Good job, very informative. Thank you ken31cay!

I'm actually disappointed I didn't find anything better than what I did, and I'm beginning to think there might not be a better product out there.  I may search some more in the near future and I'll be sure to update the thread if I do.

As instructed by Ilex site, I emailed orders@ilexhealthproducts.com to be notified when Ilex is available to order.

My mail was not returned as undeliverable. Maybe there is still hope?

@ELH posted:

As instructed by Ilex site, I emailed orders@ilexhealthproducts.com to be notified when Ilex is available to order.

My mail was not returned as undeliverable. Maybe there is still hope?

Last response i got from them was Oct 4th. I have emailed them 5 times since with not 1 response back, most recently about 5 days ago.  We have called both their phone numbers in USA and UK and nobody answers the phones.. They are done.  pissed off, I need to find a product that dries like ILEX but all the ones I have tried are moist and slippery. I have minor leakage sometimes and if i put a wet slippery paste on then i cant tell if I am leaking or not. I still have some Ilex left that will get me thru another month or so.. sucks

Another vote for colopaste thick paste. Not as good as ilex but best replacement

another suggestion, for pouchitis is Bromelein, that’s made from pineapples. Really. A friend suggested it as it’s an anti-inflammatory agent, and it seems to have worked for a while over the last month or two and calming down my pouch and making everything more regular.

RE: Proshield Plus Skin Protect: received this today and tried it once so far.    It reminds me of a much thicker Coloplast Critic Care Clear Moisture Barrier Ointment.  It does not dry.  But it's bordering on tacky so I'm thinking I might use it sometimes.  But even so it's nothing like iLex in effectiveness.  Nothing I've tried so far even touches iLex as far as I'm concerned. 

I found an alternative that is working for me just as well as iLex works.  This is something I discovered through trial & error; Convatec Stomahesive mixed with CeraVe Ointment.  I found that the mix of around 35%-45% Convatec Stomahesive with 55%-65% CeraVe Ointment creates a substance that adheres very nicely to anus & rectum without sticking.  There is very little difference between how this mixture works and how iLex works.

I encourage you to experiment with the % mix of Stomahesive/CeraVe that you use in order to come to a proper mix that works for you.

I recalled when I had my ileostomy for 8 weeks before my takedown that I used a stomahesive product to attach the bag to my skin.  When I thought about it, it occurred to me that Stomahesive is like iLex on steroids (to the point where it's not useable for butt burn, etc).  I figured that if only Stomahesive could be made to be "less sticky" then it might be useable.  Well this has been a Godsend for me.

Good luck and God Bless!

sounds good. Like to try.  You So you’re buying 2 products and then mix them per % yourself?

And where do I buy them?

thanks so much for your research and help.

Yes I mix them together myself.  I purchased both products from Amazon.com but CeraVe seems to be pretty common so you might find it at your local pharmacy if you live in the US.  I live outside the US so I couldn't say.

The mixture adheres just as well (if not a little more) than iLex and creates a moisture barrier, but it doesn't stick your butt cheeks or anus together.  It also dries quickly and leaves no greasy/oily residue at all.  I'm actually still suprised that this mixture works so well. Good luck.

Hi Ken

I'm also desperate for an Ilex alternative. Do you use Convatec stoma adhesive powder or the paste to mix with the CeraVe ointment? Also, do you have any trouble getting this off your skin if needed ?

Thanks.

I miss ilex so much and will try the above recommendation to mix. It seems ilex was sold to a new company and they are not US. They don’t respond to email. So bummed! Ilex was only thing getting me through acidic leakage!

Hello: to answer the question above, I was using Convatec Stomahesive paste.  But I noted that this was sometimes irritating to my skin due to the alcohol in the paste.  I switch to a stoma paste that has no alcohol (Coloplast Brava stoma paste) and that took care of the problem.  Good luck.

Wow! Thank-you! I never knew ILex was more powerful than Calmospetine, I thought nothing beat Calmoseptine lol

I have been using Ken’s recipe of CeraVe and stomahesive for 2 months, and I agree that it’s the best thing I’ve tried since Ilex vanished. I am a retired pharmacist, so I felt right at home compounding the mixture!

@Vickie posted:

I have been using Ken’s recipe of CeraVe and stomahesive for 2 months, and I agree that it’s the best thing I’ve tried since Ilex vanished. I am a retired pharmacist, so I felt right at home compounding the mixture!

I assume you have tried Calmoseptine right??

Yes. Had some issues with irritation unless I mixed it with something else. Before I tried the ceraVe/Stomahesive mixture, I had been using Triple Paste for adult incontinence. It’s primarily zinc oxide with a little petrolatum and corn starch…it worked ok, but like the CeraVe/Stomahesive better.

Oh that is cool! I am glad you found something that works for you.

I find that I use something without a anti itch ingredient, then everything gets itchy. I like how Calmospetine has Menthol for anti-itch

Ken, how do you get (or measure) the percentage right and do you use the paste or powder now.

thanks

Hi @ken31cay and everyone,

I've been an iLex user for 25 years, and unfortunately, Medline (who now owns iLex) has stopped producing it. I called them, and while they suggested trying "Remedy," I found it doesn’t compare to iLex in terms of consistency or effectiveness. The representative told me she will let management know.

If you miss iLex as much as I do, please consider calling Medline to express your support for bringing it back. The more of us who reach out, the more likely they are to take action.

To contact Medline:

• Call 1-800-MEDLINE (1-800-633-5463)
• Ask to be transferred to the out-of-pocket sales rep
• Available Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. CST

You can also reach them online: Medline Contact Us

In the meantime, for those with sensitive skin, I’ve found some relief using a mix of Aquaphor and Critic-Aid.

Yes!! Thanks for sharing that! I will definitely call- and my husband will call and I will call again to request it! I did before but never got through nor did they answer emails. Would be wonderful if Ilex became available again!

I too have found Kens compound to be similar to Ilex but because the stomadhesive burns I was using maybe 20% of that with 80% of the Cerave which is nice and thick. I will try the alchohol free convatec paste right away but very thankful to ken for finding that combo. It definitely adheres better than the 20 other products I have purchased and used with no success!