[Guest]

Has anyone found that taking vitamins or herbal medicine made the IBS (whether C, D or G) worse?Thanks (I'm just so hesitant to take anything new, now!!)

 

[HipJan]

No, they didn't make my IBS worse. But I've only taken stuff recommended by my nutritionist, who apparently does a lot of research.

 

[moms777]

I tried taking St. Johns Wort for a few days and it made my D much worse. I had to stop taking it. Vitamins don't agree with me either.

 

[Guest]

Vitamens don't bother me at all. I had tried calm colon but got D from it and didn't feel it did a thing one way or the other. A lot of people have had good success with different herbs, etc. If you're trying something new, only introduce one thing at a time so you can tell if it has an effect. Good luck!------------------A little unconditional love can make your whole day!Jackie(C-type)

 

[JeanG]

Hi NewKid:Before starting any new herbs, it's a good idea to check out what their side effects are, and if they can react with other medications. If you go to http://www.webmd.com and click on "Consumer", on the next screen under "Medical Information" you'll find a link to "Drugs and Herbs". There is quite a bit of good information there.Good luck!

JeanG[This message has been edited by JeanG (edited 05-09-2000).]

 

[vikee]

I have found that no vitamin influences my IBS one way or another. Mega doses of vitamin C can cause D.I agree with Jean about herbs. Try this site also: http://members.tripod.com/~CyberwitchII/herbal2.html As for vitamins do a web search or ask at a health food store or library for informative books to read. I take mega vitamins but know the combinations and limits. It's best you get the information from reliable sources.I feel that you should be knowledgeable about anything tou ingest!

 

[justme555]

I take vitamins and herbal combos, and have had only good effects. If anything, the KavaKava and St. John's Wort help. They are considered relaxants. I've just begun using some peppermint oil gel caps, and they seem to help the acid stomach.It is a good idea to try only one new thing at a time - whether adding something or taking something else away. (Same procedure when trying to isolate food allergies.)Good luck - and don't give up!------------------"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle."

 

[Guest]

Thank you!

 

[JeanG]

Hi NewKid:Before taking St. Johns Wort, please check out the article I posted in the Meeting Place at: http://www.ibsgroup.org/ubb/Forum3/HTML/004258.html . The St. John's Wort manufacturers have agreed to lable the herb that it could cause some reactions with other medications.Anyway, I've posted the article on that link, and you can read about it there.JeanG

 

[Guest]

wow... I just tried St.John's Wort and Kava Kava....It's in the trash.The St.John's Wort made me feel like I was about to produce a technicolor yawn and I had some of the worse D I have EVER had....it was the type of D you get when you live in a 3rd world country and drink gallons of water.I had terrible headaches too....both are gone now since I stopped taking it.It did however cause a break in my symptom free streak... I have IBS attacks again....I was doing so well too. ....I was just trying to work on my nerves and my stress.....alot of good that did.St.Johns Wort... HMMMPH. The name should have been enough to keep me away.Live and learn.

 

[eric]

