Question:
Hello,

I am 42 yrs old & I have had IBS for many years now. In the last 4 yrs, it has gotten much worse & so I currently take Hyoscyamin 0.375mg, twice daily. It works pretty well...except when I am under stress or anxiety. A few year's ago I travelled with my husband to Europe for 2 wks & the plane ride alone was pretty hard on me physically. I had a lot of gas & bloating during the actual flight. The first 5 days of my trip, I felt fine...the remaning week or so of my trip I could hardly go anywhere because I had watery diarrhea, that would come on suddenly (no cramping) & it kind of felt as if someone had hit me in the upper stomache & knocked the wind out of me. My Gastroenterologist felt that it was due to stress because I was meeting my husbands family for the first time & I felt better by the time we got back home. Now we are going to Europe again in a few weeks & im worried that it will happen again. My dr. said I could take one of the otc med's for diarreha, up to 8 times per day if needed. Do you think this will be sufficient to alliviate the diarrhea? I hate to be away on vacation again & not be able to go anywhere. I worry also because I don't want to be a burden to my husband & for him not to be able to enjoy the vacation.
Answer:
Can someone please reply to my situation?
Answer:
Hey Alexandria, how are you doing?

Antacids may interfere with the absorption of hyoscyamine. Administer before meals; antacids after meals.

The irritable colon syndrome (also referred to as spastic colon and mucous colitis) is one of the most frequent gastrointestinal disorders. This condition is characterized by periodic or chronic diarrhea and constipation with associated cramping and tenesmus.

These symptoms are generally associated with psychologic stress, but the anxiety produced by the bowel disturbance is frequently regarded by the patient as the fundamental cause of the emotional upset. Efforts to ameliorate symptoms with mild cathartics or antispasmodic drugs (e.g. Hyoscyamine) often yeild adverse and exaggerated responses.

Stools tend to be thin, fragmented, or pelletlike, and accompanied by excessive mucus and gas. An increased sigmoidal contractisity has been demonstrated in this syndrome, but it is not clear whether this is primary or due to physical generated disturbances of visceral tone.

A variety of therapeutic approaches, including the avoidance of foods which tend to upset the patient, addition of bulk-forming agents, judicious use of antispasmodics and tranquilizers, and gentle psychotherapy may provide some relief. If the patient's life goals can be shifted away from the quixotic search for the perfect stool, much can be accomplished.

At the same time, it must be remembered that such individuals are not exempt from developing bowel cancer, and any worrisome deviation from their general pattern of derangement must be seriously evaluated. Diarrhea with the use of Hyoscyamine may be an early symptom of incomplete intestinal obstruction, especially in patients with ileostomy or colostomy; treatment with this drug would be inappropriate and possibly harmful.

These Central Nervous System (CNS) signs and symptoms (i.e., confusion, disorientation, short-term memory loss, hallucinations, dysarthria, ataxia, coma, euphoria, decreased anxiety, fatigue, insomnia, agitation and mannerisms, and inappropriate affect) associated with the use of Hyoscyamine usually resolve within 12 to 48 hours after discontinuation of the drug.