OTC product Equalactin for sudden attacks of diarrhea.

January 9, 2009

I have infrequent bouts of diarrhea that can be very severe and I have been

diagnosed

with IBS. Since my PSC diagnosis, I have been very suspicious that one day I'm

going to be

told that I actually have IBD. Regardless, 2 different pathologists have looked

at the

biopsies from my colonoscopy last year and said that there is no sign of IBD.

I carry Immodium with me all the time, because my attacks are sometimes sudden

and

unpredictable. Immodium works, but I hate it because it completely shuts me

down for

36-48 hours & then produces severe constipation & bloating, followed by more

diarrhea,

and this can last for 7-10 days before it resolves. A few months ago, I read

about an OTC

product called Equalactin on an IBS board. People with IBS-D were raving about

it, so I

decided to give it a try. It's active ingredient is 625 mcg calcium

polycarbophil per tablet,

and you take 2 at a time. Since I already take a calcium supplement each day, I

doubted it

would help much.

To my surprise, it has stopped every attack I've had in the last few months, and

I would

say I've used it at least 10 times. One dose gets me back to normal in about

6-8 hours &

then I can resume eating a normal diet with no more issues. That is astonishing

for me. I

am amazed & I'm now carrying this around with me, and soon I'll probably quit

taking the

Immodium around. (I'm still a little nervous to be without my security blanket

of

Immodium!)

I have no idea if this product would be of any help to those of you with IBD,

but I thought

I'd throw it out there. In my area, I can only find it at CVS. The pharmacist

at Rite-Aid

told me he could order it for me.

Debbie

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