Crohn's Disease & Ulcerative Colitis Support Group

Crohn's disease is a systemic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) of unknown cause, that results in chronic inflammation of the intestinal tract. It can affect the entire gastrointestinal tract from mouth to anus, and can also cause complications outside of the gastrointestinal tract. There is no known medical or surgical cure for Crohn's disease, but there are many medical...

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Patswife 03/01/2010

Hi Folks,
Anything available OTC better? I am willing to travel to the USA if needed. Pat just can't catch a break or any sleep. He takes 4 of the above at a time!! Thanks, Wendy

deleted_user 03/01/2010

When I flare pretty bad I used to take some imodium and then it'd do the trick, but I guess my body progressed and the imodium stopped working. I can't help much more than that though...

Patswife 03/01/2010

Thanks, I know there are prescription meds, but thought I would ask about alternatives.

deleted_user 03/02/2010

I've heard that liquid aloe vera mixed with juice or tea helps the inflammation which helps the pain. I've also heard the probiotics helps balance the good bacteria in your intestine. I've done the aloe vera for a few days, it tastes odd but it does help a little. I haven't tried the probiotics yet, I hope to though

Patswife 03/02/2010

Yes thanks, he does take priobiotics, but I am looking for something more effective than imodium.

deleted_user 03/02/2010

Immodium doesn't work for me. I have a prescription for Lomotil 2.5mg (Diphenoxylate/atropine) that slows me down to a manageable pace without binding me up. You can take one every 6 hours but I only need one a day. Hope this helps.

deleted_user 03/02/2010

I have Questran (colestyramine), which I had to get from the doctors, however it doesnt seem to be working yet

Patswife 03/02/2010

Yes, Pat has that too, the sugar free kind. He now takes 2 envelopes in the morning. i don't think it does anything either. We buy imodium right from the pharmacist rather than packaged, a bit chceaper that way!

deleted_user 03/04/2010

I don't know if any of this will help him, but Questran never worked for me, just bloated me up big time and caused a lot of pain. Only after trying it, did the doc scan me and find strictures both times, and it doesn't CAUSE strictures, but I think with undiagnosed strictures, it's not a good thing.

Immodium never helped me a bit so I never used it, but my brother used to use it for 10 years or so before it quit working for him.

Lomotil is the only thing that works for me. But I have to take 2 at a time, just once, and it helps. Otherwise, I was taking up to 4 a day with no improvement. Yes, it's a script, but it is really cheap and not too much of a narcotic effect.

If you're taking Aloe Vera, I recommend George's brand. It doesn't have any flavor and removes the component that causes diarrhea.

Lots of luck to you!

Patswife 03/04/2010

Please elaborate on the Aloe vera, not no clue about it and diarrhea.
Thanks

deleted_user 03/04/2010

...well I think aloe vera more helps with the swelling(I didn't think about that) although if the swelling has decreased it may help with better absorption of water which helps prevent the diarrhea. *shrug*

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