All medications seem to upset my stomach- Help!
 

It seems like all the pain meds and muscle relaxers upset my stomach big time. I started taking vicodin which I find helps my mood and pain but the stomachahce is just horrible- same thing with zanaflex, baclofen, etc.

Is there anything I can take that would help, I really dont want to give up the vicodin but its not worth the stomach troubles...

Thanks for any ideas and Happy Mothers Day!

happy mothers day to you too!!!

i have to take phengergan 25mg when i have to take oral pain meds. and this helps with the stomach issues.. i also like you am very sensitive to most meds or highly allergic to most meds. so i understand.. this helps with the nausea and other issues. it does make some sleepy but it doesnt for me. i would ask about it

carrie

you might ask about this problem on our medications forum also.
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum72.html
And mrsD might have some good ideas on helps for that.

How about trying the Fentanyl patch? I used to take about 30 pills total a day to help with my pain. Needless to say my stomach didn't like that. My doctor suggested the patch and it worked for me in higher doses. I still have to take a lot of meds but no where near as much. Might be worth talking to your doctor about. Hope this helps.

know which med it is?
 

vicodin doesn't make me as sick now that I am so used to it but baclofen does...I take compazine. I used to take phenergan but it made me too sleepy. If you want a med that won't make you sleepy and can help with the side effect of constipation from a lot of your meds try Reglan. They give it in the hospital after surgery and to people with chronic nausea, also Zofran can help and not make you sleepy. An over the counter remedy is benadryl (what we call an anti-emetic) there is something about this antihistamine that helps with nausea. Another is ativan....way too potent used for seizures and anxiety but also now we give it to cancer patients for nausea. Of course check with your doctor before taking anything else (even the benadryl) as it can make you sleepy. Eat when you take your meds and space them out if you can to give your tummy a break and also to help see if just one of the meds but a combo is making things worse. Also try not to eat high fat/greasy spicy foods but bland ones and water....no pop unless it has gone flat. Peppermint tea is calming to the tummy and yes ginger...that is why ginger ale works...but let it go a little flat and sip it. The bubbles from pop can make nausea worse. Sorry if it this is long...it is the nurse in me.
Jennelle

Hey,
Jennelle,

You're full of good advice!
Don't worry about going on....

WE all appreciate it!

pete
asb

Debbie, I don't have RSD, but I do have extreme sensitivity to meds. Even tylenol makes me nauseous. My doc gives me phenergan also. I always have it on hand. It does make me sleepy, but I have found if I only take half a tablet, it still helps the nausea, but doesn't put me to sleep. I can still function completely. Hope you get relief soon!

TY
 

Thanks for all your advice! I will ask the doctor- I don't have nausea- I get stomach cramping & lots of #2 (sry for the picture)

Maybe you have some allergies
 

I have bowel issues....ever since I got my gall bladder out....used to go 7-10 times a day. Now that I am on all the meds I take I have the opposite problem. If you are having cramping....first check your diet....I had a actual allergy to milk (not just lactose intolerance). Plus you need to see if the meds are doing it.....almost all can cause some of these symptoms. If you are having diarrhea then try upping your fiber but try a mild form if diet doesn't work....miralax is good it may just help bulk it up we usually use it for constipation but you need a bulker too...also try benefiber...this one doesn't cause as much cramping and I promise you can't taste it if you let it sit long enough in liquid...or mix it in food. Also, hate to say it but stress could be your worst culprit...who doesn't have that right? Try getting some down-time with what ever you enjoy. I am a reader and a talker....try listening to calming music....I have an ipod with just calming songs on it. Lastly, don't rule out that you may have some GI problems on top of it all an may need to see a Gastroenterologist (GI) doctor that deals with mouth all the way through. Try and keep track when it is worse, is there anything that makes it better....flares it up? Keep a diet journal and try cutting out milk for at least a week....all milk products read lables....that is prob. what they would want you to try first. If you go all the time try immodium but be careful as it constipating and you don't want to go the other way. Pepto is still something I rely on. And that is your nursing lesson for the day! :winky:
Jennelle

Unless of course you have lactose issues I have been told to take vicodin with milk cause it coats the stomach. I agree too about the food. I know that is how they had me take Cymbalta is with dinner cause it is already known to be harder on the stomach. For around 2 weeks I was ill but then it let up. Hang in there

I really think that folks that have so many bowel movements every day, need some medical intervention.

Causes:
1) SSRI drugs like Prozac, lexapro and Cymbalta may do this.

2) Food intolerances. a) lactose= there are really nice new lactase enzyme tablets now, high strength and fast dissolving
b) FRUCTOSE intolerance== this is VERY common and often overlooked and causes diarrhea and gas
c) gluten intolerance/Celiac also causes increased stools.
d) consumption of gaseous vegetables can do this, and Beano taken
with meals may help the gas.

3) a condition called Carcinoid, or presence of a undiscovered tumor in the body somewhere, most commonly the lung, which secretes biogenic amines like serotonin

4) a dysbiosis, from using antibiotics. This may be a C.difficle or other Candida infection. Using some probiotics may help. C.difficle requires medical treatment.

5) Crohn's disease and colitis also

When one has too many BMs daily, you lose precious potassium and magnesium, then your muscles and heart suffer. You may feel week, have palpitations, have muscle cramping, etc.

Also I'd get tested for H.pylori infection, if it appears that many things upset the stomach. The gastrocolic reflex begins in the stomach and may be hyperactive when there is inflammation there.

Another thing which may work for nausea that is caused by opiate pain relievers is ginger extract. The nausea that comes from narcotics is mediated in the brain, not the stomach. That is why Phenergan works well, it depresses the emesis center that narcotics tend to stimulate. The presence of milk or food in the stomach only dilutes the drug and slows its absorption. It cannot prevent nausea per se.

The main neurotransmitter of the GI tract is serotonin. Acetylcholine also plays a role in a secondary way. Too much of either or both, will stimulate movement.

People who have had gall bladder surgery and still have pain/gas, may be helped with substances that improve bile flow.
Taurine-- an amino acid, complexes with bile salts and helps move them out
Yerba mate tea/extract in capsules, improves bile flow.
Using these when you know you have gall bladder symptoms really helps. I've done it myself.

DITTO---changing to the fentanyl patch has helped my guts so much

so much good info here-- icould reply to all above threads, instead i will just make a few comments that havent been mentioned yet...

belladonna. i like this one cuz it doesnt make me tired. i have liquid and pill and i prefer the tablet right now. instructions say take one tablet by mouth every 8 hours or as needed for abdominal pain.

sometimes a quick swig of pepto might work for me to.

mrs d

i was just wanted to add to your great info
that also that h.pilorie can also be contagious my mother has had this.

i have found with my IBS that if i take probotics that it does help with the constipation and helps with the upset stomach issues that i get. also i eat alot less of things that will irratie the lining of the stomach. as i have milk allergy so i cant have milk to coat stomach. also having a child that has severe food allergies you must also look at food lables as what is in it as somethings are disguised as others if in deed you do have allergies.. just my take.

also i have taken anzmet for nausea and this helps with out the sleepness and doesnt cost an arm and a leg like zofran .. there is a generic as i am told for both

carrie