Faithandpeace wrote:My husband started Xeloda two weeks ago. Two weeks on then one week off. Toward the end of the first two weeks, he started getting diarrhea 3-4 times a day. It really exhausted him. The pharmacist told him to take Imodium.
Has anyone successfully treated Xeloda-induced diarrhea with anything natural such as supplements, enzymes, etc? He'd rather not take Imodium.
Thank you.
Beckster wrote:
Oh yea...that's me! was on Xeloda for 6 months. The last 2 days of the 2 weeks, I had diarrhea. Immodium worked. By the end of the 2 treatments, I would go to the bathroom up to 10 times a day. Just to let you know, as the treatment progresses...the cumulative effects will make him have more diarrhea.
mpbser wrote:My husband is on Xeloda (and Oxi-). He has diarrhea from it that is occasionally worse than normal. His bowel movements have only been solid a few times since his colon surgeries this past spring and summer. His doctors recommended Metamucil to bulk up when he was having issues. I was surprised because I had always associated it as a remedy for constipation, but apparently it has other purposes:
Metamucil is a brand name of psyllium fiber used to treat constipation and diarrhea. Soluble fiber absorbs water in the digestive tract and swells, adding more bulk to your stool. Diarrhea consists of frequent, watery stools that lack bulk.
He bought a sugar free brand, and it's essentially a natural remedy. It has worked well for him.
rp1954 wrote:If the diarrhea is associated with damaged villi and mucosa then it might be partly a toxicity question and a question of supplements for GI healing. Although dosage is the easy blame, some drugs or folic acid can magnify 5FU or Xeloda's toxicity. We used supplements like glutamine, vitamin C, zinc carnosine, glucosamine and niacinamide for folic acid - 5FU GI damage. Historically, large mounts of cabbage juice was used by Prof Lester Morrison for GI damage too.
For failures of digestion (loss of PE or HCl, infection related?), some CRC patients cleared their diarrhea with pancreatic enzymes(PE).
zephyr wrote:I'm not on Xeloda but I've had issues with diarrhea from a trashed gastrointestinal system. Imodium worked well but it ended up over-correcting for me, and then I had constipation, and it went downhill from there. After trying about everything suggested, rice congee did the trick for me. It was suggested by the dietician at the cancer center. You can find directions online but the simple version is: 1 cup long-cooking white rice (no Minute Rice) and 6-7 parts fluid (water, chicken broth, vegetable broth), then cook on the stovetop for 40-45 minutes. I would eat it plain or add some to vegetable soup. Another thing, no raw veggies or fruits, only cooked. I also take psyllium everyday and have for years. It all helps but the rice congee was my turning point.
Faithandpeace wrote:zephyr wrote:I'm not on Xeloda but I've had issues with diarrhea from a trashed gastrointestinal system. Imodium worked well but it ended up over-correcting for me, and then I had constipation, and it went downhill from there. After trying about everything suggested, rice congee did the trick for me. It was suggested by the dietician at the cancer center. You can find directions online but the simple version is: 1 cup long-cooking white rice (no Minute Rice) and 6-7 parts fluid (water, chicken broth, vegetable broth), then cook on the stovetop for 40-45 minutes. I would eat it plain or add some to vegetable soup. Another thing, no raw veggies or fruits, only cooked. I also take psyllium everyday and have for years. It all helps but the rice congee was my turning point.
I'm going to try that rice congee. Did you eat it with meals or just at regular intervals or only after you had a bout of diarrhea?
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