Hi Fellow Members!
I am certainly not a doctor, just a member who has suffered from Collagenous Colitis for 17 years, but, I want to share this with all of you in the hopes that it might help just one more person live a bit more comfortably.
Over the summer I was at an all time low with my CC causing D both day and night. But, for me, a kind of miracle occurred. My doctor prescribed 25 mg of Atenolol, a beta blocker used to treat cardiovascular disease, with the instructions to take it at night. Within 2 days of starting this medication my D not only stopped but I began having very normal BMs, once a day. (I even dared to go to bed without diapers!!!)
At the time I was only eating chicken, green beans and bananas. After a week I slowly added other foods including dairy. Just this week I forgot to take the Atenolol for two nights and my diarrhea immediately returned. Fortunately it only took 24 hours to get it under control again.
Of course there are usually side affects with most medicaions.....for Atenolol the main side affects are dizziness, light headedness, tiredness and nausea but the only side affects that I've experienced, in addition to stopping my diarrhea, are night sweats and dry mouth.
We all metabolize medication differently so I can't say that Atenolol will work for anyone else.....but, what if it could.
NOTE: Beta Blockers were mentioned in the news this week.....It was stated that a 4 year study following 45,000 cardiovascular patients found that beta blockers did not prove to be of much value in treating cardiovascular disease.
Best to everyone,
Carol
Beta Blocker May Have Beneficial Side Affect For CC ???
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Beta Blocker May Have Beneficial Side Affect For CC ???
Don't Forget to Laugh Today!
OMG! I did not get this nasty disease till I started on beta blockers back in March. I first took Toprol. Within 10 days, I was having diarrhea. Got off the beta blocker and the D went away. They then put me on Atenolol (one of the side effects can be diarrhea but not a common one), and that made the D come back but worse, so then doctor put me on Biostolic and the D just wouldn't go away. I finally got off all betas the end of May. By this time, my MC was triggered and D was chronic. Was then diagnosed with MC in July. I will never take another beta blocker again!
I am so glad and amazed that taking this drug has stopped the D for you. Unbelievable!! I hope it continues. Just shows you how we all respond differently to meds. I'm totally terrified to take those again. I have to say I'm in shock as those drugs are known to cause MC....statins as well.
But how awesome for you....lucky lady!
Terri
I am so glad and amazed that taking this drug has stopped the D for you. Unbelievable!! I hope it continues. Just shows you how we all respond differently to meds. I'm totally terrified to take those again. I have to say I'm in shock as those drugs are known to cause MC....statins as well.
But how awesome for you....lucky lady!
Terri
Diagnosed with Lymphocytic Colitis in July, 2012 then with Celiac in November, 2012.
Hi Terri,
So sorry to hear that you had such a bad reaction to Atenolol....I know how FRUSTRATING it is to be placed on medication after medication only to have your condition worsen. My CC started the day my gall bladder nearly exploded in 1995. At the time I was on Zoloft and over the years Paxil, then Prozac and, finally, Welbutron but they all seemed to just "feed" my D.
I was prescribed Gabpentin earlier this year for nueropathy and it was really helping with the stinging and burning in my toes and hands. However my CC became so bad that I passed out in the bathroom after using the toilet. When I fell I hit the left side of my upper back and neck on the door handle on my way down. It is still very painful and my doctor has ordered an MRI....that was my 5th fall in eight years due to my CC.
I have to say that, over the years, my body seems to do just the opposite of what the medication side affects are supposed to be. For example; I took Sinatab most of my life.....others would complain of how sleepy it made them but when I took it I felt that I had more energy which might have been just from clearing my sinuses. Go figure...............
I'm not celebrating too much over this pleasant side affect from the Atenolol as we all know how quickly D can return. But, I am enjoying every minute that I'm out of the bathroom!
