Diagnostic LC: Sertraline, Marijuana or Gluten Intolerance?

[fgambini]

Hello dear friends

I am a man of 23 years who lives in Peru, I have been diagnosed with MC - LC a week ago and I am looking for answers that is what triggered it.

I have used Sertraline 50mg every day for almost 2 years and I have also been a daily marijuana smoker for 1 year.

About 4 months ago I had diarrhea constantly every day and a lot of incontinence, 3 months ago I stopped using sertraline and 1 month ago I stopped smoking marijuana and now I no longer have incontinence but I still do diarrhea 2 times a day and it is tolerable .

I would like to know if there is a case like mine, because after quitting smoking marijuana after week my symptoms improved. Now I am following a strict gluten-free diet to induce remission. I await your recommendations and if someone else has lived this particular case.

Fernando

[tex]

Hello Fernando

Welcome to the forum. Sertraline (and any other SSRI) has a history of causing MC for some people. Once triggered, the disease is permanent (unless constantly treated). As far as I am aware, there are no records of marijuana causing MC for anyone. Once the disease is triggered (by something else), however, it's possible that marijuana might cause symptoms, but no one else has reported that here, so far. Your improvements might have been due to something else (like the diet — it takes a while for the diet to work.)

Incidentally, if you were taking the Sertraline to treat depression or anxiety, those are symptoms of magnesium deficiency. Most of us are magnesium and vitamin D deficient. Those deficiencies may contribute to the development of this disease, although no medical researchers have studied this possibility so far.

Again, welcome aboard, and please feel free to ask anything. I hope this is helpful.

Tex

[fgambini]

Thanks for your prompt reply Tex

I buy and read your Microscopic colitis book and I've really learned a lot about MC, something no gastroenterologist can explain.

I have some questions:

1. Will it be possible that by suspending sertraline the MC can go into remission?

2. How long do I have to wait after the suspension of sertraline for the symptoms to disappear?

3. Which is first? Gluten Intolerance or MC

4.What is the recommended dose of vitamin D3 and magnesium per day?

5. Is treatment with parasites effective for MC?


Thanks for your great teachings Tex

_______

Fernando

[tex]

1. Will it be possible that by suspending sertraline the MC can go into remission?

Yes, if you do it before food sensitivities have time to develop.

2. How long do I have to wait after the suspension of sertraline for the symptoms to disappear?

Symptoms will normally disappear within a few days if it's going to work.

3. Which is first? Gluten Intolerance or MC

MC. A few of us are gluten-sensitive before we develop MC (and for those who are, untreated gluten sensitivity can trigger MC). But most of us become gluten sensitive after we develop MC.

4.What is the recommended dose of vitamin D3 and magnesium per day?

Most of us take 3,000–5,000 IU of vitamin D or more (depending on how much sun we get, and on latitude — the farther we are from the equator, the more vitamin D we need). Most of us take 300–400 mg of magnesium glycinate each day. Some people need more, some less.

5. Is treatment with parasites effective for MC?

If parasites are the cause of the disease, then treatment is probably necessary. If you're referring to the use of Helminths (worms) to control MC, yes, they may put the disease in remission, but maintaining long-term remission with Helminths has a lot of problems that many people cannot tolerate.

Tex