anti-spasmodic for stomach?

[Iksfreundin]

Anybody used one? My doc suggested it, but we were going to see if my stomach relaxed on its own. I am so miserable - I have to go see him today a week and a half early. I can't eat anything, and everything hurts from my abdomen to my legs.

[LCrawford67]

Only thing I've ever used was Donatol (sp) back when I was 13. That was looong before Paxil and obviously, it's an old drug. It worked with no problems.

[BlueEyes]

Wow, Donatol - I remember that stuff well! I basically lived on that stuff when I was 13 also, Laurie!

Wasn't there another one also that they combined with Compazine or something like that? I remember taking something like that also, and then they stopped making it....

I think there are some herbs that are natural anti-spasmodics but I can't quite remember right now. I do know, however, that I keep Fennel and Slippery Elm in my kitchen cabinet so I'm thinking one of them might be something for you to look into....

When I get home from work later, I'll take a look and see if I find anything else.

Terri

[Fleet86]

Sorry to hear about this, it really is miserable.

I have IBS so not sure if this is the same but thought I would check my meds (only use them as and when required) it's mebeverine hydrochloride 135mg (colofac) brand name. It can help me somewhat with the stomach etc cramping if I take it before I eat (although if honest, not very effective if having a really bad episode) I'm sure they will have more effective drugs now.

Hope they can get this sorted for you.

nicci x

[Dawn B.]

My mother has IBS. When she was diagnosed they called it "Spastic bowel" and they gave her Donnatal and she says it works well with no side effects. I would bet much safer than new fangled drugs.
In '06 I had months of ulcerative colitis that was brought on by an infection. So bad I almost lost my colon. I was put on prednisone, but they never gave me anything for pain or cramping. Told me to take Imodium, which made it worse so I stopped taking it.
Since having w/d from Paxil my guts have not been happy. I tried slippery elm and it really helped a lot with the pain and burning feeling. I took 2-3 caps a day, but the bottle said you could take up to 6.
Come to think of it, maybe I should give it a try again. My guts have been acting up for a couple of days now. Complete with the BIG D in the morning. Are you having D too?
Dawn <><

[scotty]

Originally Posted by Dawn B.

they gave her Donnatal and she says it works well with no side effects.

Donnatal is phenobarbital, belladonna(an opiate), scopolomine(dramamine), and atropine. I haven't used this in years, but when we did use it, it was for a very limited time. I've never used this for any period of time with a patient.

Side effects are:
Adverse reactions may include xerostomia; urinary hesitancy and retention; blurred vision; tachycardia; palpitation; mydriasis; cycloplegia; increased ocular tension; loss of taste sense; headache; nervousness; drowsiness; weakness; dizziness: insomnia; nausea; vomiting; impotence; suppression of lactation; constipation; bloated feeling; musculoskeletal pain; severe allergic reaction or drug idiosyncrasies, including anaphylaxis, urticaria and other dermal manifestations; and decreased sweating. Elderly patients may react with symptoms of excitement, agitation, drowsiness, and other untoward manifestations to even small doses of the drug.

Phenobarbital may produce excitement in some patients, rather than a sedative effect. In patients habituated to barbiturates, abrupt withdrawal may produce delirium or convulsions.

[LCrawford67]

Interesting! I took it for a while, in the 8th grade, never did a thing to me. As a matter of fact, I don't believe I took it for long (obviously) and had no problems stopping it.

I must have been one of those "limited time" users.

[Dawn B.]

I'm sure it could have side effects, but all I can say is it's an old time drug, and my mother has used it occasionally for more years than I know and never had a problem. I guess you don't know until you try. Everyone is different. I do think the slippery elm is worth your try to though. It really does help. After you post I remembered that I had forgotten about it!! I started using it again late yesterday for my upset guts.
Dawn <><

[imokay]

have you tried peppermint candies?

[Songbird]

There are lots of herbs that work as anti-spasmodics, I would try these before resorting to drugs. I'll have to look them up, I can't remember them off the top of my head. Is it your stomach or intestines that are the problem? Ginger is good, also peppermint oil. Aloe vera juice is good for intestinal problems. I'll have to look up the others.

