[notALICE]

Ok this is going to sound silly, BUTT (play on words there) it's not.

I take a regimen of meds & vitamins

Gabapentin 1200mg (for awhile, rule that out)
Trileptal 300mg(maybe, sorta new)
Xanax .5 as needed( never a problem before)
Vistaril .25 or 25 idk (added after the side effect, rule that out)
Crestor 40mg (cholesterol med)
And vitamin b's (not new)
Biotin (not new)
Fish oil (newish)

Now this may not seem like a horrible, life shattering side effect, but I have the worst gas ever. I swear, I could not hold a job with gas like this. It's the very deadly & silent type. My husband cannot even sleep in the same bed. It's really that awful. Farts are usually funny, but this is ridiculous! I'm the prim and proper type, mostly and am aghast (hahahaha).

Anyone have this side effect, and it so, from any of these meds? I suppose I should try Beano or GasX. Any remedy helpful?

The digestive system flora needs to be changed, in most cases of flatulence. Add a
generous quantity of acidophilus (the source of friendly bacteria) to your diet daily,
if you wish.

Lactose (the sugar in milk products), complex carbohydrates, pectin and Vitamin C
encourage additional growth of good flora. Good bacteria in the gut can die within 5
days unless they have a supply of lactose.

All medications leave an acidic residue (or ash) when they are digested. Check
the internet for side effects of the one you might suspect is a cause of the problem.
If it's just being caused by too much acidity, we can correct that by using the
"lemon thing", I call it. Regular supply of acidophilus is very good, however, at
alleviating the problem.

[notALICE]

After an internet search I actually think the culprit is the band of fish oil I am taking. It can cause all kinds of digestive bloating and flatulence. I take it for the Omega-3, which is good for bipolar & the heart. I think I'm going to stop the Fish Oil & see if that works, along with a gas reducer. If it works I'll shell out a few more bucks for krill oil. It's supposed to be much better with less digestive side effects.

I drink a cultured smoothie every day called Kefir. It's probiotic contains 12 live & active cultures. It's brand is Lifeway and touts "Kefir - known as the champagne of dairy, can be effervescent due to it's unique probiotic strains". I have to say is it is a little pricey, but tastes fantastic. Huge fan of the stuff.

KEFIR.COM

What's the lemon thing?

The "lemon thing" is to squeeze a lemon or two into about 8 oz of water and drink it.
You should begin to feel much calmer in 4 hours; if it hasn't worked by that time, repeat the process. That will give you real relief of acidity of tissues and fluids, and it's very healthy
for the digestive system.

Using the lemon doesn't sound logical because it is very acidic in taste (and it is a
citric acid fruit), but in digestion it leaves an alkaline ash (or residue) that is one of
the strongest we can take, and it does a lot to control acidity from too many
"Western diet" foods that are high in acid when digested. Lowering the acid helps
to calm feeling tone for some of us.

I use Nordic Omega 3 fatty acids. They're a little pricey, too, but have a wonderful
flavor and are so easy on the stomach.

If push comes to shove add a digestive enzyme to your schedule when you eat. They
might help with meat digestion if changing your essential fatty acid brand doesn't work.

Hope you find the solution.

[Confusedinomicon]

Its probably the brand. I heard the oil itself (which can be flavored) is better and easier to digest then the capsels.

You could have developed some kind of dairy intolerance, too. Or caffine. When Im stressed consuming either of those destroys my stomach.

[ultramar]

Even though it's for constipation, I have found that Colace (a stool softener) helps with what you're experiencing as well. 2 of my meds (not what you're taking) have caused some GI issues and I find this helps. I used to take two at night, now two in the morning and two at night. My PCP recommended it.

The brand (Colace) is super pricey, but a store brand stool softener would no doubt be just as good.

Avoiding milk products might help (or you could give it a trial and see if it helps) and certain vegetables.

I've never heard a doctor recommend citrus for specifically what you are experiencing, but you could ask your doctor if it would help. If you suffer from acid reflux or heartburn, I'd avoid it if I were you, though.

I'd see your PCP and see what he/she recommends -not the most fun conversation to have, but they've heard it all, not a problem.

