POZ Community Forums
Meds, Mind, Body & Benefits => Questions About Treatment & Side Effects => Topic started by: Snowangel on March 13, 2008, 01:04:06 pm
-
I started Atripla on Feb. 20 , just had my labs drawn today and don't go back till late April for results. Is there anything I can get that works better than Immodium? I am afraid to eat anything if I know I am not going to be home because everything seems to go right through me.
Thanks,
Snow
-
Lomotil is another option. It is a prescription.
-
Thanks, Win!
-
anytime
(http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b324/Winiroo/blowingKiss.gif)
-
I called my ID doc to see about getting a prescription. He doesn't think my loose stools are a result of the Atripla and would like me to keep taking the Immodium after each loose stool but not take more than 6 a day. Does Immodium build up in your system? After like the 4th loose one, I usually don't have anything left in me and I don't eat anything else because I don't want to spend the rest of the day on the toilet. I have to call him back if this keeps continuing.....I guess I am going to be hungry for awhile. I end up just eating at night when I know I am going to be home. The doc thinks it might be a virus. Now that I think about it, it might be stress, since I did the same thing back in 00.
This really sucks....or should I say blows! ;D
Snow
-
I had the diarrhea problem about a year ago ,it wasn't my meds in fact the docs tried and failed to figure it out. Every thing I ate went straight through me and I lost 25 or so pounds. I went to see a gastric. doc. he scoped me from bottom to top and said sometimes you get a bug in your gut that is undiagnosed and it usually runs it course. Thank god it did.
He said that he could give me a script that would not cure me, it would only constipate me. He strongly advised not to take it because that type of medicine will bind with the other drugs you take( like HIV meds)and render them less effective. He also told me that Imodium just bulks up your stool , that it was safe to take as much as I needed. I would hate to steer someone wrong and give bad info. so I would talk to my doctor and pharmacy again if I were you... I always did have a delicate tummy . when I started to work out and eat rice for carbs. I noticed a significant difference . When you are miserable every little thing helps. hope you feel better....Jeff
-
Thank you, Jeff!
-
hugs all around
-
There is prescription Immodium (Loperamide) also that's higher dosed than OTC Immodium.
-
With lomotil, when I use it I always take two as a starter. That usually works as effectively as sealing the orifice with a quick drying cement. Rarely, maybe one more pill is needed a few hours later and the deal is done. Like the American Express card, don't leave home without it.
-
Like the American Express card, don't leave home without it.
LOL! Thanks, Andy! Hopefully I will be able to go that route in the future.
-
Is there anything I can get that works better than Imodium?
Thanks,
Snow
Yes, a cork. ;)
Actually, some people I know fare better with Pepto Bismol than Imodium. Both do the trick for me.
I don't know about where you're at, but there has been a bug going around here akin to the norovirus that is keeping people glued to their seats, so to speak.
I hope yours passes quickly.
HUGS,
Mark
-
Good to know. Thanks, Mark. I will try the pepto....shoot at this point, I would try a cork :-\
Snow
-
I take Indian Cinnamon. 4 teaspoons a day that I mix into my coffee.
It must be ground Indian Cinnamon. and it must be Indian Cinnamon. (available at any Indian store/market grocery section
One of the wonderful uses of cinnamon is that it aids in diarrea,
(please do a search on Cinnamon and its properties)
I have been on Truvada and Kaletra for 1 and a half months and I have not gotten diarrea at all. Perhaps its the cinnamon that helps me or maybe even if I was not taking Indian cinnamon I still would not get diarrea.
There is a thread in the nutrition section entitled "Key to cinnamon anti-viral extract found in the Bible" where I posted more details about cinnamon and why I began to take it.
Perhaps its worth a shot??
-
I have been given this in the past of extreme runs but my doc prescribed me tincture of opium, really not shit (literally)
-
Just an FYI -- One of the effects of HIV's reservoir in the gut associated lymphatic tissue is that it can contribute to constant inflammation of that tissue (which can also effect how well your body maintains the protion of your immune system that is based in the gut), and imbalance of the probiotics that are so important for digestion.
If you are experiencing diarrhea, you may want to talk with your doctor about adding a low dose anti-inflamatory (like ibuprofen or naproxin-sodium) as well as yogurt, or a probiotic supplement to your regimen. this can sometimes help with loose or frequent stools. At the least the probiotics will help replenish your system if you are experience frequent loose stools.
-
Been there done that and it's usually a stomach virus virus that has to pass thru your system to be gotten rid of and the Imodium should do the trick ( altho the mint is a better flavour to me than the cherry ( rofl ) .
-
Sorry about the loose stool thing, I guess we all suffer from this during our treatment. I was wondering if you are taking Attripla in the evening on an empty stomach? I seem to have more problems with loose stool if I drink too much coffee and or smoke to many cigarettes (I'm quitting with the help of Chantix).
Also don't forget the BRAT diet if you get diarrhea, Banana's, Rice, Applesauce & Toast. ::)
Good Luck
-
Sorry about the loose stool thing, I guess we all suffer from this during our treatment. I was wondering if you are taking Attripla in the evening on an empty stomach? I seem to have more problems with loose stool if I drink too much coffee and or smoke to many cigarettes (I'm quitting with the help of Chantix).
