Cholestyramine and Diarrhea: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Cut...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 19, 2024

For Dumping Syndrome "I am 5 days into taking cholestyramine and have had 5 days of no diarrhea and intense stomach pain. Why didn't my other doctors know about this and recommend it? I have spent the last 3 years going through every test imaginable, and here I am thinking this might be my miracle."

• Joh...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 4, 2020

For Post-Cholecystectomy Diarrhea "Have had a right hemicolectomy and then several ops for bowel obstruction, so missing the terminal ileum and bile acids don’t get absorbed. The cholestyramine 3 times daily makes diarrhea manageable, usually only in the mornings. Without it, I have bile-stained motions all day, often with little warning, and can’t really go out anywhere safely. Hoping it doesn’t go out of production, as my life would become very difficult."

• Nic...
• December 17, 2019

For Post-Cholecystectomy Diarrhea "This medication, cholestyramine, has been the only medication to give me a normal life without diarrhea. Without it, I can't eat, I can't go out, and I get severe diarrhea. On days I get flare-ups, but nothing without it. Since my gallbladder removal, I suffered terribly, however, I'm in the UK, and I can't order it to my pharmacy lately as this medicine is limited. I've been having panic attacks about this as I can't live normally without it. The UK needs to sort it out and order more in as I don't know what my future holds without this medicine."

• REB...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• June 16, 2018

For Post-Cholecystectomy Diarrhea "After gallbladder surgery in 2006, had constant diarrhea, yellow bile, and upper right side pain, lost 18 lbs in a few weeks. Knew I was going to die. Diagnosed with problems with the Sphincter of Oddi muscle that regulates bile flow. Can happen after gallbladder surgery. Tried dozens of meds. Changed family doctors, my new one put me on Cholestyramine Light, and immediately stopped cramps and diarrhea!! I took it for months, then was able to stop. I still would take a dose if a flare-up. THIS SAVED MY LIFE!!! Unfortunately, I started diarrhea and side pain again. I started back on the Cholestyramine Light. Has not worked as well, SEVERE LEG AND FEET MUSCLE CRAMPS! They last forever, feels like a limb is being ripped off. Smaller cramps while sleeping. Can happen when older. I was 58 then and now 70. Breaks my heart. THIS IS A MIRACLE DRUG. PLEASE TRY IT."

• Nic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 31, 2023

For Post-Cholecystectomy Diarrhea "Lost part of my large and small intestines. Severe diarrhea started immediately afterward for 8 weeks. Tried Imodium and Lomotil with no results. GI doctor said let's try this. It's been a life changer for me. Within 3 days, I was almost back to normal. I go more often with less intestine but with a solid b/m. A real game changer for me!"

• Hea...
• July 9, 2016

For Post-Cholecystectomy Diarrhea "I've been suffering with terrible diarrhea after gallbladder removal surgery for 4 months. This surgery and diarrhea have made me lose over 40 pounds thus far and taken my appetite. I've taken Levsen, Lomotil, and those medications only helped somewhat with the terrible cramping I had, and Lomotil would make me get constipation some days, and other days the same dosage did nothing to help the terrible dumping syndrome symptoms. I was prescribed the orange-flavored packets twice before my heaviest meals. I'm not immediately dumping my meals like I previously was, and my appetite is returning. Big win for me! I'm still fine-tuning my dosage, and having some diarrhea, so I can't give a 10."

• Liv...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 12, 2021

For Post-Cholecystectomy Diarrhea "Four years ago I experienced my first gallbladder attack. It was horrible. I ended up in the ER, and after a CT, it was determined I had stones and a badly infected gallbladder. I was taken to the operating room and underwent a cholecystectomy. For the next three years, I struggled with severe diarrhea following any intake of food. Could not finish a meal without running to a bathroom with projectile diarrhea. I visited a PA for some cramping issues and shared my sad story. She suggested I try and prescribed cholestyramine once a day. I was so tired of diarrhea that I would try anything! Within two days, my life changed. I was able to eat a complete meal and began having 'normal' bowel movements. Life changer. That is all."

• Rox...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 21, 2014

For Post-Cholecystectomy Diarrhea "I have had tremendous diarrhea after my gallbladder was removed. I tried many medications to treat the diarrhea, and this is the only one that comes close to treating the problem. Now, I only have to take Imodium occasionally and not in the amount I used to take to get some control."