[Dawn B.]

I'd like to know what you find out too. My guts, (intestines) have been in a uproar.
Been taking slippery elm.
Dawn <><

[silence4now]

There's a tea called Stomach Ease or you can make your own tea.

Mix one cup warm milk with one tablespoon crushed fennel seeds, let stand for two to three minutes, strain and slowly drink warm milk.

Chamomile, peppermint, lemon balm, catnip, fennel and slippery elm are all good.

[Dawn B.]

Can't drink milk.
I did have a cup of chamomile tea today, and took slipper elm caps 3x. I'm not sure how much it helped. Could have been worse if I didn't I guess.
I thought I remembered seeing some kind of stomach tea at the health food store.
<><

[Iksfreundin]

I just have pain. Through my intestines, and right over/around where my appendix is. Actually, I've also had hip pain, ha! I've also had lymph node pain pretty bad, the ones in the groin. I get nauseous or have diarrhea much easier too.

I've tried peppermint candy, and pepto, and immodium (only a couple of times; if it needs out, it should come out!). I've changed my diet a lot.

[mapleleafgirl25]

is this from you tapering the drug??

[Paxilalmostkilledme]

Mine did get better once I was completely off Paxil, but I still struggle with IBS at times - seeing you are at .6 are you planning on stopping soon or have you already tried?

[Songbird]

I was having some problems with intestinal cramping/pains and diarrhoea, but since taking aloe vera juice it has about 95% disappeared.

[Dawn B.]

I had a bad reaction to Aloe juice. Made my stomach sick, and my knees swelled up!! Went away a few days after I stopped taking it.
My intestines have been giving me painful fits the last 3 days. Today I took slippery elm and chamomile tea, but still had pain.
Hey, at least you are almost off this drug!!!

[eileen]

Iks, the pain in your groin could be from the hip joint. I get it from time to time from WD and my doc told me that is hip joint. I take Advil and hot pad when it gets too bad. I'm sorry you are not feeling well, I hope it goes away soon.
Eileen

[Songbird]

I've had a lot of abdominal pain recently, too. After having a gastroscopy to rule out peptic ulcer, I have come to the conclusion it is gallstones, even though no stones showed up on the ultrasound scans. I did a gallbladder cleanse and stones came out! I am going to do the cleanse a few more times to get the rest of the stones out.

I looked up the anti-spasmodic herbs for digestion: basil, chilli, dill, fennel, garlic, ginger, mint, oregano. All of these herbs are commonly used in food.

[Iksfreundin]

Originally Posted by Paxilalmostkilledme

Mine did get better once I was completely off Paxil, but I still struggle with IBS at times - seeing you are at .6 are you planning on stopping soon or have you already tried?

I was down to .2, but on day 12 all hell broke loose! Then I got tricked into going up to .6 (I was convinced at my sickest that I was on .4, I think because I took the wrong oral syringe to my new doc, and he convinced me), so I tripled my dose and felt even worse. I don't know what to do now.

Originally Posted by Songbird

I was having some problems with intestinal cramping/pains and diarrhoea, but since taking aloe vera juice it has about 95% disappeared.

I thought about trying that, and then I read Dawn's post below!!

Originally Posted by Dawn B.

I had a bad reaction to Aloe juice. Made my stomach sick, and my knees swelled up!! Went away a few days after I stopped taking it.

Originally Posted by eileen

Iks, the pain in your groin could be from the hip joint. I get it from time to time from WD and my doc told me that is hip joint. I take Advil and hot pad when it gets too bad. I'm sorry you are not feeling well, I hope it goes away soon.
Eileen

My doc said not to take Advil, as it upsets the stomach. I've tried using a heating pad - but I mean come on! I'm not even 30 yet! Should this really be happening?

Originally Posted by Songbird

I've had a lot of abdominal pain recently, too. After having a gastroscopy to rule out peptic ulcer, I have come to the conclusion it is gallstones, even though no stones showed up on the ultrasound scans. I did a gallbladder cleanse and stones came out! I am going to do the cleanse a few more times to get the rest of the stones out.