Take care,
Carol
So sorry to hear that you had such a bad reaction to Atenolol....I know how FRUSTRATING it is to be placed on medication after medication only to have your condition worsen. My CC started the day my gall bladder nearly exploded in 1995. At the time I was on Zoloft and over the years Paxil, then Prozac and, finally, Welbutron but they all seemed to just "feed" my D.
I was prescribed Gabpentin earlier this year for nueropathy and it was really helping with the stinging and burning in my toes and hands. However my CC became so bad that I passed out in the bathroom after using the toilet. When I fell I hit the left side of my upper back and neck on the door handle on my way down. It is still very painful and my doctor has ordered an MRI....that was my 5th fall in eight years due to my CC.
I have to say that, over the years, my body seems to do just the opposite of what the medication side affects are supposed to be. For example; I took Sinatab most of my life.....others would complain of how sleepy it made them but when I took it I felt that I had more energy which might have been just from clearing my sinuses. Go figure...............
I'm not celebrating too much over this pleasant side affect from the Atenolol as we all know how quickly D can return. But, I am enjoying every minute that I'm out of the bathroom!
Take care,
Carol
Don't Forget to Laugh Today!
Sorry to hear about your gallbladder and recent fall. Yikes, that can be scary. I had read that stresses on the body like with surgeries can trigger MC. Gosh...you've had it for a long time. I've only been battling this since April mainly.....and though I've felt pretty weak at times, I luckily haven't fallen or passed out just yet. Ya know, I took Paxil 6 years ago and it gave me 3 weeks of D so got off it. It's like any meds I'm prescribed these days give me D....only one that hasn't is my Armour thyroid.
I hope your back and neck feel better soon. Good timing in that you are at least getting relief from the D right now. Right now I'm on the Pepto regimen and feeling great.....5 more weeks to go. Like you said, I'm enjoying not having to run to the bathroom. Going to enjoy every minute of it while I can.
Here's hoping the Atenolol keeps working wonders for you! Amazing!
Terri
I hope your back and neck feel better soon. Good timing in that you are at least getting relief from the D right now. Right now I'm on the Pepto regimen and feeling great.....5 more weeks to go. Like you said, I'm enjoying not having to run to the bathroom. Going to enjoy every minute of it while I can.
Here's hoping the Atenolol keeps working wonders for you! Amazing!
Terri
Diagnosed with Lymphocytic Colitis in July, 2012 then with Celiac in November, 2012.
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Gabes-Apg
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Carol /Terri
I started Atenolol 3 weeks ago, and it caused MC Mud reaction for me, (the short notice lots of poop accidents type MC mud)
stopped the Atenolol and last week the next med i tried that should have caused C, caused the D to get to worse to watery D. plus a whole range of other symptoms, joint pains, swollen ankles, fuzzy brain.
i stopped that one within 3 days. I see the doctor on Wednesday for our 4th attempt to find me a BP lowering med .
I started Atenolol 3 weeks ago, and it caused MC Mud reaction for me, (the short notice lots of poop accidents type MC mud)
stopped the Atenolol and last week the next med i tried that should have caused C, caused the D to get to worse to watery D. plus a whole range of other symptoms, joint pains, swollen ankles, fuzzy brain.
i stopped that one within 3 days. I see the doctor on Wednesday for our 4th attempt to find me a BP lowering med .
Gabes Ryan
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
OH no Gabes! Sorry to hear about that. I will never take any med that ends in "olol". Luckily, my BP has been good since changing my diet.....go figure....so no longer need BP meds but heart rate is still up a little. They were going to put me on Calcium Channel blockers next....one called Verapamil. One of the side effects was constipation so I perked up when I heard about that. But to date have not gotten the prescription filled....too scared of a new med right now.
I do hope you find one that works for you and doesn't mess with the GI system. Good luck!! So frustrating.