• KMa...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 1, 2021

For Post-Cholecystectomy Diarrhea "This medicine saved my life. I developed horrible diarrhea after having my gallbladder removed. Anything that I ate or drank, including just water, would cause diarrhea within approximately 10-15 minutes. I couldn’t go anywhere. I ended up at the emergency room after collapsing and was hospitalized for a week because I was so dehydrated. The treating physician said I was at risk of hypovolemic shock and would have died had I come a day or two later. I have taken 2 packets a day for the past 10 years. It has given me my life back. I now have a normal bowel movement every day. If I miss more than one dose, I go back to having diarrhea. The only downside is that it has caused tooth decay to where I now wear dentures at age 35. It’s a fair trade though, because it is the ONLY medication that worked for me. Trust me, I have tried countless medications and supplements. No other bile acid sequestrant has eliminated the diarrhea the way cholestyramine does."

• Mem...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• November 8, 2019

For Post-Cholecystectomy Diarrhea "Had my gallbladder out in 1995 and had diarrhea since. Used this med, cholestyramine, and fiber capsules to treat it. Tried going without the med several times but ended up taking Imodium. It affects my daily routine."

• HiJ...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 12, 2021

For Post-Cholecystectomy Diarrhea "I had my gallbladder removed about 10 years ago. Then the diarrhea came, and I lived with that for about a year. I was only 35 at the time, and it made me so depressed that life was just too hard. But I found a great gastro that said he knew exactly what the problem was-BAM. I was put on Colestipol. This doctor saved my life. I have taken Colestipol for 10 years. I was prescribed 2 a day, but I only took 1 and stockpiled because of my fear of it being discontinued. Recently, it became backordered, and I have cholestyramine now to try. I hope it works the same! I will report back after I give it a week or so. All I can say is if one doesn't work well, keep advocating for yourself and don't give up!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 11, 2017

For Post-Cholecystectomy Diarrhea "I have had explosive diarrhea after nearly every meal. Started using the powder form mixed 1 scoop with 1 cup of juice or tea. Once daily has kept me regular for the first time in years. I had my gallbladder removed 25 years ago, which is the largest contributing factor to my condition. If I forget to take it for one day, I am back to diarrhea. I rarely forget."

• noc...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 1, 2023

For Post-Cholecystectomy Diarrhea "After suffering from periodic episodes of diarrhea after having my gallbladder removed years ago, I had hopes that cholestyramine would restore regularity and help me live a more normal life. No such luck. My dosage was 2 times a day, and I just felt worse, messed up the schedule for my other medications, and did not improve my intestinal issues at all. It affected me the exact same way Metamucil does-huge amounts of painful gas and explosive, unpredictable diarrhea with a weird gelatinous consistency. Yes, gross is exactly the word that comes to mind. My experience with this medication was altogether disappointing."

• MAK...
• September 3, 2021

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome "I had excessive bile acid, which caused diarrhea that could not be stopped by any other way, except to take cholestyramine powder before two meals a day. I was told that I would be on this the rest of my life. When my hair started falling out, I felt weak and needed B12 shots, I knew there had to be a better way. I tried 3 capsules of ashwagandha 2100 mg, once a day, within two days, I was back to normal, no diarrhea, no loose stools, no burning, just normal. This works and is only $15 a month."

• Gre...
• June 24, 2017

For Post-Cholecystectomy Diarrhea "I have been suffering with diarrhea in the morning; usually just the am. I had been using Prevalite (cholestyramine), but Dr. suggested that I use the regular cholestyramine in the can (cheaper) rather than packets. I switched -- although they should be the same product, I am encountering more diarrhea and have increased to 3 scoops of the product a day. Any ideas?"

• Sta...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 4, 2022

For Post-Cholecystectomy Diarrhea "Gallbladder removed early 2019. Started having severe diarrhea soon after. After two years and many visits to my doctor, I was told about this medication by a retired doctor. I started on it about a year ago, and the diarrhea ceased almost immediately. I was angry I suffered two years with diarrhea that my doctor had never mentioned this as a possible solution. I started taking one pack a day of the powder, and it worked well. I had occasional constipation, and I would stop taking the powder for one day to help clear my system. In the last couple of months, I have noticed diarrhea coming back, and it appears the medication dose I’m taking needs to be adjusted. I will be going to two packs per day of the powder, and hopefully, this will get me back on the right track. All I can tell you is that life when I was not taking the medication was very miserable, and I am able to function normally again. I’m 71, male, 240 lbs, 6’"

• rrh...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 21, 2024

For Dumping Syndrome "Using for 6 months, one packet at night, very little diarrhea, and just one packet per day is enough, although my doctor originally prescribed 2. The only downside is the consistency of the stool is sticky and hard to clean yourself and the toilet bowl."

