Mods, can you leave this here since it is pertinent to bipolar?

Anyway, I used to have IBS-D (diarrhea) all the time. Now I'm constipated 100% of the time thanks to my new med changes (which, admittedly, didn't happen recently, but a while ago). I think it's my AP.

It sucks so much. I go to the bathroom like once every 7-9 days, which is WRONG. I should be going 2x a week at least. If I take a laxative, then I'm fine. Otherwise, 7-9 days it is.

I can't seem to fix this besides take a shitload of fiber everyday and drink like a million gallons of water. But then I'm filling up on fiber and water, and not normal food, which is really unhealthy because a lot of fibrous foods don't have that many calories.

Stupid meds! I'd rather have diarrhea. At least I can poop then. It makes me not want BP meds.

bluebicycle, I understand exactly what you're writing about. I was once on a medication that gave me severe constipation. I eventually had to stop it, and historically I am an extremely tolerant person when it comes to medication side effects. Too tolerant at times.

The only other times I tend to have severe constipation are on some occasions when I travel, especially to places in a very different time zone and usually when I'm stressed because of my daily routine being drastically changed all of a sudden. I'll assume this is not an issue for you right now, but if anything in your life has changed at all, do try getting back to your normal routine exactly as possible.

[Wild Coyote]

Some people routinely use a stool softener, fiber and/or a laxative when taking constipating meds. It's not unusual.

I eat a variety of fruit every morning, which helps to keep me regular.
If I add fiber, I like to add Citrucel.



WC

Originally Posted by BirdDancer

bluebicycle, I understand exactly what you're writing about. I was once on a medication that gave me severe constipation. I eventually had to stop it, and historically I am an extremely tolerant person when it comes to medication side effects. Too tolerant at times.

The only other times I tend to have severe constipation are on some occasions when I travel, especially to places in a very different time zone and usually when I'm stressed because of my daily routine being drastically changed all of a sudden. I'll assume this is not an issue for you right now, but if anything in your life has changed at all, do try getting back to your normal routine exactly as possible.

From what I can tell, there have been no recent changes to my diet/routine. I literally wake up, eat a bowl of cereal (or oatmeal), eat an apple for a snack, and eat some kind of veggies with dinner. I drink at least 64 oz a day (I have a Nalgene bottle that fits 32 oz, so I just drink 2 bottle's worth). This amount of fiber and water combo was never a problem before my AP increase. Though I have been eating a bit less lately... even though some of my hunger has returned.

Oddly enough, I actually had diarrhea-ish stool when my grandma passed away and we had to travel to her hometown. I don't know what I ate, but I think it was stuff that irritated my stomach (e.g., blue dye gives me diarrhea), so I don't think it involved fiber.

Originally Posted by Wild Coyote

Some people routinely use a stool softener, fiber and/or a laxative when taking constipating meds. It's not unusual.

I eat a variety of fruit every morning, which helps to keep me regular.
If I add fiber, I like to add Citrucel.



WC

Yeah, that's a possibility with the stool softener. I just want to stay away from taking laxatives since I think that can create a dependency. I've taken them for the past 2 weeks now and I'm afraid I will depend on it too much.

I've tried Miralax before and (TMI) all that does is give me liquid diarrhea, so it's the opposite extreme. And milk of magnesia doesn't work all that well. I literally have to take something like Dulcolax (or however you spell it).

[Wild Coyote]

Originally Posted by bluebicycle

Yeah, that's a possibility with the stool softener. I just want to stay away from taking laxatives since I think that can create a dependency. I've taken them for the past 2 weeks now and I'm afraid I will depend on it too much.

I've tried Miralax before and (TMI) all that does is give me liquid diarrhea, so it's the opposite extreme. And milk of magnesia doesn't work all that well. I literally have to take something like Dulcolax (or however you spell it).

Yes, miralax can be harsh.

If I add fiber, I use Citrucel caplets so I don't have to swallow glasses full of water/fiber mixed together.

You can obtain a stool softener with no laxative, as well.


WC

[Scooter9]

I had bad constipation when I was on Lithium recently. Like you, I ended up going every 7-9 days.

I was also taking fiber supplements and increasing my water intake.

I also tried probiotics. I researched online and found some people taking lots, but I ended up taking 30 billion per day (3 capsules of 10 billion).

You can get some probiotics with 150 billion bacteria in them (I think it's called Ultimate Flora). I can't say it stopped my constipation because I was still going every 7-9 days but I noticed I wasn't having the same difficulty I had before.

Probiotics can take a while to start working, so you might have to be patient.

I recently stopped Lithium and the problem went away completely.

