Hi Leah: No, it will not make you go and go. I take it for diarrhea I have with my IBS. It puts fiber in your system and helps firm up and slow down the colon. I take it twice a day, but you can take it three times, if necessary. It's nothing to be afraid of and it will help. I started it on my own and it's helped me. I take the Orange, sugar-free, which seems to be the best.
Now, this is a great thread! I wanted to know the answer to this question too. I was going to buy some Metamucil, but when I say the laxative word, I chickened out. The last thing I wanted to do is to have to go more.
With the orange sugar free stuff, does it taste ok??
And, if you are taking it twice a day for example, does it get expensive? Do you go through a lot of it, or will it last like a month, for example?
And, is it better to have it at a certain part of the day - in the morning, or nighttime, for example?
I also heard once that a good idea is to buy some bulk fibre, and sprinkle some on one meal (say you dinner, for example) before you eat it. I had a friend of mine say that his doctor told him to sprinkle a tablespoon over his meal (and it will disolve/absorb in about 30 secs) and you won't even know its there - be able to taste it.
The Orange, suger free has a pretty good taste to it. It's not bad at all and it's smooth. In the Old days, it had a gritty texture and it was really not a good taste. Today's Metamucil is much better.
I'm not positive, but I get the 10 oz container of it for about $7.00 and it lasts about a month taking it twice a day. It all depends how much you take. As far as any additional fiber, I doubt you will need it when you get on a daily schedule with the Metamucil.
I just mix mine with water. As long as you get the Orange, sugar free it's not bad at all with water. I got the regular Orange one time by mistake and didn't care for that at all. How many times a day are you taking it, Leah?
I am only taking it once a day. I only take it at night time. I see my GI on the 18th of sept. Do you have a GI if so how often do you see him/her?
Leah
I do have a GI doc, but I only see him if something comes up and my PCP thinks the GI should have a look. Last year I got C. diff and I went to the GI doc and he saw me until we could get the problem resolved. If you are not familiar with what C. diff is, do a Google search for Clostridium difficile. It's really nasty stuff. My PCP handles all my medications too.
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Last edited by RetiredDirector; 10-19-2006 at 12:03 PM.
The Metamucil is not working at all. I have stomach pains, right side pains, Diarrhea, sometimes blood in the stool and toliet too. I have an apt with my GI on sept 18th.
Leah
Leah: I would definitely advise you to see your GI doctor, which you are on the 18th. The blood part sounds like maybe something besides just the IBS is going on with you.
Have you increased the dose of Metamucil? If you're still taking it once a day, it won't hurt to go to two or even three times a day. I think the directions say you can take it three times a day, which I have when I first started it. Up the dose and see if that helps.
did you guys know that you can get metamucil in capsules? Just thought I would ask because my dad has taken the powder for years and now he takes the capsules. Alot easier to take I think.
Are the caps as effective as the powder? I can't recall what I was taking years ago, but I was taking the capsule form until my doc told me the powder was more effective. I'd be interested in hearing from someone who has used Metamucil caps.
I used the capsules and they work!! But they are so expensive $15 canadian for 100 caps. But its worth it!!! Just drink lots of water. And you get fair warning too....no running to the washroom... yay
I take the psyllium powder from Wal Mart( Equate brand) but my wife finds it better to take the capsules by the Vitamin Shoppe-- These caps are 880 mgrams per capsule. I think the Metamucil caps are smaller about 500 mg per cap. The Metamucil bottle says a dose is 6 capsules. My wife takes 3 or 4 twice daily of the larger capsules from the Vitamin Shoppe ---- they also contain 10 mg of acidophilus & don't know how much good that does.
As ya'll know psyllum begins absorbing fluid immediately on contact and can cause some discomfort for people with hiatal hernias like my wife. The caps will start working further in the intestines.
I have found that I need 7 to 8 grams of psyllium daily with what I eat for it to be effective. I have been taking it 23 years. I started out using Metamucil.
did you guys know that you can get metamucil in capsules? Just thought I would ask because my dad has taken the powder for years and now he takes the capsules. Alot easier to take I think.
