Hi all,
Gabapentin is a medications that I take for leg spasms due to spinal stenosis. I tried SEARCH for any mention if this medication will affect my recovery but did not find anything. I was diagnosed in June 2017 as having CC. I am currently starting my 2nd week of the E diet. Also please if I start taking Allegra 60mg will I be helping or hindering finding out my food sensitivities? I've seen antihistamines mentioned while reading forum but is it a lifetime medication?
Thank you for any input.
Gabapentin
Moderators: Rosie, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Hi Retta,
As far as I am aware, Gabapentin has not been associated with causing MC or any other form of colitis.
An antihistamine should have no effect on food sensitivities or being able to detect them. The reason an antihistamine reduces the chances of a relapse when weaning off budesonide is because corticosteroids reduce inflammation by suppressing mast cell numbers and their activation. And then when the corticosteroid is discontinued, mast cell numbers and their activation tend to rebuild past where they would normally be, causing a relapse of symptoms. This excessive rebuilding is known as a rebound effect. An antihistamine prevents this from happening by continuing to suppress mast cell numbers and activity. That's why an antihistamine is sometimes as effective as a corticosteroid at suppressing intestinal inflammation. I've forgotten the exact numbers, but something like 70–80 % of your total mast cells are located in your intestines.
Normally, after taking an antihistamine for several months, it can be safely stopped. But there is no apparent reason why you could not take an antihistamine long-term, if needed. There is a possibility that it might eventually lose it's effectiveness for you. That's common for medications. You could probably switch brands to get around that problem, however.
I hope this helps.
Tex
As far as I am aware, Gabapentin has not been associated with causing MC or any other form of colitis.
An antihistamine should have no effect on food sensitivities or being able to detect them. The reason an antihistamine reduces the chances of a relapse when weaning off budesonide is because corticosteroids reduce inflammation by suppressing mast cell numbers and their activation. And then when the corticosteroid is discontinued, mast cell numbers and their activation tend to rebuild past where they would normally be, causing a relapse of symptoms. This excessive rebuilding is known as a rebound effect. An antihistamine prevents this from happening by continuing to suppress mast cell numbers and activity. That's why an antihistamine is sometimes as effective as a corticosteroid at suppressing intestinal inflammation. I've forgotten the exact numbers, but something like 70–80 % of your total mast cells are located in your intestines.
Normally, after taking an antihistamine for several months, it can be safely stopped. But there is no apparent reason why you could not take an antihistamine long-term, if needed. There is a possibility that it might eventually lose it's effectiveness for you. That's common for medications. You could probably switch brands to get around that problem, however.
I hope this helps.
Tex
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.
Hello Gabes,
No not taking topical Mag. I have seen it mentioned on the forum but not sure if I need it or why.
I have been taking 400mg of Magnesium Bisglycinate For the leg cramps and I take Vitamin D3. I was taking 2000IU of D3 that has soy in it but changed to 5000IU that is FREE.
Thank you for your interest and any information. I read as much as I can but everything is very foreign and overwhelming to me.
Take care,
No not taking topical Mag. I have seen it mentioned on the forum but not sure if I need it or why.
I have been taking 400mg of Magnesium Bisglycinate For the leg cramps and I take Vitamin D3. I was taking 2000IU of D3 that has soy in it but changed to 5000IU that is FREE.
Thank you for your interest and any information. I read as much as I can but everything is very foreign and overwhelming to me.
Take care,
Retta
Hi Retta,
If you're taking 400 mg of magnesium bisglycinate, that should be enough. Be sure that you're actually getting 400 MG of magnesium, though. For years I made the mistake of assuming that I was taking 400 mg because I was taking two tablets from a bottle that showed 200 mg on the front label. One day I read the fine print on the back label and discovered that 200 mg was actually what they considered a dose. It went on to say that a dose is two tablets.
IOW, each tablet was actually only 100 mg. I thought I was taking plenty when actually I was becoming more magnesium deficient every day because of their stupid label convention.
Tex
If you're taking 400 mg of magnesium bisglycinate, that should be enough. Be sure that you're actually getting 400 MG of magnesium, though. For years I made the mistake of assuming that I was taking 400 mg because I was taking two tablets from a bottle that showed 200 mg on the front label. One day I read the fine print on the back label and discovered that 200 mg was actually what they considered a dose. It went on to say that a dose is two tablets.
IOW, each tablet was actually only 100 mg. I thought I was taking plenty when actually I was becoming more magnesium deficient every day because of their stupid label convention.Tex
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.
You're very welcome. I think it's deceptive advertising and it causes a lot of misery for a lot of people, but it's a very common practice among magnesium supplement manufacturers. In my case, despite my obvious symptoms of chronic magnesium deficiency, I "knew" (mistakenly) that I couldn't be magnesium deficient because I thought I was taking plenty of magnesium, so I kept looking elsewhere for a solution. 
May the bird of paradise fly up their nose.
Tex
May the bird of paradise fly up their nose.
Tex
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.
Maybe. That would probably be enough magnesium citrate to cause loose stools, but it should be OK if you are taking magnesium glycinate. But rather than taking it all at once, it's much better to space it out with meals or snacks during the day, because there is a limit to how much magnesium we can use at an any given time.
Tex
Tex
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.