I have actually been thinking about this and I am not opposed to herbs, but wondering what properties a specific herb might have and then what it would do to help, mood or digestion.This info is FYI though and herbs should be considered to their source and properties.It is also being mentioned above tto take one at a time to see specific effects. If they work for you great.Botanical ProductsAmista Anne Lone, PharmD Botanical products have been widely used for centuries; however, recent innovations in medicine and trends toward alternative approaches have elicited many questions health professionals must answer. Are these products safe and efficacious? What position does the FDA take on dietary supplements? What liability issues does this present? Variations in Plant Origin[1] The efficacy of an herbal product depends on an unknown combination of a compound acting synergistically. In other words, as the purity of an herbal product increases, the efficacy may decrease. This may be due to possible secondary metabolites in the herb itself. These secondary metabolites may not have well-defined functions in the plant. They may give protection to the plant, which increases the plant survival, but they may also be biologically active. It is important for the healthcare practitioner to know of the production process of botanical products in order to make an effective decision about whether to recommend a certain product. There are 2 variations to plants that may alter the "chemically active" component--natural variations and manufacturing variations: Natural Variations Genetics Species variation Ontogeny (stage of development) Growth, reproduction Plant part Stems, leaves, roots, flowers, fruits Environment Temperature, rainfall, day length, altitude, atmosphereic composition, soil Manufacturing Variations Drying Time between collection and drying Time allowed for drying from when picked Temperature used for drying Storage Moisture reabsorption Loss of volatile oils Molds, infestation, sterilization Adulteration Mishandling of product Extraction Procedure Type of solvent Amount of fine plant material exposed to Solvent Degree of agitation Temperature Number of times sample extracted Age of extract Exposure to oxygen and light Solvents Water (tea) -- hydrophilic constituent volatile if warm Ethanol -- less hydrophilic constituent Hexane -- very lipophilic constituent Analytical Methods Analytical methods were developed to detect and separate individual compounds. The methods to extract compounds should be reproducible and quantitative. Trial analysis is performed to show consistency. Below are the 5 main analytical methods used: TLC Thin-layer chromatography HPLC High-powered liquid chromatography GC Gas chromatography MS Mass spectrometry NMR Nuclear magnetic resonance Use of analysis helps to monitor the consistency of the production process from batch to batch of one manufacturer. It also aids in the identification of plant material. Standardization Standardization is achieved by choosing at least 1 compound and monitoring its concentration in each batch of product (and modifying batches to meet the standard). Standardization is not directly related to efficacy because it does not assess the total chemical composition of the product. It shows consistency, but not necessarily efficacy. Quality Herbal Preparations The best preparations are those that have been studied in clinical trials and have received positive outcomes. The second-best preparations are those that match the requirements of monographs and clinical trials. A monograph should contain the following items: Description of the plant Known and active constituents of the plant Plant identification Therapeutic indications Dosage forms (ie, extract, tea, dried, solvent) Method/duration of administration Contraindications Drug interactions Any known pharmacokinetics Some of the available resources are listed below. Resource Pros Cons German Commission E Therapeutic information Not detailed Comprehensive listing of herbs Not referenced Acceptable combination products Dated material ESCOT Monograph Therapeutic information 50 herbs to date Clinical trial synopses in vivo Detailed information Referenced Review of Natural Products Therapeutic information Comprehensive Referenced Updated periodically When considering which herbal product to recommend, there are a few questions that you should ask. Ask about the quality control (ie, the protocols for drying, storage, or extraction procedures). Find out whether analysis procedures are done. Ask about standardization (ie, are standardization requirements met -- and if so, how?) Monitor the patients' outcomes, and have the patients monitor their own outcomes as well. FDA Regulations on Dietary Supplements[2] In the United States, over $12 billion per year is spent on medications, including over-the-counter medications. One third of this is spent on botanicals. This is a major global concern, because dietary supplements are unregulated by the FDA or by any other US organization. There has been a sweeping change in legislation since 1994, when the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) was passed. This act defined dietary supplements and made provisions for the manufacturers to follow. The FDA has become increasingly involved in the safety concerns on dietary supplements, and has developed a task force dedicated full time to dietary supplement issues. Boundary Issues Specific areas were addressed to distinguish dietary supplements from conventional foods and from other drugs. The FDA looked at its intended use and whether it was used previously as a drug. Medical foods were defined as those products that were used for a specific disease with distinctive nutrient needs. These products must be used under the constant supervision of a healthcare professional. Dietary supplements are intended to supplement the normal diet, whereas drugs are intended to treat, prevent, or cure a disease. Structure/Function Claims The FDA is working to provide a final resolution for describing the role of a substance in humans in reference to structure or function claims that a manufacturer makes about a certain product. Currently, the manufacturer has 30 days post-marketing to submit structure/function claims to the FDA. They must include on the label the following disclaimer: "This statement has not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease." Safety Standards Dietary supplements are exempted from food additive requirements. Currently, manufacturers are responsible for providing safe products but are not regulated to do so. Good manufacturing practices (GMPs) are being revamped to provide guidelines in 4 areas: (1) GMP current status, (2) safety activity, (3) early warning, and (4) labeling. In 1997 the FDA published an advance notice of proposed rulemaking for GMPs. The FDA has listed proposed rules for GMPs as their top priority, and should have the final results published in late 2000. Outreach and data collection are in progress. Post-marketing monitoring of adverse event reports, product sampling, scientific literature, and other sources are being addressed. Early warnings to the public of potentially dangerous products have been implemented. The FDA has initiated actions to remove GBL (gammabutyrolactone, a precursor to GHB) and GHB from the marketplace because of the 55 adverse events 1 death that have been reported. They have also limited ephedra dosing to 20 mg/day as a maximum because of the overwhelming incidence of adverse events reported. The FDA has also implemented a requirement to add nutrition labeling to products. A supplement facts panel and the part of the plant used must be listed as well. What's Next for Dietary Supplements? Issues that will be addressed in the months and years to come include striking a balance between availability and safety. Currently, the Federal Trade Commission regulateds advertising. In response to the overwhelming interest in the Internet, the FDA is looking at policy issues that address the type of information being placed on Web sites and the regulations that may or may not need to be implemented in this area. Liability Issues for Pharmacists Using Botanicals[3] Using botanical products in caring for patients carries with it a certain risk. A comparison of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) for prescriptions versus botanicals has not been made. Between $30 and $100 billion is spent on medication-related errors of prescription drugs. The question is, how much of that is due to dietary supplements? To date, hundreds of cases have been brought to the courts concerning prescription medications. There are no cases, however, that mention botanical products or herbals. Legal Risks There are potential risks involved with medications and botanical products. These include, but are not limited to, the following: Strict liability Negligence Warranties Obligation to warn Strict liability includes the sale of a defective product (ie, adulterated to label warning), the sale of a product that is unreasonably or inherently dangerous (ie, through the manufacturing process, design, or failure to warn). Liability is incurred when a knowingly defective or an unreasonably or inherently dangerous productleaves the hands of the defendant, or the plaintiff, and results in an injury. Negligence comes to play when there is an obvious defect or patent defect (ie, a lack of child-proof caps). Negligence is inferred when there is no evidence of the defendant's negligence and the plaintiff could have done nothing to prevent it. A product must be warranted safe. Even though dietary supplements do not fall under the same FDA regulations that prescriptions drugs do, there is still an inherent obligation, whether it be written or implied, that for the manufacturer to produce a safe product. The obligation to warn the patient who is known to be using a prescription medication about possible adverse interactions between that medication and the known dietary supplement in question. The obligation covers closed package labeling as well. Fraud Fraud includes intentional misrepresentation or misleading silence. There are 2 types of fraud; deceit and concealment. Deceit is known as affirmative fraud. It is purposed as false information, known falsity, or an act that is done for the purpose of defrauding. Concealment is the act of being deliberately misleading by silence - that is, purposefully avoiding the duty to disclose by intentionally suppressing material facts with the object of creating a false impression. Other Violations Statutory liabilities Licensing violations Lack authority to use/prescribe Failure to follow regulations Failure to renew license Personal health or character problems Regulatory violations Failure to meet standards Basic requirements omitted (ie, warnings, nutrition labeling) Marketing violations DSHEA FTCA misrepresentations Antitrust Act: limited use permitted, price fixing Summary When recommending botanical products, it is important to be aware of the manufacturing process. This awareness will help you to identify the quality of the product and the presence of other agents that may be included in the product. Review the published literature and identify outcomes for the use of botanicals in clinical trials. The focal point in gaining quality botanical product information is to follow the same drug information procedures you would follow for FDA-approved medications. References 1.Hall AM. Botanical products. In: Program and abstracts of The American Society of Health-System Pharmacist Midyear Clinical Meeting 1999; December 5-9, 1999; Orlando, Florida. Abstract 3612433. 2.McDonald J. FDA regulations on dietary supplements. In: Program and abstracts of The American Society of Health-System Pharmacist Midyear Clinical Meeting 1999; December 5-9, 1999; Orlando, Florida. Abstract 3613063. 3.Skinner WJ. Liability issues for pharmacists using botanicals. In: Program and abstracts of The American Society of Health-System Pharmacist Midyear Clinical Meeting 1999; December 5-9, 1999; Orlando, Florida. Abstract3613200.------------------ http://webpotential.com/ericibs/index.htm

