Category Archives: RX & Supplements

Information about Prescriptions and Supplements for Gastroparesis

Treatments for GP

April 28, 2014 by GP Support · 3,517 Comments

Visit the following pages on my site  for more information on the research I have done on the treatment of GP:
~ Prescriptions for GP ~
~ GP Diets ~
~ Medical Procedures for GP ~

Below is a popular list of treatments mentioned in various sources for Gastroparesis.  Always seek professional medical advice about any treatment or change in diet if you have GP.

Prescriptions: Erythromycin although an antibiotic, it also helps digestion (didn’t work for my loved one though), Domperidone and Antiemetics – to avoid vomiting.

Diet changes:  Smaller meals, liquid meals, low-fat diet, low-fiber diet

Other Medical Procedures:

  • Endoscopic injections – for bezoars
  • Feeding tube (jejunostomy tube) – a tube directly into the intestine bypassing the stomach; severe cases only
  • Intravenous feeding (Parenteral nutrition) – severe cases only; often for temporary relief in hospitalization

 

 

Posted in General Info., GP Diets, Medical Procedures, RX & Supplements. Tagged with .

B12, Tongkat Ali, Acetyl L-Carnitine, Fish Oil and more

April 28, 2014 by GP Support · 7,251 Comments

Vitamins and Supplements that can help in treating Gastroparesis:

B12

Tongkat Ali

Acetyl L-Carnitine & Alpha Lipoic Acid have both been studied recently as an agent that impacts mitochondrial functions, which is thought to play a significant role in peripheral nerve injury related pain.  It can improve neuropathic pain, particularly stomach pain due to damage of the vagus nerve.*

Fish Oil / Omega 3 Fatty Acids have also been shown to have an integral role in the health functioning of nerves and showing improvement of painful symptoms of neuropathic pain.*

* Talk to your Health Care Provider about the recommended dosages and do your own online research.

Posted in RX & Supplements. Tagged with , , , .

Consumer Products for GP

April 7, 2014 by GP Support · 2,347 Comments

This is a list of some Commercial Consumer Products that state they are Natural Solutions for GP.  We have not tried them but are providing some information on them.

This chart is from the Towards Natural Health Organization Website:

Commercial Name of the Product
The Company or Institute that Makes the Product
Official Product Website
Perteton
Gordon’s Herbal Research Center (New Zealand)
Trenical
Solutions by Nature (Denmark)
Pranofax
Healing Plants Ltd (Australia)

This Site gives a good GP Product overview:

Trenical

This is the best performing product in our view for Gastroparesis.
see more
Perteton
Perteton came a very close second in our review. Though it might be placed in the first slot if evidence gets too compelling. see more

Pranofax
A fine product with many advantages. The third position was hard to justify. Another close contest! see more

Segratax
Due to some failure or incomplete results we had to put Segratax at no.4. see more

Posted in RX & Supplements. Tagged with .

More Natural Remedies for Bacterial Overgrowth

March 23, 2014 by GP Support · 8,125 Comments

The last post on Bacterial Overgrowth did not include my top two natural supplements for treating bacterial overgrowth and keeping it away.  I prefer these two brands and they seem to work the best.

  • Candida Support by now.  Candida Support is a combination of traditional herbal ingredients (Pau D’Arco, Black Walnut and Oregano Oil), Biotin (a B-complex vitamin) and Caprylic Acid (a naturally occurring fatty acid derived from plant oils) that may help to support a healthy balance of intestinal bacteria. Although Candida Support is not meant to clear Candida albicans from the gut, it can help to support a healthy balance of intestinal flora
  • PB 8 Probiotics by Nutrition Now.PB8 PRO-Biotic Acidophilus contains specially selected bacteria that are protected from destructive stomach acids by a special coating applied during its unique production method. The capsules need no refrigeration and contain eight strains of friendly bacteria.As a dietary supplement, two capsules contain: 100% Natural Cultures of Lactobacillus Acidophilus, Lactobacillus plantarun, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Lactobacillus casei, S.thermophilus, Bifodobacterium bifidum, S. faecium, Bifidobacterium 1000 mg.
Posted in General Info., RX & Supplements. Tagged with .

Natural Remedies for Bacterial Overgrowth

March 23, 2014 by GP Support · 4,297 Comments

If you suffer from Gastroparesis then you most likely will encounter Hydrogen Producing Bacterial Overgrowth of the small intestines.  The test for Hydrogen Bacteria is very time consuming – it takes around fours hours and you have to breath into  a device every half hour or so then wait for the results to be read from a lab which can take a week.  Doctors treatments are harsh antibiotics.  We have discovered that the best way to keep Bacterial Overgrowth away is to follow some natural remedies.  Also, limit your sugar intake!

