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Colestipol for symptoms of IBS-D

Posted by richannc @richannc, Nov 8, 2017

Has anyone had any experience with talking colestipol for treating the recurring diarrhea that is part of the IBS-D syndrome? My gastro prescribed it and it does seem to minimize diarrhea if taken twice a day. I would appreciate hearing form anyone who has tried it.

AC

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Moderator
Lisa Lucier, Moderator | @lisalucier | Apr 29 11:54am
In reply to @fiddler2 "I’m confused about when to take my colestipol. I have been using it for over a..." + (show)
Profile picture for fiddler2 @fiddler2

I’m confused about when to take my colestipol. I have been using it for over a month and taking it with my evening meal or right after I eat. I have been having IBS-D symptoms for about 17 years. I am gluten and dairy free except for butter, (it’s the casein in dairy that bothers me and butter is low in casein). Like everyone, I have good days/weeks and bad. I also have been using IBgard for about a year and that has definitely made a difference.

I have been working with Functional Medicine Doctors for about 20 years and am on my third one. He prescribed colestipol for my diarrhea symptoms. I think it is helping, but it there are still issues. My doctor told me to take it with a meal and since I take supplements with breakfast I have been taking it with my evening meal, but do I take it before, while I’m eating or after? What works for you? I have been taking two pills only once a day. Should I split it up?

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Hi, @fiddler2 - wondering how things are going with your IBS-D symptoms? Is the colestipol helping you?

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fiddler2 | @fiddler2 | Apr 29 3:27pm
In reply to @fiddler2 "I’m confused about when to take my colestipol. I have been using it for over a..." + (show)
Profile picture for fiddler2 @fiddler2

I’m confused about when to take my colestipol. I have been using it for over a month and taking it with my evening meal or right after I eat. I have been having IBS-D symptoms for about 17 years. I am gluten and dairy free except for butter, (it’s the casein in dairy that bothers me and butter is low in casein). Like everyone, I have good days/weeks and bad. I also have been using IBgard for about a year and that has definitely made a difference.

I have been working with Functional Medicine Doctors for about 20 years and am on my third one. He prescribed colestipol for my diarrhea symptoms. I think it is helping, but it there are still issues. My doctor told me to take it with a meal and since I take supplements with breakfast I have been taking it with my evening meal, but do I take it before, while I’m eating or after? What works for you? I have been taking two pills only once a day. Should I split it up?

Jump to this post

Yeah, it’s still a work in progress, trying to dial it all in. Right now I’m taking one at the beginning of my evening meal, but thinking I will try one more with lunch. I also upped the IBgard I was taking twice a day to three times, which is the recommended amount. IBgard is triple coated peppermint oil and recommended for IBS symptoms, but it hasn’t been enough to alleviate my symptoms on a daily or weekly basis. Hoping the colestipol will pull up the slack.

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kittykay | @kittykay | May 4 2:52pm
In reply to @fiddler2 "I’m confused about when to take my colestipol. I have been using it for over a..." + (show)
Profile picture for fiddler2 @fiddler2

I’m confused about when to take my colestipol. I have been using it for over a month and taking it with my evening meal or right after I eat. I have been having IBS-D symptoms for about 17 years. I am gluten and dairy free except for butter, (it’s the casein in dairy that bothers me and butter is low in casein). Like everyone, I have good days/weeks and bad. I also have been using IBgard for about a year and that has definitely made a difference.

I have been working with Functional Medicine Doctors for about 20 years and am on my third one. He prescribed colestipol for my diarrhea symptoms. I think it is helping, but it there are still issues. My doctor told me to take it with a meal and since I take supplements with breakfast I have been taking it with my evening meal, but do I take it before, while I’m eating or after? What works for you? I have been taking two pills only once a day. Should I split it up?

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I had a bowel resection for colon cancer about 6-7 yrs ago. They removed my ascending colon. I have had diarrhea since then. Last month, I visited my G-I doctor, and he prescribed Colestipol. It was life changing. The only side effect is heartburn, which I will gladly take as an alternative.

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Moderator
Lisa Lucier, Moderator | @lisalucier | May 6 12:16am
In reply to @kittykay "I had a bowel resection for colon cancer about 6-7 yrs ago. They removed my ascending..." + (show)
Profile picture for kittykay @kittykay

I had a bowel resection for colon cancer about 6-7 yrs ago. They removed my ascending colon. I have had diarrhea since then. Last month, I visited my G-I doctor, and he prescribed Colestipol. It was life changing. The only side effect is heartburn, which I will gladly take as an alternative.

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Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect, @kittykay. Thanks for sharing your experience with a bowel resection.

Glad to hear the colestipol really helped the diarrhea you had after the surgery. You mentioned it was life changing. Has taking the colestipol changed what you are able to do on a day to day basis?

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ctewart | @ctewart | Oct 24 11:58pm
In reply to @pohl "I have been using colestipol for about 3 months and it has not helped my diarrhea..." + (show)
Profile picture for pohl @pohl

I have been using colestipol for about 3 months and it has not helped my diarrhea that much. I still have to be very careful in the morning after I eat. I usually do not eat lunch, because I am still afraid to go out because not sure when it will come on.

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I have been taking Colestipol for 4 months now. I started 2 x a day. Now one a day. It works well with my severe diarrhea. The awful side effects are indigestion and heartburn. The doctor had me taking gavescon and famotidine. I had my gallbladder surgery last March. Since then I have been suffering with diarrhea stomach pain and heartburn. Sadly I dehydrated went to ER two times. Colestipol really works well with my diarrhea but the side effects are awful. Eating the right food does help. But the indigestion and heartburn issues are not going away. There are no alternatives. I have tried different medications none seem to work.

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colski | @colski | Oct 26 4:35pm

I was taking 4 pills 4 x's a day of Colestipol to control my diarrhea. It took a couple of months to get to where I am now. Along with Colestipol I was also taking 8 tablets 4 x's a day of diphenoxylate/atropine. Now that it is working for me, I have cut my dosage back in half. I'm trying to get rid of taking these 2 drugs as they are expensive, but really work!

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