I looked up the anti-spasmodic herbs for digestion: basil, chilli, dill, fennel, garlic, ginger, mint, oregano. All of these herbs are commonly used in food.

I'm supposed to eat very very plainly, with no spices or sauces, and to avoid complex carbohydrates. I would imagine all those herbs are things I should stay away from! I can't get any tests done because I have no insurance - the doc wants to do a colonoscopy if I can get on disability. He things I have inflamed bowels? something like that - not irritable.

All I know is that I'm in almost constant low pain. Nothing really makes it go away, and it's been going on since day 12 of my taper to .2, and that was about a month ago now. Once I eat, it gets worse. It feels better when I lay down, but sitting up hurts usually!

[Dawn B.]

I am so sorry to hear that this has been going on for so long. I remember reading a signature from someone here, though I have no idea who, that she had horrible abdominal pain from months but it did eventually go away. I think it may have been a CT.
I would bet this is all from w/d. Most of your serotonin is in your guts.
If you could get a colonoscopy and set your mind at ease about that, go for it. I've had 3 of them, and it's not bad. In fact, at the time I was so used to taking Klonpin daily, that they were amazed that the sedation they gave me for it did not knock me out and I was having an intellegent converstation though it. They gave me demerol and versed combo. Happy drugs. Wore off fast though. LOL.
Did you try slippery elm yet? I know someone that has horrible crohns disease, and she says it's one of the only things that has helped her. If you have some sort of inflamation, it will help.
As for the reaction I had to Aloe, I don't know anyone else that has had this reaction, but I seem to be very sensitive to 'stuff', as it seems a lot of people at PP are. It was a very good brand too, so I know my reaction was not because I bought junk.
Is the gut thing the only w/d symptom you are having now? As if that wasn't enough!
Dawn <><

[Songbird]

Originally Posted by Iksfreundin

I'm supposed to eat very very plainly, with no spices or sauces, and to avoid complex carbohydrates. I would imagine all those herbs are things I should stay away from!

The trouble is, most doctors know very little about herbs. Herbs such as ginger, garlic and mint are very safe, and good for digestion. Ginger is an anti-inflammatory, that might be helpful if you do have inflamed intestines.

I still think it would be worth trying the aloe vera juice! Lots of people use it with no problems, if someone else reacted it doesn't necessarily mean you will. You can always stop immediately it disagrees with you.

Look at it this way, doctors are only going to prescribe more potent drugs with side effects. Since herbs are generally very safe and gentle, it might be worth giving them a try first before resorting to drugs. I find it strange that people are afraid of taking herbs but not drugs!

Anyway, I hope you can find something that gives you relief from the pain! I have experience with abdominal pain, so I truly empathise!

[eileen]

Originally Posted by Iksfreundin

My doc said not to take Advil, as it upsets the stomach. I've tried using a heating pad - but I mean come on! I'm not even 30 yet! Should this really be happening?

No honey it shouldn't be happening to you at 30 or me at my age. I don't have arthritis as I had it X-Rayed, its from WD. My doc told me not to take Advil also but I can' handle Tylenol or the Aleve that he prescribed for me. I take Advil because I need a relief from the pain.
Spicy foods won't work in WD but I do look for the seasonings that are herbs and not spices.
I hope you will feel better soon.
Eileen

[Dawn B.]

Songbird I agree with you about trying herbs. That is why I started seeing a homeopath last April. At least if an herb doesn't agree with you, you can just stop taking it!!! And it won't hurt you. I wish I had seen the homeopath before I ever got on Paxil. Too late to change that now.
I have not met an MD yet that gave any thought to herbs. In fact, I mentioned to my MD that I was seeing a homeopath and she sort of shrugged it off like it was useless. They are not trained to do anything natural and usually don't understand it.
So Songbird, if you had upset guts from withdrawal, what would you take?
Have you found anything natural that helps with any part of the withdrawal you can share?
Dawn <><