[Wild Coyote]

As for probiotics, you can also add Activia yogurt to your daily diet. Activia promises a change in GI status within 2 weeks, I think.

Probiotic caps are also a great option, as mentioned above.


WC

Thanks for the suggestions

I had called my dr's not too long ago and my doctor wants me to take docusate 2x a day and 2 senna's at bedtime.

If that doesn't work, I'm doing the citrucel because I'm not going to mess around. I don't know why she didn't want citrucel when I asked about it. Citrucel sounds a lot better than the other stuff she suggested, based on what I'm reading.

I might just get Activia yogurt anyways and try the probiotics like you (WC) and Scooter said. Can't hurt with the probiotics. Lots of research done in that area, and it appears that it helps a lot with diarrhea. (I'm imagining that maybe if I go to the bathroom a lot that I might need some probiotics to replace the missing bacteria.)

BP meds suck, honestly. I don't know why they have to be mean by slowing down the colon.

[Wild Coyote]

Originally Posted by bluebicycle

Thanks for the suggestions

I had called my dr's not too long ago and my doctor wants me to take docusate 2x a day and 2 senna's at bedtime.

If that doesn't work, I'm doing the citrucel because I'm not going to mess around. I don't know why she didn't want citrucel when I asked about it. Citrucel sounds a lot better than the other stuff she suggested, based on what I'm reading.

I might just get Activia yogurt anyways and try the probiotics like you (WC) and Scooter said. Can't hurt with the probiotics. Lots of research done in that area, and it appears that it helps a lot with diarrhea. (I'm imagining that maybe if I go to the bathroom a lot that I might need some probiotics to replace the missing bacteria.)

BP meds suck, honestly. I don't know why they have to be mean by slowing down the colon.

It's all about fiber and restoring balance of microorganisms in the gut.

Citrucel is a hypoallergenic type of fiber. I like it much better than other fibers. An increasing number of fibers are wheat-based, which seem counterintuitive in my humble opinion. Psyllium can cause a lot of gas, too.

I just saw my GI specialist and she was cool with Citrucel, even though it was not on her list of fiber choices. It's really about what works for each individual.

Some of the psych meds tend to cause loose stools and/or diarrhea.

I have faith you can sort this out once you find a program which works for you!


WC

[HALLIEBETH87]

I feel ya! Zyprexa did that to me and it was awful! Hopefully youll feel better soon!

Originally Posted by Wild Coyote

It's all about fiber and restoring balance of microorganisms in the gut.

Citrucel is a hypoallergenic type of fiber. I like it much better than other fibers. An increasing number of fibers are wheat-based, which seem counterintuitive in my humble opinion. Psyllium can cause a lot of gas, too.

I just saw my GI specialist and she was cool with Citrucel, even though it was not on her list of fiber choices. It's really about what works for each individual.

Some of the psych meds tend to cause loose stools and/or diarrhea.

I have faith you can sort this out once you find a program which works for you!


WC

Yeah, that's why I'm confused about the citrucel. It's fiber like you said, whereas the other two my doctor suggested are obviously not. I wonder if citrucel (or any kind of fiber, really) is a lot safer.

Now that you mention GI doctors, my old GP suggested the Miralax on a daily basis and that's how I got the diarrhea. Even the bottle says to use it on a daily basis (so she wasn't wrong about that), but even taking half the dose gave me diarrhea. Yet if I didn't take it everyday, I would never poop. like wtf. There was no in-between.

Originally Posted by HALLIEBETH87

I feel ya! Zyprexa did that to me and it was awful! Hopefully youll feel better soon!

Thanks Hallie.

I took dulcolax today at 1:45pm and I'm hoping it'll kick in by 7:45pm. Otherwise, I'm SOL tomorrow at work (pun intended). lol.

[Wild Coyote]

Originally Posted by bluebicycle

Yeah, that's why I'm confused about the citrucel. It's fiber like you said, whereas the other two my doctor suggested are obviously not. I wonder if citrucel (or any kind of fiber, really) is a lot safer.

Now that you mention GI doctors, my old GP suggested the Miralax on a daily basis and that's how I got the diarrhea. Even the bottle says to use it on a daily basis (so she wasn't wrong about that), but even taking half the dose gave me diarrhea. Yet if I didn't take it everyday, I would never poop. like wtf. There was no in-between.

I have that same problem with Miralax.

[BeyondtheRainbow]

I've had severe constipation since going on APs. I've been on a prescription med called Amitiza for many years and mostly it keeps things fairly regular to very regular. Since having my gallbladder removed in February things have been unbalanced and we're working on that but in general it really helps. Sometimes I've needed ducosate and/or senna or miralax and occasionally it gets so bad I have to do magnesium citrate (bowel prep basically) which is highly unpleasant but mostly Amitiza helps.

