Allergic to Metamucil, Can't Tolerate Benefiber - Bowel Disorders Message Board

Tammynoska · 10-09-2003, 07:27 PM

Help, I need to find some kind of supplement out there, if possible I can take long term. After taking metamucil for 6 weeks, I suddenly am getting hives after taking it. And that is just 1 pill. I'm afraid what will happen if I take a whole dose. I tried Benefiber, but just a pinch gave me foamy diarrhea for 2 days. I am taking now temporarily 4 colace pills a day to get through my surgery, but those don't work alone, and I also need to find something longterm I can take to keep my stools soft and self-moving. Any suggestions? For Your Info: I'm lactose intolerant, and I'm also allergic to wheat, which doesn't make this easy to find a fiber supplement that I can take. I hope someone out there has solved this before. I appreciate any help as I am S T U M P E D. I need this because I get very hard stools even if I drink 20 plus cups of water and eat lots of oatmeal. I thought metamucil was the answer to my problems, but then I started getting these hives just minutes after taking the one pill.

Harry · 10-09-2003, 07:59 PM

Tammy,
Sorry about your problem!!
My first suggestion would be Citrucel --it is a water soluble fiber but it does not digest or breakdown like psyllium does. It is a safe semi-synthetic fiber--methylcellulose. It's available in a capsule. It's safe to use long term. It suppose to work about like Metamucil but does not produce the gas since it does not ferment with digestive bacteria. I have never used it but alot of people do and like it.

Also, there is oatbran tablets that is available. I have used it but not long enough to really say it's great but it is a soluble fiber unlike wheat bran that does not absorble fluid.

God Bless---Harry

[This message has been edited by Harry (edited 10-10-2003).]

mlgable · 10-10-2003, 07:24 AM

I would suggest you talk to your pharamcist and ask him what you can take that doesn't have wheat in it's makeup. I am wondering if you wouldn't be better off trying the metamucil wafers or powder as the pills probably have gluten in their makeup and this may be part of your problem. At any rate talk to your pharamcist as they now indredients in products the best.

kiki lou · 10-10-2003, 07:39 AM

Ground flax seeds work GREAT and are full of good essential fatty acids as well!

Good luck.

runninggal · 10-10-2003, 01:14 PM

Here again, what works for one, doesn't work for someone else. The one and only time I have had any problem with constipation after my surgery was when I was taking ground flax seeds. Just to be sure, I eliminated the flax and then added it back and concluded that the flax was definately the culprit. It made my stools hard and extremely difficult to pass. This in spite of the fact that I drink huge volumes of water and eat a quasi vegetarian diet. Since I eliminated the flax, I have had no problems.

I use Metamucil with great success. However, I did try Citrucel after I delivered my first baby. It made my stools huge, which actually caused a fissure.
I stopped using it and have never tried it again.

Tammy, I hope you find something that works for you.