effects of long term reliance (any gastro specialists?)

[Davi]

Just wondering if one of the docs could look up in their little reference books the side effects of taking Loperamide for a long period (or indeed permanently) please.

Also... prescriptions - Why are some docs willing to prescribe a sensible amount, whereas others prescribe such a small amount that I have to go back virtually every week and it costs me more than smoking used to?!

[Mad Mitch]

Morning Davi............... Not too sure about the effects but regards prescription charges.
Firstly check out leaflet HC11 to see if you can get it free. If not and you need more than 4 items in three months it will be cheaper to get a PPC from the chemist. ( Pre Payment Certificate.)

Regards
Mitch.

[Davi]

Thanks Mitch I'll have a look into that. The prescriptions from the last doc were so small it worked out more like 4 items each month and it actually worked out considerably cheaper to just get them over the counter! Changed doc so will be asking for sensible quantities, fingers crossed

[Nubbin]

It's a fairly innocuous drug really - side effects are mainly exagerations of their intended effect i.e. constipation, bloating, spasmodic abdominal pains etc. Occasionally, being an anti-cholinergic type drug, you can get retention of urine, blurred vision and the like. Check the data sheet (the bit of paper in each box of tablets) for the most common side effects encountered in trials. HTH

[Davi]

Thanks Nubbin, yeah it does. I have been told it's usually fairly trouble free, just hate taking anything for very long. The amount of these I'm on and the fact it looks permanent I really want to be sure!

[Nubbin]

Davi said:

Thanks Nubbin, yeah it does. I have been told it's usually fairly trouble free, just hate taking anything for very long. The amount of these I'm on and the fact it looks permanent I really want to be sure!

IBS? Or IBD?

[Davi]

inconclusive at the mo, leaning towards IBS due to consultants lack of ideas of what else to try

[Babu 01]

If they do end up giving you the I'm Basically Stumped diagnosis you really should look into hypnotherapy.

And before the naysayers wade in there are NHS conducted clinical trials which prove considerable levels of effectiveness.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3341093.stm

http://www.healthyaudio.com/content/usp1

[Davi]

As it's been 6 years I doubt they're going to come up with anything so I might just have to give that a go, cheers

[Babu 01]

I can seriously recommend the IBS100 series produced by Michael Mahoney

Good luck

[Maxf]

I suffered with 'IBS' for years - maybe 15? I went to specialists and had various unpleasant invasive procedures to check for other nasties. Nothing ever showed so they said 'IBS', prescribed me with some drugs and told me to get on with life.

Quite by chance I moved house and ended up at a new doctor. We were chatting about IBS and he suggested I see a chap in London. 3 months later I could honestly say I had improved 95%.

I was diagnosed with some kind of yeast growth which the specialists/docs didnt test for. A yeast/sugar free diet for a few months killed it off and I never looked back. I now eat things which I know would have had me doubled up in pain before.

Pm me if you want some details.

[Davi]

PM on way...

[Maxf]

Davi said:

PM on way...

Got it. I'll reply tonight when I'm at home.

Anyone else who wants any info just PM me.