• Mil...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 8, 2021

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome "I had bloating for years and discovered that I was lactose intolerant. Further down the road, I had a colonoscopy and had a cecum polyp, which necessitated removing a substantial part of my gut, and a colon resection was performed. After the surgery, I had bouts of bloating and diarrhea. The surgeon put me on Sandoz Cholestyramine. It cured my problem. I haven't used it for 2 years, even though I've had some episodes. Quite honestly, I forgot about the medication, even though I had it in the house. Well, I had a very sick past 4 days with bloating and pain in my lower intestines. I was knocked out. I remembered the Cholestyramine and took a package, in a few hours, I was fine... like I was never sick. I took another package the following day and am fine. I will use this as needed. It was also 1 and 1/2 years past the expiration date, but it worked! I found that I need to avoid salads... too much fiber. Who knew? We are all a mystery. I will renew the prescription."

• Reb...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 25, 2021

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome "I had my gallbladder removed 9 years ago, since then, I've had mild problems of diarrhea, but the last 4 years have been terrible. I’m having belly pains, which means I need the toilet straight away. I’ve been to the doctors a lot, had blood tests, given samples, and changed diet. I was told it's just IBS. It was getting unbearable not being able to go out of the house without knowing there’s a toilet nearby. I told the doctor I can’t put up with it anymore. He said he would refer me to the gastro clinic. I received a text to say a prescription was waiting for me for this medication that the gastro people said to try this first. Well, I didn’t think it would work straight away, but it did, I was amazed. I can go about my life now without worrying where a toilet is. There have been maybe 4 or 5 episodes over the last 4 weeks of either pain or diarrhea, but not both together, and it doesn’t last all day either compared to when I was going up to 8 times a day. So, thank you for this medicine."

• Sti...
• April 15, 2021

For Post-Cholecystectomy Diarrhea "My gallbladder has been gone for about 9 years now, and I don't know what I would do without the Prevalite powder. What a lifesaver! I mix 1 tablespoon of Prevalite with 1 tablespoon of Metamucil in a glass of Sunny D every morning, and I am good to go the rest of the day. I used to have so many stomach troubles and diarrhea, as soon as I ate, I would have to find a bathroom."

• Jon...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 13, 2023

For Post-Cholecystectomy Diarrhea "About 6 months after having my gallbladder out, I started having emergent diarrhea after eating slightly fatty foods. Then about 18 months after my gallbladder was removed, I started having explosive, urgent, watery diarrhea every day no matter what I ate and especially if I hadn’t eaten in more than 8 hours. Nothing worked, and I couldn’t leave the house and had lots of accidents. It was terrible. I’m young, so this was really embarrassing. I mean, just because no one else my age has been through this, and I couldn’t really talk about it, and they got frustrated with me canceling all the time or running to the bathroom, and then I got malabsorption too. So, this really saved my life on the one hand, but I also get terrible indigestion, nausea, and eventually vomiting just to release the pressure that lasts for several hours about 50% of the time when taking it. I’ve been trying different doses, and I’m hoping that works. Anyone have a solution? Antacids haven’t worked."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 22, 2022

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome "I suffered from stomach aches and diarrhea for years after having gallbladder surgery. I couldn't leave the house or go to a restaurant without having to hurry up and get to a bathroom. Now, after going to my 4th GI doctor, she prescribed this medication, and I haven't felt better in over 20 years."

• Cho...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 22, 2021

For Post-Cholecystectomy Diarrhea "Starting this medication today! For over 6 years of unexpected diarrhea throughout the day. Travel plans are a nightmare, a change of clothes in the car just in case, constantly being asked if this food will make you sick, exhaustion after bouts of diarrhea, I know every restroom within a mile of our house. I will let you know how it goes. Reading your messages was eye-opening...same experiences, so here's to my new medicated life."

• And...
• January 1, 2010

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome "I wouldn't be able to leave the house without this medication. I had gallbladder surgery and since then have suffered major cramps and diarrhea daily."

• Pop...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 3, 2020

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome "I just started taking cholestyramine. I am 7 days in. No more watery poop. ... I was able to go to the store without having to go to the bathroom.... Poop was solid ... WOW."