Switched from Cipro to Xifaxan......night time incontinence issue

Searching through posts here, I'm wondering if psyllium husk might help. Honestly, fiber has always confused me, especially when I see psyllium husk can be used for constipation and diarrhea. Years back a doctor had me try bran and I was miserable with no benefit. I also eat very low carb so my body doesn't tolerate most carbs anymore.

I had essentially the same experience when I tried to switch from Cipro to Xifaxan. I concluded that Xifaxan didn’t work for me, and I gave up on it. I was lucky to not be having Cipro side effects. Have you tried lowering your Cipro dose? It’s best to find the lowest dose that does the job.

It is worth trying the psyllium husk, IMO. It definitely helps me, and no amount of theory will answer the question for you as well as a few days of just trying it.

Thanks, Scott. GI doesn't want to reduce Cipro. I really did have a tough time on it and functioning much better off of it, otherwise. The GI would like to see things look better on the scope, too, even though I had less inflammation/ulceration after a long course of Flagyl/Cipro.....then Cipro only. Flagyl made me miserable and I had enough after a few months. Cipro I took 500mg twice/day for about 8 months. 

I guess I have to see how it goes with Xifaxan and give psyllium husk a go.....Aside from the night time incontinence, I'm really feeling quite well.

Hi, 

i take psyllium husk regularly, once a day. I used to take it 3x a day until I figured out that too much fiber can make you very ill, terrible stomach cramps & extreme diarrhea. 

I used to take Cipro until I became allergic to it, I really try to stay off all these meds the docs want us to take, I feel sometimes these “meds” makes us worse and the side affects are just awful. 

Ok, I picked up the psylllium husk in capsule form last night as the options were limited and I do not want any sugars that were in the powder form options. I haven't taken it yet as now I have the reverse issue......never a dull moment.

How do you schedule out taking psylllium husk between meds, probiotics and vitamins? I take Florastor twice a day and a few vitamins that I already time far from the Xifaxan. I see that psyllium husk can impact the efficacy of meds, so I am contemplating when I'll take it. Hoping it will be sufficient to take it just once at night, two hours before Xifaxan.

BlueFlame posted:

Ok, I picked up the psylllium husk in capsule form last night as the options were limited and I do not want any sugars that were in the powder form options. I haven't taken it yet as now I have the reverse issue......never a dull moment.

How do you schedule out taking psylllium husk between meds, probiotics and vitamins? I take Florastor twice a day and a few vitamins that I already time far from the Xifaxan. I see that psyllium husk can impact the efficacy of meds, so I am contemplating when I'll take it. Hoping it will be sufficient to take it just once at night, two hours before Xifaxan.

 

I found the powder works better for me, I take a tablespoon every morning when I get up before anything else. Konsyl brand has no additives or sugars 

I also get better results from the powder. There are no-sweetener formulations and artificially sweetened ones.

Update: I wanted to give an update in case it may help others trying Xifaxan/Rifaximin.

It seems my gut was just adjusting to the Xifaxan. I took one capsule one time of the psylllium husk. Nightmare constipation, which is never my issue. Cipro and Flagyl have offered welcome levels of constipation, given I usually have the reverse issue. I was also having stomach aches during the first weeks of Xifaxan (during the higher load dose). As my body adjusted and the dose was reduced, the stomach aches stopped. I do not have constipation or incontinence (as long as I stay hydrated). I no longer take Imodium and rarely Gas X, where I used to take both regularly.

It isn't perfect, but I am definitely feeling fewer symptoms. I'm only into the second month on Xifaxan, so an endoscopy down the road will tell how things look.

Two months on any antibiotic is unacceptable. You have to rotate or long term you will have problems. I would not be on any one antibiotic more than 2-3 weeks before rotating.

Xifaxin in my experience has less of a thickening effect than does Cipro and Flagyl. And it’s good to have in your rotation because it’s not systemically absorbed but if you stay on it too long it will lose effect.

CT is highlighting a useful point but putting it too strongly, I believe. It is generally better to rotate antibiotics as he describes if you are able to find more than one that works and is tolerated. If only one does the trick then it’s not only acceptable but quite appropriate to stay on it. You may or may not have problems if you stay on a single antibiotic.