Carafate stopped my D.

For over a year chronic horrible non stop D...accidents too often to count, on a fluke the Dr. put me on carafate for stomach, within a day the D stopped! I waited to post because every time I think I found something it turns out too good to be true, I'm at 3 weeks now, and still no D! I am going 2-3 times a day, I haven't been able to say that for 4 years! Twice a day seems to be enough to keep me under control, I was orig. given 3X a day script, but it's hard to get that 3rd in since it's 2 hours after or 1 hr before food.

It does contain a high amount of aluminum...just fyi. Personally, I'd never take it....but make sure you do get tested for aluminum levels in your body.

q

how is the acacia powder working for you meemers? still getting benefits?

No longer using acacia. That's why I waited to post about the carafate. Wanted to be sure it wasn't a fluke. Makes sense since the warnings are could cause constipation.

I would appreciate hearing from any ulcerative colitis sufferers who have been taking Carafate--even if prescribed for something other than ulcerative colitis--and have found it to have a very positive affect upon the diarrhea and stomach distress of ulcerative colitis.

My son, who is only 35 years old, and has had ulcerative colitis for about six years now, is also on anti-seizure drugs. When he was first diagnosed, he was taking Tegretol. For the ulcerative colitis, he was prescribed Prednisone. The Tegretol and Prednisone togetether caused severe osteoporosis. Although he is no longer on Tegretol, he continues to take Prednisone. As long as he's taking Prednisone, even though he takes Boniva or other calcium supplements, they seem to do little good. He's had to have seven vertebrae repaired that were fractured in falls caused by seizures. He needs to get off the Prednisone.

I started thinking of Carafate when it was prescribed, by my Vet, for my German Shepherd, Harry. He has colitis and inflammatory bowel disease. As a result, he has a very sensitive stomach and is plagued by diarrhea, even when there has been no change in his food. He also suffered a lot of post-surgical (he ate a chipmunk and couldn't digest or pass the bones) vomiting. The chipmunk bones further inflamed his guts, hence, the vomiting. His Vet prescribed Carafate and, after only one day, I was stunned at how effectively it stopped his diarrhea (and vomiting). He has been on the Carafate for about six weeks now and still no diarrhea. This is amazing.

Carafate is a drug created for human beings and, although not approved for use in dogs or cats, it has been in use for stomach problems for these animals for some time. I'm pretty sure it works the same in dogs and cats as it works in humans, so I've asked my son to talk with his doctor about, perhaps, adding it to his already expansive group of drugs that he's taking.

I would like to show him some input from people with ulcerative colitis who have had a good to great experience with Carafate in alleviating or completely eliminating their bouts of diarrhea. Of course, I'd like to hear about the other side of the coin, as well--anyone who's had a bad experience with Carafate and what that experience was. I know that it can lead to constipation, but that's not a problem that my son has had since developing ulcerative colitis.

I'd really appreciate everyone's, and anyone's, input. I feel helpless to help my son. It would be wonderful to find something that would make his life a little easier.

Thank you all, in advance, for your help.

I can't comment yet because I've only been on it a few days...but I am taking it for Gastritis.

Hard to say b/c most of my problems now are from the upper stomach (gastritis).  If I notice any changes with the UC, I"ll let you know.  I think Carafate is a pretty benign drug from what I understand (except for some aluminum).  I think it is worth trying ....I hear that constipation could be a side effect so I guess in that way, it could be beneficial for diarrhea.

If your son tries it, pls post about the experience.

B

Oh I can so understand how you both feel.  It must be especially hard for it to be your son.  Hmmmm..well how do I handle this condition.  Well, it seems to vary a bit.  Sometimes when things are going reasonably well and I am feeling pretty good, I think I can handle it and it will be okay.  HOwever when things flair up, I do get extremely frustrated and upset. I am working on just going through the appropriate motions w/out all of the emotional drama...it is really hard.  It seems that your son has been through so much more than myself and I can feel for both of you.

The constant ups and downs and the upredictability of it all is tough to take.  I have been through all of the emotions when diagnosed..anger, bargaining, denial, depression etc.... I am 39 years old(so close to your son in age) and pretty bitter than I have a chronic disease going on. I do try to remember though that people have alot worse things going on and that will sometimes give me perspective.

I also have been pretty disappointed in the medical scene.  I think it is part of having meds that work sometimes yes, sometimes no. Also pay a fortune for the meds and they don't necessarily put you in full remission or for long.  Also I had a few bonehead Dr's along the way but did find one that now is reasonably caring and will work w/ me when I want to try something and takes my feelings in mind.