Carol....the Pepto regimen is 4 doses a day for 8 weeks. Two pills, 4 times a day. It worked for me on day one and still does! And no side effects. Though some people have reported a ringing in the ears. It has something in it like aspirin which reduces inflammation plus it coats the stomach. It's working for me and am grateful for this time to get my energy back and still tweak my diet. Though hard to tweak it more when I'm symptomless. Probably cause I'm still eating well but have not been peeling my veggies. It doesn't work for everyone so I was relieved it worked so well for me. Imodium works 100% for me as well. Unfortunately, you can't take Pepto longer than the 8 weeks as the Bismuth builds up in the body (something like that). I actually take 7 pills a day now as it constipated me.
Terri
I do hope you find one that works for you and doesn't mess with the GI system. Good luck!! So frustrating.
Carol....the Pepto regimen is 4 doses a day for 8 weeks. Two pills, 4 times a day. It worked for me on day one and still does! And no side effects. Though some people have reported a ringing in the ears. It has something in it like aspirin which reduces inflammation plus it coats the stomach. It's working for me and am grateful for this time to get my energy back and still tweak my diet. Though hard to tweak it more when I'm symptomless. Probably cause I'm still eating well but have not been peeling my veggies. It doesn't work for everyone so I was relieved it worked so well for me. Imodium works 100% for me as well. Unfortunately, you can't take Pepto longer than the 8 weeks as the Bismuth builds up in the body (something like that). I actually take 7 pills a day now as it constipated me.
Terri
Diagnosed with Lymphocytic Colitis in July, 2012 then with Celiac in November, 2012.
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Gabes-Apg
- Emperor Penguin
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- Joined: Mon Dec 21, 2009 3:12 pm
- Location: Hunter Valley NSW Australia
Terri
it was two days of the calcium channel blocker (half dose as well) type that sent me crazy!!!
my diastolic is above 100 and i have had an elevated heart rate for over 12 months. At first it was mast cell related and H2 blockers reduced it a bit, now the H2 blockers do not help the BP nor the heart rate.
it was two days of the calcium channel blocker (half dose as well) type that sent me crazy!!!
my diastolic is above 100 and i have had an elevated heart rate for over 12 months. At first it was mast cell related and H2 blockers reduced it a bit, now the H2 blockers do not help the BP nor the heart rate.
Gabes Ryan
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
Oh dear....that really bites. Something about those BP meds. Now I'm scared to get on any of them. I hope one of the other types work for you? What's left? Ace Inhibitors, diuretics? Of course, some are only good for BP and not the heart rate. That's why the Doctor kept insisting I try another beta blocker as it would keep my resting heart rate in the 70's instead of the 90's. I'm hoping you find one that works for you. Were you pretty much in remission before you started on these meds? Just curious.....still kind of new and trying to get to know everyone.
Let me know when you find one that doesn't cause you any problems.
Terri
Let me know when you find one that doesn't cause you any problems.
Terri
Diagnosed with Lymphocytic Colitis in July, 2012 then with Celiac in November, 2012.
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Gabes-Apg
- Emperor Penguin
- Posts: 8332
- Joined: Mon Dec 21, 2009 3:12 pm
- Location: Hunter Valley NSW Australia
I also have kidney issues, the first med we tried caused a HUGE amount of issues on my kidney
my resting heart rate is around the 90's and during the day when i climb the stairs at work to use the toilets it gets up to about 120!
yes 12 months ago the mc was classed as in remission. after a couple of weeks of MC mud since starting the BP meds, two days after i stop the meds, my BM's are pretty well back close to normal. thankfully all my hard work to heal is working, once i remove the trigger the gut does not stay inflammed.
I started each of the meds on 1/4 - 1/2 dose for 3 days or so and the plan was to gradually increase.
and we are doing weekly tests to monitor the kidney function
i too want it sorted, the ups and downs of the past couple of weeks has not been fun.... Gabe dons the scarf and wide rim glasses and breaks into song, cie sera sera what will be will be .......................
my resting heart rate is around the 90's and during the day when i climb the stairs at work to use the toilets it gets up to about 120!
yes 12 months ago the mc was classed as in remission. after a couple of weeks of MC mud since starting the BP meds, two days after i stop the meds, my BM's are pretty well back close to normal. thankfully all my hard work to heal is working, once i remove the trigger the gut does not stay inflammed.
