil (for better absorption) and it's $32.98. 360 count.

Any recommendations? Hoping for ones that are Amazon Prime delivery or an Add On, but if I need to pay for shipping I will. I'm a Amazon Prime member. Can't get out to shop, so it has to be online.

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_nr_n_1? ... 2941120011

Just found this: http://www.consumerlab.com/answers/What ... e-lanolin/

Looks like it's either fish, lanolin, synthetic source or vegan (lichen).

The vegan/vegetarian one by Whole Earth and Sea has these ingredients:

Ingredients
Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol, lichen) (whole), Microcrystalline cellulose, vegetable capsule (carbohydrate gum [cellulose], purified water), vegetable lubricant (palm)


Any pointers would be appreciated. Price isn't an issue if it means better quality and easier to digest/tolerate without tummy/GI or after taste issues. Prefer to take one that has had good reviews from MC folks on here.

Also need to order B12 sublingual (lozenge) 1000 mcg (1 mg). It seems many have sorbitol, xylitol, etc. in them and some with citric acid and fruit flavorings. Anyone have a brand to recommend in US? I'm trying to recover from "D" on Wednesday and don't want anything to bring that back.

Much appreciated!!!

Wen
1st severe flare 5/1/17 Budesonide started 6/7/17. MC/Gastritis 5/2013; IBS/GERD 2001nobiopsy. Celiac biopsy neg2013. Protonix2001-2006.
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Post by tex »

Hi Wen,

I don't know if you have a special reason for wanting to take such a small amount of vitamin D, but I take Doctors Best, 5,000 IU. I don't have the slightest idea what it is originally derived from, but I doubt it is liver or lanolin, because there's no aftertaste. It's likely synthetic. This product contains virgin olive oil and the capsule, which is made of gelatin, glycerin and water.

https://www.amazon.com/Doctors-Best-Vit ... 1500081201

If you want to take only 1,000 IU daily, take one every 5 days. I take one every other day in summer, and every day in winter. This product provides 360 small softgels for less than 10 bucks, Prime delivery. At least a year's supply, or 5 years if you only take one every 5 days.

Tex
:cowboy:

It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
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Post by WhirledPeas »

Hi Tex :)

Thank you for your reply. In the Q and A section on that link you added it says it's from lanolin and that it has glycerin in it and that you would have to contact the manufacturer to see if it was based from SOY. Soy was on my sensitivity list from Enterolab recently. It was not in 2013 when I first tested with them. Curious. Are you soy sensitive per Enterolab?

What b12 do you take? Citric acid was an issue for me when I was eating jello and applesauce in May and made my gastritis worse. Seems a lot of the flavored lozenges have citric acid, fruit flavors, sorbitol, xylitol, etc. Any advice? Open to a liquid version if there is one without some of these ingredients. Life was so much simpler before May when my system was pretty happy.

Onward and upward...

Wen
1st severe flare 5/1/17 Budesonide started 6/7/17. MC/Gastritis 5/2013; IBS/GERD 2001nobiopsy. Celiac biopsy neg2013. Protonix2001-2006.
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Post by WhirledPeas »

YAY! It's GF and soy free!

http://www.drbvitamins.com/products/vit ... e4bY0.dpbs

This B12 liquid is pricey, but no citric acid or sorbitol/zylitol. Whatcha think of these?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B015YDVT48?th=1

Ingredients
Vitamin B12(as Methylcobalamin), purified water, organic grape alcohol - We use only natual ingredients. Taste and color can vary from batch to batch. No sweeteners are used to enhance flavor.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XFTS9Z6?psc=1

This one is 3,000 mcg per 1/4 tsp, so if I could take 1/8 tsp for 1,500 mcg. Seems like this is a better deal. No alcohol in this one.

Our bioactive B12 is 100% Methylcobalamin (NOT Cyanocobalamin)
Our B-12 is made with kosher certified vegetable glycerin.
Has organic raspberry mild flavoring.
There are a generous 48 servings per bottle.
There are NO GMO's, no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives.
And are 100% Alcohol-Free, Gluten-Free, Soy-Free, Sugar-Free, Wheat-Free, Dairy-Free

I just read the reviews and it seems some people have issues with the way both of these taste. A few say it burned or hurt to keep it under the tongue for so long (due to the grape alcohol). 5 or 7 years ago I was using a liquid B12 that had sorbitol in it. Can't remember the brand. It did tingle that's for sure. Don't want sorbitol though since that can cause diarrhea if you're flaring I think.

I'm tired. Gonna think about this and see what you say tomorrow.

Night!

Wen
1st severe flare 5/1/17 Budesonide started 6/7/17. MC/Gastritis 5/2013; IBS/GERD 2001nobiopsy. Celiac biopsy neg2013. Protonix2001-2006.
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Post by tex »

Yes, I'm soy-sensitive by EnteroLab testing. For B-12, I took Metanx for years (it's prescription only), but it got to be so expensive that I recently switched to Thorne Methyl-Guard Plus.

https://www.amazon.com/Thorne-Research- ... 00O5AHC4S/

Tex
:cowboy:

It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
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Post by WhirledPeas »

Thanks. I'm just looking for a B12 sublingual. I edited my note above. Perhaps you can give me your impression of the two liquid natural no sweeteners B12s (see links).

Thanks Tex!
1st severe flare 5/1/17 Budesonide started 6/7/17. MC/Gastritis 5/2013; IBS/GERD 2001nobiopsy. Celiac biopsy neg2013. Protonix2001-2006.
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Post by tex »

Those should be OK if you want a liquid form.

Tex
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It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
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Knee replacement and proper antibiotics

Post by Linda J Heaslet »

Hey, Tex -

Thanks for all of the info posted on medications for MC folks! I don’t know which antibiotics are best for knee replacement surgery. Out of the list of antibiotics, which category would be best AND most acceptable to the surgeon?
Diagnosed 1980 w/ IBS and 4/2017 w/ MC-L
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