As far as the Carafate...I can't see how it would hurt to try it.  I would tell him that it is a fairly easy med as far as I have read regarding side effects.   It is however tricky to take w food and med schedules.  But truly, due to the benign nature of the med (again as long as no kidney probs. b/c of aluminum) it is worth trying.  Hey you never know what could help and I keep telling myself that.  I keep a list of things to try and than try it and if not, cross it off of my list.  Some things that may help that he can put on "his" list is ...probiotics (like VSL 3 or Ultimate Flora Critical Care), also Fiber such as Metamucil (go slow and build up on this.)  I know it sounds strange to take fiber for diarrhea, but it does help bulk things up, also some like L-Glutamine etc.... Anyway just a few suggestions. 

I would def. recommend him coming to this site if he is willing as it has been so great to get helpful real world info from people who really have UC, not just the Dr who knows about it in theory.  The people here are so nice, helpful and supportive. I would encourage him to do it.  I wish i had better advice regarding attitude, but it is a struggle for me as well.  Pls let us know if there is anything else we can do tell help!

B

Also I bet if you start a new post introducing yourself you will get alot of responses!

 

Post Edited (hateuc) : 11/11/2013 9:57:41 AM (GMT-7)

When you say "introduce yourself," how specific an introduction are we talking about.

I will talk to my son and try to convince him to give this community a try. He's very private. I'm not sure if he'd be willing to "talk" about it. But, you never know. As for his meds, they've changes so often that I'm not sure what he's on now. He's living with his Dad and he's more up on what my son is taking, both for his epilepsy and for the ulcerative colitis. I do know that he's also having Remicade Infusions about every six weeks--very dangerous stuff. Has anyone out there had experience with Remicade Infusion? It doesn't seem to be doing a whole lot for him, considering that two of the side effects are cancer and death.

Caroline

Here's my experience with Carafate. I started it last Saturday (3 tablets 30mins - 1 hour before meals, mixed with water) and initially it seemed to change some things neither for the better or worse. For instance, Saturday morning I had diarrhea (as per usual) but after taking the Carafate, that night's BM was formed (yay?). However the BM had a white mucus string on it (normally if I have mucus in my stools, its far less than what was in that BM and transparent).

The Sunday BMs were all formed (without mucus) but I had unusual abdominal pain and bloating in my lower gut.

Monday comes around and I have a surprisingly nicely formed brown BM in the morning (very unusual for a morning work day). Unfortunately that good feeling quickly dissolved when I had urgency to use the bathroom about 20 minutes into my drive to work. Luckily, I made it in time and I had half formed, half diarrhea stools... :(. After lunch, I used to the bathroom (semi-urgent) and what followed was orangy/yellowish diarrhea but I think it was more transparent mucus covered in a bit of liquid stool because there wasn't a lot of it that came out and it didn't stink (I smelt the toilet paper after wiping and it was oderless... sorry TMI). Surprisingly, that night, I had no BM at all. No need to use the bathroom either which is very strange as I almost always have a night time BM.

Tuesday (today) comes around and I was looking forward to my morning BM (believing that since I didn't have a BM last night, I'd have a nice solid brown BM to show for it today). Well, disappointingly, my BM was initially yellowish but formed, followed by mucusy diarrhea... oh how upset I was :(. Drive to work was fine but around 10:30am, I started to get hungry and I felt bloating in my lower gut. More over, I felt some mild tightness around my chest area (almost like the beginnings of heartburn). I ignored it.

Lunch time comes around (usually my most difficult time of the day) and I finish my lunch. No urgency but gurgling and bloating in my lower gut (as per usual). I use the bathroom and what comes out is orangy/yellowish very very soft stools. What a disappointment. I wash up and return to my desk.

Home time, and I go home for dinner (pan fried fish with steam carrots and water for drinks... healthy no?). As I eat, I feel something I've NEVER felt before... mild heartburn in my chest like, a sourish ache. I know this definitely is heartburn and almost definitely related to the Carafate...

This brings me to where I am now. I still haven't finished my dinner and I can still feel the heartburn. Disappointed that this Carafate seems to actually be CAUSING heartburn when it should be doing the opposite?

Nonetheless, I am not happy but will persist (with 2 tablets) until this Saturday. I always prefer to give treatments at least a week or more to see their effect but I hope the Carafate doesn't cause permanent heartburn because I never ever have had this before (at least not the pain in my chest).

To summise, Carafate seems to be changing something but some changes are for the better, others for the worse. As such, I still would not approve of this drug.