Also don't forget the BRAT diet if you get diarrhea, Banana's, Rice, Applesauce & Toast. ::)
Good Luck
Damn that's the problem
I thought all along the BRAT diet was Beer Rum And Tequila
no wonder
-
There are a few things that you can take for loose stool or diarrhea. One was mentioned, "loperimide" but "Lonox" is another medicine. You could also ask your doctor to prescribe "Doxepin." It is an anti-depressive, but it also has a side effect of stopping or slowing diarrhea.
I have been on all three for some time and still have problems, but I manage to keep it to a minimum.
Hope you can get it under control.
Jim
-
I used to go through a lot of Imodium, and it didn't work very well for me. So after talking to my Doc he prescribed Lonox (which is covered by my medicare RX plan). This stuff really works. Also you may want to start eating yogurt daily to put back the good bacteria your gut needs to help control the bad stuff thats in your system, because antibiotics and other meds can kill off the good bacteria in your gut. Also, I'm on Atripla, you have to make sure it's taken on a empty stomach. Best of luck to you!
-
Ya know, now that I think of it. Hydrocodone constipates people.
(http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b324/Winiroo/aniGif1.gif)
-
Often you have to think comprehensively when dealing with Diarrhea, weather Med Caused or Not.
HIV by itself can cause problems of which i used to suffer through, taking increasing amount of immodium to keep it together.
I have learned the following:
1) You really have to talk to your doctor about things that are chronic. While meds may be the culprit, there may be other factors that the meds are making worse or simply there may be other things that are expressing themselves. As others mentioned. Going to a GI specialist may be in order.
2) When you have diarrhea, it is important to recognize that your electrolyte and bacterial balances are often off. Taking immodium does not correct these issues. Something like Gatorade (G2 - low sugar) may be helpful in replenishing electrolytes and of course fruit juices. I use a product called NUUN, which is a low carb electrolyte tablet you dissolve in water. Yogurt is the simplest way to replenish bacteria. And there are probiotic pills that can be utilized as well.
3) Imodium is not the only treatment for diarrhea. Glutamine is often utilized to help quite the bowels by folks with PI caused Diarrhea. Glutamine is often used as a recovery aid after exercise by wieghtlifters and is readily available over the counter. It is an amino acid. You can purchase it in bulk from buyers clubs. I by it by the kilo, and it lasts me for a year. When using to treat diarrhea, you use 20 -30 grams a day until diarrhea is under control, and then maintain at 5 grams per day.
4) Fiber, somewhat counter intuitive, but foods high in water soluble fiber actually work to slow things down. Oatmeal has the combined effects of insoluble and water soluble fiber and I eat this every day with Walnuts to get my DHA (Omega3). Oatmeal initially can be quite irritating, and has to be adjusted to. But fiber does seem to help get things to work well. Remember that your gut is simply so irritated that anything coming its way is stimulating this response. Trying to restore as normal intestinal condition is the objective. There are of course other sources of fiber, which may be less irritating than oatmeal initially, such as ones based on Psyllium.
5) Lastly and why you need to see a doctor is that there is something wrong that isn't simply irritation from HIV or Meds. Parasites, Diverticulitis, infections, etc. can be in the picture and requiring treatment.
Good luck!
-
Thank you everyone for your replies! A lot of good info and options to check out.
Snow
-
One thing that concerns me here, is if this is diarhea and I guess it is...is what is the OPs potassium level? When my friend was diagnosed it was with Full Blown Aids with multiple opportunistic infections, the Doctors were really conerned about the potassium level only being like 1.7. He went from being serious condition to grave and DNR. Almost two years later my friend has gone from 62 lbs with viral load over one million and a tcells count of 17 to 157 lbs, undetectable with a tcell count of 198 that continues to slowly rise.
-
Oh and I want to add to what one other poster mentioned, diarhea deihydrates the body of lots of important nutrients, when my friend was sick I gave him lots of Pedialyte (the generic versions) to try and replenish some of the fluids and nutrients. Potassium is what keeps your ticker running...if that stops...HIV becomes kind of a minor problem.
It took awhile and alot of work, I quit me job and got a cot at the hospital and watched and learned really fast from the nurses and just repeated over and over what they did...and then I would repeat this when the patient came home.
The diarhea was caused by CMV colitis, shigellosis and candida esophagitis, he was on IV ganciclovir for a week and was switched to Valcyte as a out patient which he was on for 18 months. They also put him on a ten day course of fluconazole IV.
The doctors said he would never have solid stools again...they were wrong
-
One more thing...find out what that postassium level is....that's really important at this point.
-
Potassium, or one of many salts are part of the electrolytes I refer too.
below is the electrolyte formula of NUUN:
nutritional information
One serving of nuun is one tablet dissolved in 16 oz. of water. There are 6 calories per nuun tab.
active ingredients level (mg)
Sodium (carbonates) 360.0
Potassium (bicarbonate) 100.0
Calcium (carbonate) 12.5
Magnesium (sulfate) 25.0
Vitamin C 37.5
Vitamin B2 500mcg
Other ingredients: citric acid, sorbitol, sodium carbonate, natural colours flavours, sodium bicarbonate, potassium bicarbonate, polyethylene glycol, magnesium sulfate, sodium benzoate, calcium carbonate, acesulfame potassium, riboflavin-5-phosphate.