anti-gut-evilness, I hope

[baratron]

I have drugs. Specifically mebeverine (Colofac) and loperamide (Imodium). Apparently mebeverine is 3,4-Dimethoxybenzoic acid 4-(ethyl-[2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1-methylethyl]amino]butyl ester hydrochloride, which is enough of a systematic name that I could probably draw it out myself (given time and a large piece of paper), except I don't need to as someone else already has. Meanwhile RxList claims that loperamide is 4-(p-chlorophenyl)-4-hydroxy-N,N-dimethyl-alpha,alpha-diphenyl-1-piperidinebutyramide monohydrochloride, which I wouldn't be able to draw (buggered if I know what alpha means in the context of an organic molecule name), but it apparently has a molecular formula of C29H33ClN2O2.HCl and a molecular weight of 513.51. Ye-es.

While organic chemistry is Fun and Exciting, and should be a major part of everyone's day... anyone know anything about them from the user's point of view? ;)

Comments

[emperor]

[Obdisclaimer: I'm a vet :) ]

Imodium is used as an anti-diarrhoea agent - it reduces gut motility; Colofac is a spasmolytic for the gut.

[baratron.livejournal.com]

Original comment deleted, because I realised it could be taken the wrong way. What I meant to say was "Thank you for taking the time to find that out - unfortunately I already knew what they're supposed to do. What I'd meant to ask was "does anyone have any experience of taking this, did you have any horrible side-effects, and does it do what it's supposed to?". 'Cos I have lots of experience both of horrible side-effects and things not doing what they're supposed to...".

I've heard bad mutterings about Imodium on chronic_health, on the basis that one of its principal ingredients is lactose and many IBS sufferers are also moderately to severely lactose intolerant. (That's how mine started :/ ). But my doctor prescribed that one only for use in emergencies. And besides, if I believed everything I read on the internet about the evilness of drugs, I wouldn't take anything. Instead, my experience of psych drugs has taught me that All Drugs Are Evil, But Some Work For Some People. Which I think is a useful lesson...

[emperor]

Well, IMVeterinaryE Imodium is a pretty good drug; as a vet that's aboug all I can say (I have no exp. of it's human use.)

[lizw.livejournal.com]

Mebeverine is what I've been on for just over a year for my IBS. I've had no problems with it. It took a few weeks or maybe even months to build up to its full effect, though. The instructions say it works best if taken 20 mins before a meal, but I find it works just as well taken with the meal itself. If I'm having a particularly bad symptom day, I sometimes take my next dose without waiting for my next meal, and haven't noticed any ill effects.

[fluffymormegil.livejournal.com]

I believe (but would not wish to be regarded as speaking authoritatively) that "alpha" means that in a combined aromatic/aliphatic molecule, the thing that is alpha-attached is on the 1-position of an aliphatic bit, rather than on an aromatic bit. Hence, amphetamine (α-methylphenethylamine) is a benzene ring with a propyl group hanging off, with an amino group at the 2-position of the propane chain. (C6H5)CH2CH(NH2)CH3

I know you don't know me but...

[sanjibabes.livejournal.com]

I had Loperamide. Worked for me. Hope it does for you.

[xlerb.livejournal.com]

Alpha in the context of an organic acid would refer to the first carbon after the one in the carboxyl; so alpha,alpha-diphenyl-something would be:

  Ph O--H
  |  |
--C--C==O
  |
  Ph

I'm not sure exactly what it means here, because I'd have to look up the "piperidine" and "butyramide" bits.

[hatter.livejournal.com]

Cath has colofac, seems to help her when she's broken that way.


the hatter

[thekumquat.livejournal.com]

I took immodium back in February after food poisoning. It stopped diarrhoea most effectively with no ill effects. On the other hand, I still have stomach evils 10 months later, but I don't think it's the imodium's fault.

[ludy]

i use imodium ocassionally and it seems to be ok for me - it's nicer than the codine phospahate i was given before as an anti-diahreal. I have used mebervine in the past and it's been helpful, i do worry that taking that kind of thing too often could cause a spastic colon (my gp thinks i'm being silly about that but it doesn't stop my worring). The taking it 20 mintues before eating can take a bit more timetableing skills than i really have though! I'm curently taking spasmonal instead, which seems pretty similar. I was quiet pleased with how i was managing my ibs until i recently had to start taking citalopram which has messed everything up again!
Fior me theres always a tension between talking these drugs regularly enuogh for them to have a good effect and worring that i'm over-using them. I don't have any horror stories about any of them (apart from codine phospahte being a bit unplesant) and they all seem helpful to an extent, i think it's that whole annoying thing of finding what works best for you - which takes ages and then just when you've got the hang of it your needs and syptoms suddenly change!