Visbiome is a very similar product, with essentially identical strengths available. It is also apparently the formulation that was originally tested under the name “VSL #3.”

There's Vivomixx which comes in sachets of 450 billion strength, you can try them too. I use probiotics from garden of life mood+ or the one's made for men. It comes at a strength if 50billion. And I use it every 3rd day or so, I feel fine with that amount so thats it probiotic wise for me.

marypar posted:

VSL-3 is not being manufactured as they are being sued.  

Actually it is one step further than that.  There was a judgment entered against them for false advertising and fraud, and the owners of the true formulation were awarded very significant damages.  Bill Johnson started an entire thread on this.  More on that here:

https://www.natlawreview.com/a...probiotic-ip-dispute

"At the heart of both sides’ false advertising claims was the question of whether defendants’ current formula for VSL#3 was clinically equivalent to Visbiome and to De Simone’s original formula of VSL#3 sold during the joint venture. Defendants argued it was. Therefore, they alleged that De Simone and ExeGi engaged in false advertising by marketing Visbiome as the only brand that contains the original De Simone probiotic formula. On the flip side, De Simone and ExeGi argued that defendants’ current VSL#3 product was different from Visbiome and from De Simone’s original probiotic formula, and that Alfasigma and Leadient therefore engaged in false advertising in marketing their new version of VSL#3 as being exactly the same as De Simone’s original probiotic formula. Specifically, De Simone argued that defendants’ new version was made with cheaper, untested ingredients, and was therefore less effective.

The jury ultimately sided with De Simone and ExeGi, finding that the defendants’ new VSL#3 product differed from De Simone’s original probiotic formula, and that Alfasigma and Leadient engaged in false advertising in marketing their new product as identical to De Simone’s formula sold during the time of the joint venture."

Scott F posted:

Visbiome is a very similar product, with essentially identical strengths available. It is also apparently the formulation that was originally tested under the name “VSL #3.”

That is exactly what the defendants argued at trial about VSL-3, and the jury decided they were full of crap and awarded $15 million in damages to the plaintiffs based on the defendants' false advertising.  The defendants were found to be using cheaper, untested ingredients and thus a diluted and quasi-legal formulation.  

Thanks everyone.  Hubby has a bout of pouchitis and needs the high dosage of VSL - our Costco pharmacy will not get Visbiome so I'll look into Vivomixx.  Garden of Life (love their products) seems too low when he has a flareup.  Any other recommendations would be appreciated.  Thank you again.

VSL #3 and Visbiome (DeSimone’s original formula) contain the same species of bacteria, in essentially the same quantities. That’s much closer than any other probiotic. They aren’t identical, though, and that’s what the VSL #3 manufacturer got nailed for. Visbiome is indeed much better tested than what’s currently sold as VSL #3. “Cheaper” and “diluted” seem like nonsense claims around an otherwise correct legal point.

I just filled my VSL prescription today, so perhaps it’s still available. It could be excess inventory, or there could be some misinformation floating around.

I am very skeptical about any probiotic formulation being an effective treatment long term for pouchitis or Crohn's of the pouch.  He should probably be on antibiotics or a biological drug like everyone else.  Every GI I have ever treated with was very suspicious of the  long term efficacy of VSL-3 in treating pouchitis as opposed to just being a supplement to restore proper bacterial balance in the gut.  The real problem you have is that if you fool around with different substitute probiotic formulations that are ineffective, he will get worse and it will make it harder for him to get better with any of the medically proven treatments.

Oh yes, he is on flagyl 1500 mg. a day on day 5 with improvement and good output.  Thank you for the probiotic info.  Costco did say they were drained of their supply of VSL3.  

Can he take a lower dose probiotic with the flagyl or just stay on flagyl for now.

There are different schools of thought about using probiotics while on antibiotics. I personally get good results from the combination, but I do space them as far apart in the day as possible. My antibiotics do fine with once daily dosing, which makes this easier, but I wouldn’t recommend that with such a high Flagyl dose. If anything, a higher probiotic dose would be needed while on antibiotics.

It depends on the probiotic formulation. Flagyl and antibiotics in that family only works on certain bacteria. You have to look at the specific probiotics being used to determine the answer and it’s likely something that should be addressed with your GI doctor. That’s a high dose of Flagyl. I usually take a lower dose of it with Cipro which maximizes coverage.

FWIW, the following messages appear on the vsl3 web site:

"VSL#3^® Product Alert: VSL#3^® may be temporarily out of stock in select retail pharmacies. If you have difficulty obtaining product, VSL#3^® can be purchased directly by clicking the BUY NOW button. For more information, click here."

and

"Is VSL#3^® still available for purchase?

Some pharmacies are unable to obtain VSL#3^® due to a temporary wholesaler supply issue. There is no manufacturer recall and VSL#3^® continues to be available in retail pharmacies. In addition, customers can purchase VSL#3^® Capsules and VSL#3^® Unflavored Powders directly through this website by clicking here."

Thanks for the information. I will inform DH..

Thanks for the info, hopefully this is why I can't get a repeat prescription in the UK and it's just temporary.