Should I stop taking Colestipol

[Julie75]

Good morning all!

I have been taking Colestipol for just over a month (10/14). It started helping me immediately and it was clear that I had/have BAM. And the BAD stopped. But I still had diarrhea from MC, just not WD or as bad and it was improving. I went very strict GF (was before but was missing hidden) a few weeks before starting Colestipol. Still having issues, I stopped drinking coffee in the morning on 10/30 and ever since my diarrhea has stopped. Completely. I don't know if the coffee was my trigger or if it was just too much for an inflamed system. But without coffee everything is normal. And I think would stay normal as long as I don't drink coffee or go crazy on touchy foods.

My theory is that I have BAM from the inflammation that my MC causes. If that inflammation is resolved, that resolves the BAM. Taking the Colestipol I assisted my system in healing by eliminating the irritation and inflammation that the BAM was causing and then possibly the strict GF and removing coffee has resolved the trigger for the MC. So now with the MC under control the BAM should no longer be an issue. I think that MC and BAM are a circular problem and they feed into each other for me.

My question is can I stop taking the Colestipol to see how I do without it. I can't see my GI until February and asking the nurse a question is useless. I have reduced down to 2 pills a day and still doing fine. But I feel like I could stop and things would be fine too. Is it something you have to taper off? Will I get rebound symptoms if I stop taking it? If things flair back up can I just start taking it again, probably at the 4 pill does again? If I continue to take Colestipol not needing it will it mess up my system by removing all the bile acid and start causing other issues?

I wasn't able to talk with my GI PA when she prescribed this. She just had a nurse call me to tell me they were sending a prescription in for me. So I didn't even know what it was or was doing until I researched it myself. I really appreciate the help and knowledge this site provides.

[tex]

You're correct. MC causes inflammation of the terminal ileum, and that's where bile acids are reabsorbed for recycling. The increased inflammation level from active MC, prevents enough bile from being reabsorbed that it can trigger a reaction, such as what you were experiencing. Another possibility is that something in the coffee you were drinking triggers diarrhea (or triggers MC). Perhaps the coffee is cross contaminated.

These are uncharted waters, but if I were in that situation I would sort of hedge my bet by taking half the colestipol dose for at least 2 or 3 days before stopping it altogether. But I'm guessing that you are correct that you may well be able to do without the colestipol. If I were in that situation, I would certainly give that a try (unless I particularly craved taking colestipol every day.

Tex

[Julie75]

Thank you Tex. I have tapered down the last few days and yesterday I didn't take a pill. I seem to be fine so far and everything is normal. Yesterday was the first morning in years that I didn't wake up with gut/stomach issues. I am super hopeful that I am on the right path and healing.

The coffee thing is weird to me. Everything says coffee is good for your digestion and it shouldn't be an issue. And I made sure I purchased low acid, organic, mold free coffee. I love(d) my coffee. But it seems to be the issue for me. Over the years have to encountered anyone else who has had an issue with coffee like that?

[tex]

Oh yes, a few of us do react to coffee. And some of us have to run to the bathroom immediately after drinking coffee. But usually, those are individuals who had to run to the bathroom after drinking coffee before they developed MC. Over the years, MC has taught me to not be surprised at almost anything.
Tex