Pouchitis and anti-spasmotic

This is a trial and error type question. Cipro has a constipating effect and potentially so does the anti-spasmodic, although in my opinion the more constipating combination is cipro plus loperamide/imodium. The other symptoms could be calmed by the anti-spasmodic. I don't see any issue other than the potential constipation which of course would tremendously exacerbate the pouchitis. For me it wouldn't be a problem to mix the 2 (I use levsin), but I am in my body and you are in yours.

Mema 1,

I read your other post about your husband passing away and I wanted to send you my condolences.

I also read in that post that you thought that you may have c.diff. If you think that you have c.diff then Flagyl might be a better choice for treating your issues(pouchitis/c.diff). Flagyl is one of the drugs that treats c.diff.

Thanks to the both of you. I should have said that I have been trying out amitryptiline instead of Librax and wondered whether or not I should stay on it with the Cipro. I don't think that it's
c diff, think that it's most likey pouchitis since I'm feeling much better now that I'm on the cipro. I guess that going off of a drug like amitryptiline would not be a good idea, so I'll most likely stay on it while using the cipro.

My life is so upside down right now that I'm not sure of what to do.

Thank you both for your responses.

Hi Mema,
Your Amitriptyline is useful for many reasons but is an antidepressant. It takes several weeks for it to start working and is one of the medications that you shouldn't quit taking with out a doctor's supervision and tapering down the dosage. I'm taking it primarily for my chronic migraine headaches. The medication I was on prior to it was an anti-convulsive. I got to go off of an antidepressant when switching to the amitriptyline so it was a minor victory for me as I am down one med. It is also good for my IPS and that's a 3 for one as I have IPS, recurring pouchitis and chronic cuffitis. Ever since I went on it I don't need Loperamide (prescription Imodium) and my stool has gotten more solid.

Cipro is an antibiotic so it's not like you should take it instead of the Amitriptyline or vice verse. I'm starting up on a antibiotic as I have an inflamed pouch again. I'm taking an antispamotic too as the Norco pain medication isn't helping too much. Even while on the anitbiotic, amitriptyline, Norco, and canasa now I am in a tremendous amount of pain. (I'm also using VSL#3DS twice daily.)

I really thought my wonder drug, amitriptyline, was solving all of my problems. Just when I thought I was finally on a combination of medications that my pouch problems were gone they all came back with a vengeance. There is another factor going on with us that gets overlooked - stress. I think stress plays an important role for me like it did prior to my surgeries. Stress caused me flare-ups then and it does so now. Do you think that your past year of worrying about, helping and carrying for your husband coupled with his recent death could be the major contributing factor in your pouch problems now?

I hope your pouch starts feeling better soon.

Thanks for the good information TE. I had to cut the amitriptyline down because it was making me very shaky with blurred vision and I decided to go off of it. It seems to be helping me even with the small amount that I have been taking, of course, I've been on cipro so that could be the reason as well. I'll know better once I get off of the cipro.

I realize that stress plays a huge roll with our pouches, and I've been under so much stress it would have been a miracle if I didn't get a flare up. Of course, I think that this part of my journey is the worst without my husband being here, so more stress as well.

Thanks again.