The best-studied formula is the one currently marketed as Visbiome, but it was studied when it was (confusingly) called VSL #3. The current VSL #3 is very similar and is packaged very similarly (capsules, single-strength packets, or double-strength packets). It’s enormously difficult to get insurance to pay for it (I eventually got CareFirst BlueCross to cover it, but it was a year-long fight, and now that I’m on Medicare it seems hopeless). I’m about to run out of my stockpiled VSL #3, and I’ll probably switch to Visbiome. The best price I’ve found so far is on the Visbiome website: 4 boxes of the regular-strength packets with a Subscribe & Save discount comes to about $321. How long that will last depends on the dose you take.

Thanks Scott. I’ll check out visbiome. Can’t believe it’s so expensive. I’m on Medicare, too. That’s a major problem in itself.

Hi,

Ive been taking VSL#3 capsules for several years now. Originally found it at Walgreens for $49.99 for 60 caps. Now it has gone up to $79.99! Maybe more. My Doctor used to give me samples and coupons.

I’ve been buying from the website as well. Like Scott says, the more you buy the cheaper it is. I prefer the VSL to Visbiome. I think I paid $112 for 2 bottles of 60.

Best of luck to you!

I’ll check it out on Amazon. Thanks!

What does VSL#3 do? I have had my pouch for almost 20 years and have never had pouchitis. Wondering if this is worth it for me.

I talked to Dr. Shen, as I know he is not fond of  taking probiotics.  He did say if I wanted to try one that Probiotic 10 would be one he suggested.  I haven't started any only because I don't really want to take one. I'm just going to hold out for now. Thanks all!

@iHateColitis posted:

What does VSL#3 do? I have had my pouch for almost 20 years and have never had pouchitis. Wondering if this is worth it for me.

If you’ve never had pouchitis then VSL #3 (or any probiotic) would most likely be a complete waste of money. What problem would you be hoping to solve?

VSL #3 (and Visbiome) seem most effective at preventing pouchitis. Less well studied (but possibly effective) is using them in managing pouchitis, especially chronic pouchitis.

@Mrs P posted:

I prefer the VSL to Visbiome.

What is the difference?  I thought Visbiome was just the new version of VSL#3 and that they were the same.  Do these affect you differently and can you describe that difference?

Sara Marie,

There was a time when VSL #3 was not available and Visbiome was supposed to be the same thing only under a different name. Maybe it was only in my mind, but I felt like the Visbiome did not help with the gas, bloating and just overall feeling more “normal” for me anyway.

Somewhere there is an article explaining what actually happened with the VSL#3 and Visbiome. If I can find it, I’ll post it.

Best of luck to you!

The original VSL #3 was made up of a set of probiotic bacteria called the “DeSimone Formula.” That’s what was studied in a number of research projects. The creator owned the formula, but the drug company owned the name “VSL #3.” When they had a falling out, the drug company attempted to duplicate the DeSimone formula, and they got close but didn’t perfectly duplicate it. That knockoff is what’s currently sold as VSL #3, and it’s still pretty hard to find unless you order it from the company. Meanwhile, the DeSimone formula is now marketed as Visbiome.

Both are packaged very similarly, in capsules, packets, and double- (or extra-) strength packets with identical bacteria (CFU) counts. Extra-strength Visbiome requires a prescription, but the VSL folks have dropped that requirement.

@Scott F posted:

Extra-strength Visbiome requires a prescription, but the VSL folks have dropped that requirement.

I wonder if my insurance would cover extra strength visbiome, and I wonder what would warrant needing the extra strength?  Has there been some sort of comparison study between the 2 with j-pouchers? 

The extra strength is just double the amount per packet (900 billion CFUs vs. 450 billion CFUs). Studies do look at dose but they don’t care whether it’s one packet or two. My insurance covered VSL #3 DS until August, when I went on Medicare, but I had a year-long fight to get that. Very few insurance plans will cover it without a fight. There’s almost no research that names Visbiome, even though that’s the formula that got tested (under a different name). Try explaining that to your insurance company.

@Scott F posted:

Try explaining that to your insurance company.

Ha!  Right.

Did you see this study enrolling patients I just read about posted as a topic here.  https://www.j-pouch.org/topic/...mula-study-is-posted.  Inclusion criteria is 10+ bm's/day, pouch 6 mos+ and pouchoscopy within a year.