My top two natural supplements for treating bacterial overgrowth and keeping it away are Candida Support by now and PB 8 Probiotics by Nutrition Now.  You can read about the supplement facts of these two products by visiting this post.

There are three parts to the natural treatment of bacterial overgrowth:

  • Diet – Low carbohydrate diet
  • Eradicate unfriendly bacteria in the small intestine using herbs such as peppermint oil.
  • Replace – Bacterial overgrowth impairs friendly bacteria (“probiotics”) and digestive enzymes.

Herbs

The most studied natural treatment for bacterial overgrowth is enteric coated peppermint oil, which is peppermint oil that has an edible, hard shell around it so that the capsule doesn’t open until it is in the small intestine. It kills bacteria in the small intestine.

The course of treatment is usually 1 to 6 months. A typical dose of enteric-coated peppermint oil is one to two capsules three times a day, taken in between meals with a glass of water. Side effects can include heartburn, rectal burning, and minty burping.

Other herbal antimicrobials used to treat bacterial overgrowth are:

  • Grapefruit seed extract – for people who don’t like taking capsules, grapefruit seed extract can be found in liquid form. Add a few drops to a glass of water and drink in between meals.
  • Oregano oil capsules
  • Garlic
  • Berberine – goldenseal, oregon grape
  • Olive leaf extract
  • Pau d’arco
Posted in General Info., RX & Supplements. Tagged with .

Medications Associated With Impaired Gastric Emptying

March 6, 2014 by GP Support · 1,164 Comments

Those with Gastroparesis should avoid these medications if possible because it makes gastric emptying even slower.  Some of these meds were actually prescribed to my husband by GI Doctors even after he was diagnosed with GP.

  • Narcotics
  • Tricyclic Antidepressants
  • Calcium Channel Blockers
  • Clonidine
  • Dopamine Agonists
  • Lithium
  • Nicotine
  • Progesterone
Posted in RX & Supplements. Tagged with .

Bacterial Overgrowth Remedies

February 20, 2014 by GP Support · 578 Comments

Bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine is a relatively common condition for those with GP.  The overuse of antibiotics, antacids, and other medications can wipe out friendly intestinal bacteria.  These are some natural remedies for bacterial overgrowth.

  1. Low Carbohydrate Diet
  2. Peppermint Oil
  3. Probiotics/Digestive Enzymes

Additional Resources:

About.com Alternative Resources

HealthTap’s Low Carb. Diets and Gastroparesis

LiveStrong – Probiotics for Gastroparesis

Posted in RX & Supplements. Tagged with .

Acetyl L-Carnitine & Alpha Lipoic Acid

February 17, 2014 by GP Support · 3,454 Comments

Acetyl L-Carnitine & Alpha Lipoic Acid have both been studied recently as an agent that impacts mitochondrial functions, which is thought to play a significant role in peripheral nerve injury related pain.  It can improve neuropathic pain, particularly stomach pain due to damage of the vagus nerve.*

Fish Oil / Omega 3 Fatty Acids have also been shown to have an integral role in the health functioning of nerves and showing improvement of painful symptoms of neuropathic pain.*

* Talk to your Health Care Provider about the recommended dosages and do your own online research.

Posted in RX & Supplements. Tagged with .

Abdominal Pain and Lidocaine

February 4, 2014 by GP Support · 4,391 Comments

Here are some resources to help you explore if Lidocaine Injections or Mexiletine can be helpful for Abdominal Pain.

Local injection for selective abdominal wall pain patients can produce significant pain relief. The diagnosis of abdominal wall pain is an important component in avoiding unnecessary operations in patients with abdominal pain.

Efficacy of treating abdominal wall pain by local injection – from pubmed.gov

Mexiletine (Mexitil®), an orally taken form of lidocaine, was originally approved to treat irregular heartbeats, but sometimes is effective in the relief of chronic nerve pain. Mexiletine reduces pain by adhering to peripheral nerves and reducing pain signals carried from the peripheral nerves to the central nervous system and brain. Over time, as mexiletine bonds to the peripheral nerves, the feeling of pain is diminished. Mexiletine is being used experimentally to treat pain associated with different kinds of peripheral neuropathy. – From the Center for Peripheral Neuropathy 

Be sure to read about the warnings and side effects of  Mexiletine from  Medline Plus.

Posted in Medical Procedures, RX & Supplements. Tagged with .