 

[JeanG]

Whew -- what an article Eric. There are points there that I had never even considered.JeanG

 

[Guest]

I did what Dr Weil suggested at www.drweil.com Peppermint oil, acidopholis.etc... No help. I think it just upset my stomach more than anything else. But others may want to check out what he has to say. I didn't help me but I think everyone has a different result.

 

[Guest]

Many thousands of people in this country (U.S.) die every year from prescription medication. For the most part herbs and supplements are much safer as long as you are informed about what you are taking and possible interactions.

 

[jane93]

If you are taking no other meds and have no chronic conditions or other ailments (other than IBS) experimenting with herbs may be OK. Be aware that you should read about them from reliable sources like Dr Andrew Weil..beware there are a lot of quacks out there..and many herbal companies who make unsupported health claims.That aside I have found relief using acidopholis and slippery elm. I have found the most releif from hypnotherapy and dietary changes.------------------Jane*************C/D/G type *************

 

[Guest]

I am also very interested in herbal remedies, as prescription drugs either don't help, give severe headaches, or turn the brain off completely. My daughter (13) has found releif from cramping with enteric coated peppermint oil capsules. She never had serious d or c just cramping and upper ab pain. Others have posted that peppermint oil made their symptoms worse. See peppermint oil capsules thread for more info. Hope you find some help.