Acromegaly Support Group
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Has anyone experienced gallbladder sludge and related gallbladder problems after using lanreotide (or octreotide, for that matter)?
I started on lanreotide in January, once a month. Not too bad the first couple of months, some diarrhoea and stomach discomfort, but this got worse in the third month (March) to the point that I was in agony and couldn't sleep. I suspended taking the drug after March, on hospital advice. It is now May, and I am still unable to eat anywhere near a normal diet (it's a pretty severe low fat diet; if I overstep the mark, I get stomach pain and really loose bowels).
I have today had an ultrasound scan, and although I have no visible gallstones, I do have gallbladder sludge.
Had anyone has this, or similar gallbladder problems?
John
I started on lanreotide in January, once a month. Not too bad the first couple of months, some diarrhoea and stomach discomfort, but this got worse in the third month (March) to the point that I was in agony and couldn't sleep. I suspended taking the drug after March, on hospital advice. It is now May, and I am still unable to eat anywhere near a normal diet (it's a pretty severe low fat diet; if I overstep the mark, I get stomach pain and really loose bowels).
I have today had an ultrasound scan, and although I have no visible gallstones, I do have gallbladder sludge.
Had anyone has this, or similar gallbladder problems?
John
I chanced upon the attached, which talks of a little-acknowledged relationship between thiazide diuretics and gallstones.
http://www.scipub.org/fulltext/AJPT/AJPT44174-176.pdf
Now we already know that there is a danger of gallstones when you are on somatostatin analogues (octreotide, lanreotide), but many of us will be on thaizides too.
Food for thought?
I am currently off thiazides; having supplemented unsuccessfully with potassium chloride to combat hypokalemia, my GP suggested I drop the thiazide to see how it went (BP is currently well controlled).
John
http://gallbladderattack.com/
(don't be fooled by the named, all types of gall bladder issues are covered.) the woman owning this is an alternative health professional who also does phone consults with people to help them.
also i understood that these symptoms from the octreotide/lantreotide go away over time, perhaps it's just going to take a while for you?
all the best, sunny
I should have added (before resurrecting an old topic) that my apparent gall bladder problems appear to have disappeared now. However, I wonder whether the thiazides may have added to the problem.
I will look at that website.
John