I started each of the meds on 1/4 - 1/2 dose for 3 days or so and the plan was to gradually increase.
and we are doing weekly tests to monitor the kidney function
i too want it sorted, the ups and downs of the past couple of weeks has not been fun.... Gabe dons the scarf and wide rim glasses and breaks into song, cie sera sera what will be will be .......................
Gabes Ryan
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
Terri/Gabes/Marion............
Your info on the Pepto reminded me that a couple weeks ago I ran out of Prilosec and was taking Pepcid a couple times a day.....wonder if that helped me lose the D? I have always had a rapid pulse, 125 since I was 24 but the Atenolol has me down to 64. Found that out when I was taking an anatomy/medical terminology course......the instructor stated, "If you pulse was 125 you would be dead." I'm 66 now and it's the first time that a doctor has shown concern.
However, the Atenolol is not helping my blood pressure which is fluctuating between 130/80 (okay) and 160/108 (bad). I never had a problem with the blood pressure med Norvasc but sometime around 2005 my doc, at the time, switched me to Lisinipril which I tried off and on.....it was my belief that it depleted my potassium so much that it caused the fainting episodes, blood pressure 60/40 at the emergency room in 2008, so I've gone without blood pressure med for 3 years.....and, it looks like I'll have to find something to add to the Atenolol.....kind of scared, too.
Along with the Atenolol I take 1,000 mg of sulfasalazine around noon each day. My GI, when first prescribed, had me on 1500 mg 3 times a day because the first med he prescribed, Asacol, wasn't working for me. I lowered the sulfasalazine around the same time that I started the Atenolol back in August due to reports from another member of our group after she stated that the sulfasalazine almost killed her.
I forgot to take the Atenolol the last two nights in a row and the D returned immediately. I've been able to slow it down a bit but not in full remission today. I'm going to take a couple Pepcid tonight and tomorrow to see if I can get it under control again. Another member stated that Prilosec increased her D. Wouldn't it be a wonderful world if we didn't have to take any medication to control all our medical conditions?
Thank you for your input!
Carol
Your info on the Pepto reminded me that a couple weeks ago I ran out of Prilosec and was taking Pepcid a couple times a day.....wonder if that helped me lose the D? I have always had a rapid pulse, 125 since I was 24 but the Atenolol has me down to 64. Found that out when I was taking an anatomy/medical terminology course......the instructor stated, "If you pulse was 125 you would be dead." I'm 66 now and it's the first time that a doctor has shown concern.
However, the Atenolol is not helping my blood pressure which is fluctuating between 130/80 (okay) and 160/108 (bad). I never had a problem with the blood pressure med Norvasc but sometime around 2005 my doc, at the time, switched me to Lisinipril which I tried off and on.....it was my belief that it depleted my potassium so much that it caused the fainting episodes, blood pressure 60/40 at the emergency room in 2008, so I've gone without blood pressure med for 3 years.....and, it looks like I'll have to find something to add to the Atenolol.....kind of scared, too.
Along with the Atenolol I take 1,000 mg of sulfasalazine around noon each day. My GI, when first prescribed, had me on 1500 mg 3 times a day because the first med he prescribed, Asacol, wasn't working for me. I lowered the sulfasalazine around the same time that I started the Atenolol back in August due to reports from another member of our group after she stated that the sulfasalazine almost killed her.
I forgot to take the Atenolol the last two nights in a row and the D returned immediately. I've been able to slow it down a bit but not in full remission today. I'm going to take a couple Pepcid tonight and tomorrow to see if I can get it under control again. Another member stated that Prilosec increased her D. Wouldn't it be a wonderful world if we didn't have to take any medication to control all our medical conditions?
Thank you for your input!
Carol
Don't Forget to Laugh Today!