[BlueInanna]

Oh Alice honey that sucks bad! I'm pretty uptight about my gas. My sister has always just let em rip in public and announce she's just a gassy girl. So I feel ya. I just asked nurse friend if she knows a cure, she doesn't and I don't know either I'm so sorry
But I'd try those little yogurt drinks and probiotics. Coffee could be contributing, but I'm sure you don't want to have to part with. And I have nothing to substantiate that, just an idea. I've noticed a heavy coffee day does that to me. :/

[cybermember]

Originally Posted by notALICE

I drink a cultured smoothie every day called Kefir. It's probiotic contains 12 live & active cultures. It's brand is Lifeway and touts "Kefir - known as the champagne of dairy, can be effervescent due to it's unique probiotic strains". I have to say is it is a little pricey, but tastes fantastic. Huge fan of the stuff.

KEFIR.COM

For what it's worth, I drink several glasses of skim milk everyday but can't have any probiotic/yogurt as it gives me a lot of gas. If all else fails, then I would cut out the probiotic to see if that helps alleviate your gas.

[Chupacabra]

Ooh I love kefir!! Sometimes it's all I "eat" in a day. Awesome stuff. But re:the gas, it's very likely the fish oil is causing it. There are some "burp free" (or something to that effect) brands, those might be a better choice.

[notALICE]

I've seen moderate reduction since I've stopped the fish oil, but have not picked up any anti gas products yet. L a z y.

I do drink lotsa coffee, but have all my adult life. Maybe combination of a bunch of new things together, well I can still clear a room. Just cant clean one. (See above, lazy, after manic phase). Hahaha.

Oh, notALICE, coffee is notorious for digestive problems! It's the caffeine; I can't eat
or drink anything with caffeine in it. You may be sensitive to it, too. Some bipolar
people are. I know it could be hard to give up, but could you begin by mixing some
decaffeinated coffee with regular coffee and reduce the level of caffeine? Then if
it works keep reducing the caffeine until you are drinking 100% decaffeinated coffee.

It makes a big, big difference in how we feel. Your idea that it may be a bunch of
new things may be right on target. All medications are acid in digestion, and coffee
is listed as one of the most acid things we can drink.

Drink lots of purified or alkaline water if you want to help stop it. (I would suggest distilled
water, but it's also very acid in digestion.) I would go for those two things: removing caffeine and drinking only water rather than adding another product to your schedule of medications, particularly over-the-counter products. (All milk products are high acid-forming in digestion, by the way.)

Check the internet to see which foods are high in methane gas by-products. That may ring a bell for you in your diet.

Take care.

[wotchermuggle]

I know I was warned before taking fish oil that not to take too much too fast as it would cause diarrhea and cramping. Maybe you just need to go slower with the fish oil.

[notALICE]

Originally Posted by genetic

Oh, notALICE, coffee is notorious for digestive problems! It's the caffeine; I can't eat
or drink anything with caffeine in it. You may be sensitive to it, too. Some bipolar
people are. I know it could be hard to give up, but could you begin by mixing some
decaffeinated coffee with regular coffee and reduce the level of caffeine? Then if
it works keep reducing the caffeine until you are drinking 100% decaffeinated coffee.

It makes a big, big difference in how we feel. Your idea that it may be a bunch of
new things may be right on target. All medications are acid in digestion, and coffee
is listed as one of the most acid things we can drink.

Drink lots of purified or alkaline water if you want to help stop it. (I would suggest distilled
water, but it's also very acid in digestion.) I would go for those two things: removing caffeine and drinking only water rather than adding another product to your schedule of medications, particularly over-the-counter products. (All milk products are high acid-forming in digestion, by the way.)

Check the internet to see which foods are high in methane gas by-products. That may ring a bell for you in your diet.

Take care.

While I sit here with a cup of coffee in my hands, I finally read your response. First cup though The coffee does have to be limited in my diet. While I go around saying it doesn't affect me I think it does a lot more than I say. Blood pressure, sleep, skin health...teeth.

I drink far more than the average person. Coffee. I've always been a fan, but especially after I gave up alcohol, the consumption went up up up. I'd be almost like a regular drinker, embarrassed to admit how many cups a day.

The gas has subsided, to the relief of all in the household, so it was the fish oil caps.