[bizi]

yes if you have to go because it has been too long. magnesium citrate is the king of all laxatives. It will clear you out!
I take mag oxide every day and switch between 2 and 3 capsules depending upon whether I feel constipated the next day.
bizi

Originally Posted by BeyondtheRainbow

I've had severe constipation since going on APs. I've been on a prescription med called Amitiza for many years and mostly it keeps things fairly regular to very regular. Since having my gallbladder removed in February things have been unbalanced and we're working on that but in general it really helps. Sometimes I've needed ducosate and/or senna or miralax and occasionally it gets so bad I have to do magnesium citrate (bowel prep basically) which is highly unpleasant but mostly Amitiza helps.

Thanks!

I looked it up and one of the common side effects is nausea. Did/do you get that? If you did in the past, does it go away rather quickly?

Originally Posted by bizi

yes if you have to go because it has been too long. magnesium citrate is the king of all laxatives. It will clear you out!
I take mag oxide every day and switch between 2 and 3 capsules depending upon whether I feel constipated the next day.
bizi

Oh god. I have done magnesium citrate before and you have a total blowout. LOL. The cherry one tastes awesome though. But I've learned to never drink the whole bottle. If I do that, I poop for 3 days straight... literally. It's happened on 2 occasions.

[BeyondtheRainbow]

Originally Posted by bluebicycle

Thanks!

I looked it up and one of the common side effects is nausea. Did/do you get that? If you did in the past, does it go away rather quickly?

I don't remember ever having nausea so if I did it probably was at the start and didn't last long. I can't remember how long I've been on it, I think 2009? so it's a long time to remember but I don't think so.

[Faltering]

I had that problem with Zyprexa. I hope you get some relief soon.

[Unrigged64072835]

I’m having constipation since starting Trileptal. I do eat a lot of fiber but may need more water. Since I stopped Prilosec and upped Lipitor it’s been harder now. I might get Colace and a laxative. Hope you find something that helps.

[BeyondtheRainbow]

There is also a prescription called Linzess. It gives me horrible diarrhea but it would also be a possiblity (I'd try amitiza first) if you choose to try the prescription route.

[Movingon69]

In addition to the medicines mentioned, are you a coffee drinker? Sometimes that helps. Also (this is going to sound silly but it worked for my mom when she was on chemo. Elevate your feet like on the tub if it is across from toilet.

If you don't exercise walking can assist.
And, have you been checked for an obstruction? You mentioned IBS, I'm assuming you've been tested for IBD (crohn's or ulcerative cholitis). If not, you really should and obstructions can be part of that.

Originally Posted by BeyondtheRainbow

There is also a prescription called Linzess. It gives me horrible diarrhea but it would also be a possiblity (I'd try amitiza first) if you choose to try the prescription route.

Thanks.

Diarrhea doesn't sound fun at all. I've been getting that a lot lately with all this OTC crap (no pun intended) that I'm taking.

Senna was an AWFUL idea on my GP's part, especially after being told to take TWO pills before bed every night. It literally gave me major, awful cramps last night and into the morning. Then I went to the bathroom really badly. I'm never taking that again.

Ugh. Maybe Amitiza is a good option at this rate. I'll ask about it and mention the diarrhea I got from my GP's awful "suggestion." Maybe I'll even go to a GI doctor if my GP doesn't want to prescribe Amitizia. And if not that, I'll do the Linzess like you suggested.

I'll also try WC's suggestion of a fiber pill to see if that helps in the interim. I don't know why the f*** my GP suggested an extreme laxative to take every night, but I'm never doing it again. The cramps were literally an 8/10 on a pain scale from 1-10. Like very bad period cramps.

Originally Posted by Fharraige

I’m having constipation since starting Trileptal. I do eat a lot of fiber but may need more water. Since I stopped Prilosec and upped Lipitor it’s been harder now. I might get Colace and a laxative. Hope you find something that helps.

Thanks, Fharraige.

I take Lipitor too. I wonder if Lipitor is also partially to blame, now that you've mentioned it. But the constipation did get worse with a Rexulti increase, so I know for sure that Rexulti is at least compounding the issue.

As I mentioned to BeyondTheRainbow, Senna was an awful idea. When I took women's Dulcolax (which is a gentle, overnight relief), it was much better. But even still, it didn't make me regular. It just made me take a big s*** all at once. I'd rather just have something like BeyondTheRainbow suggested that makes things regular.