Benefiber for the next 2 years ? - Bowel Disorders Message Board

Ms.Twinkie · 01-13-2005, 03:48 PM

Is there anything wrong with taking Benefiber for a while? In the last year, my stool has become very hard and painful to pass. I think the problem started with massive dentalwork I am having done - I am unable to chew very well at all. The projection is that it will take approx. 2-3 years to sort my whole mouth out. I cannot live like this anymore and went to buy a bottle of Benefiber today. Any thoughts for my condition? Is there something better for my condition? Should I be taking other stuff? My stomach is very painful with insane amounts of gass too everyday. thanks in advance.

FireWoman · 01-14-2005, 09:14 AM

Hi Ms. Twinkie,

No, there is nothing wrong with taking a soluable fiber supplement like Benefiber, Citrucel or Metamucil everyday for therest of your life. Actually, if you have chronic constipation, you should be taking it every day. It's completely safe. Now, about the gas, did the gas happen after you began taking the benefiber? It takes your body a couple of weeks to adjust to the extra fiber in your diet and this results in excess gas. Now, personally, I was not able to take Benefiber. My stomach never adjusted to it so I switched to Citrucel. Some people are able take it just fine.

Hope this helps!

victim · 01-15-2005, 08:45 PM

Not a fan personaly of supplements with Aspartame or artificial sweeteners.I would prefer just to use (phsylium)? husks available from most supermarkets.
as well as increasing fibre content thru dietry changes.Always try to eat a little fibre with fatty meals.

Harry · 01-15-2005, 10:30 PM

For your intestines to function properly you need 25 to 35 grams of fiber daily. It needs to be divided between soluble and insoluble fiber.

Most people only get about 13 grams of fiber in their diet -- And that causes problems.
I don't know alot about Benefiber but I have been using psyllium for 23 years daily. It comes in powder, capsules or cookies --- either sugar free, w/sugar or just plain put out by Metamucil and Equate sold by Wal Mart and others.
Psyllium is a water soluble natural fiber and it breaksdown and ferments by digestion. It also causes gas when you first start using it. The gas does go away with continued use.

Citrucel is methylcellulose a semi-synthetic fiber that does not breakdown and thus causes less gas. It is considered
safe for long term use. But it cost about twice as much as psyllium.

I don't know what Gum Guar in Benefiber is and it has not been on the market long to know the long term effects-- if any??

I have found with my diet--- I need about 7 to 8 grams of psyllium daily to have regular BMs w/o straining. I think every one would be different depending on the amount of fiber they intake by their regular diet.

Fiber is in fruit, veggies grains and nuts. There is NO fiber in all meats, seafood and dairy products.

I wish you well---Harry

Ms.Twinkie · 01-18-2005, 12:00 AM

Harry, Could it be that Benefiber is not working for me? Does Citrucel and Psyllium work differently? I starting with 2 tablespoons a day. Its seemed to work well for a day and then I was having a hard time again. So I upped the dosage to 4 tablespoons. The label on the bottle says 1-2 tablespoons up to 3 times daily so I am almost hitting the maximum. Is that a problem? In addition, do people take their supplement in the morning or at 3 different times a day?

Is there something I can do for my stomache's health? :-(