Dicyclomine

Hi Pippa. my consultant has put me on amityptilline & buscopan last few weeks in the absence of a diagnosis for my ongoing bowel problems(I've had all the scopes, biopsies etc & he has now asked a colleague consultant at another hosp for a 2nd opinion in case he's missed something/fresh pair of eyes on things).  historically i have suffered with colitis, ibs-d, bile acid malabsorption & fructose malabasorption. i am on meds for colitis & bile acid malabsorption, & have my diet controlling the ibs-d & fructose malabsorption.

The amitryptilline (20mg nightly) & buscopan 20mg 3 times a day, seem to be slowing things down finally AND reducing the pain (as the abdominal pain always gets worse the more times i go in day) what i wondered is is it safe/ok to take buscopan continuously as the packet says 2wks unless your doc says.......??? thankyou in advance. x

I would take the Buscopan regularly until you feel your symptoms are under control.  When this happens, only take them as and when required.  I stayed on full dose from May to June last year.  Then I found that i had longer gaps between bouts of pain.   Finally, I had the confidence to reduce the dose and then mainly stay off them.  Buscopan is very mild which is good for me because I react badly to a lot of medications..  

 

Thanks Pippa. When i take the buscopan, the only effect i feel is less pressure discomfort in my abdomen, i think the amitryptilline is doing more for the pain & slowing my bowels down. the reason my consultant & i decided it'd be worth trying is they injected me with buscopan during a contrast mri scan (as i was literally going to have a diarrea accident mid scan) & it stopped the urge. i did read buscopan can affect motility too, so alongside the amittrptilline its probably helping in some way. i think i will do what you said take the full dose for a couple of months until i establish a long run of improvement ( i am actually hoping to go back to work in coming weeks if the pattern of improvement continues & stabalises). thanks for your help. x

p.s i did have a positive calprotectin test, which is why my consultant is having difficulty with current problem, hence the "band aid" medicines now. x

Will you have to redo the fecal calprotectin test to see if the inflammation goes down again?  Was the result very raised or only slightly?

my specialist hasn't asked me to redo it. it was 280 so definately positive. he did sanction a 10day course of prednisolone steroids off the back of the positive stool test at my  request, but said to try the amitryptilline & buscopan first as steroids a last resort. the only thing they found on scopes & camera pill was another polyp they removed & very fast transit (camera pill). my symptoms feel exactly like when i've had colitis flares but without bleeding, but no evidence of crohns either. so my consultant & i agreed on trying some "band aid meds & he wanted to ask a colleague for a 2nd opinion in case he's missed something. but as the ami & buscopan seem to now be slowing things down & thus the pain is lessening because i am having less bowel movements, i haven't used the steroids as we agreed - only a last resort. if the best i can get is "band aid"meds helping, it's better than nothing & i least if it continues to help control symptoms, i can look to going back to work.  x

Sounds like a good result.  Hope it continues!