Myasthenia Gravis Support Group

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a neuromuscular disease leading to fluctuating muscle weakness and fatiguability. The hallmark of myasthenia gravis is muscle weakness that increases during periods of activity and improves after periods of rest. Although myasthenia gravis may affect any voluntary muscle, muscles that control eye and eyelid movement, facial expression, and...

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Mestinon & constipation

weathergrl
weathergrl
Just wondering about other's expierence. It seems that most (all?)
have a reaction to mestinon of diarrhea or close to it. Does
anyone have constipation on it? I am trying to decide if I need to be concerned about my opposite reaction.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I avoid Mestinon and often suffer because of the way it rages through the GI. Have you looked at other factors? Iron supplements?
weathergrl
weathergrl
Hi elinora! Thats where I am headed. My neuro said that mestinon would help with my constipation for sure! And it seems worse. I try hard not to eat sugar or wheat, I did that before MG becuase it just makes me feel better, so constipation isnt new to me. I am just curious why I am not having a 'standard' side effect.
deleted_user
deleted_user
If I take iron supplements, it counteracts that side effect. Maybe you could record everything that is going in to uncover the culprit, because Mestinon seems an unlikely suspect. Gosh darn it! It always seems like there is something given the symptoms and dude effects!
deleted_user
deleted_user
For me it caused GI distress and diarrhea. I used loperimide (lots of over the counter brands) with my morning Mestinon and things were much better.

From the web:
Inactivity or temporary paralysis of the muscle in the intestine prevents the passage of food through the intestine and can lead to a blockage in the gut. Pyridostigmine increases the nerve messages to the gut that make it contract and helps it move food along.

http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/aches-and-pains/medicines/mestinon.html#ixzz2Vom9SDlf

Good Luck
GreenMarie
GreenMarie
Sometimes two things happen at the same time and it confuses us as to which is the cause. You quite might have another reason for increased constipation that just happened when you took the mestinon.

If dr. agrees you could try going off mestinon for five days. Then start it again and see what the effect is if any. My guess is it is something else that is causing the constipation.

You seem to have a good sense about foods and quite possibly they are causing reactions. I hope you can figure out the culprit.