Posted by Larry Hoover on May 17, 2006, at 7:24:08
In reply to Re: What to do about Dad, posted by stickywicket on May 17, 2006, at 6:55:51
> > Do you know which form he has? IBS has three variants: a) crampy diarrhea; b) crampy constipation; c) alternating.
>
> He has b) crampy constipation. And the use of an AD concerns me for this because they usually cause me constipation.That is the more likely result, I would think.
http://www.gastromd.com/education/print_irritablebowelsyndrome.html
Have you tried prunes? They contain a unique something or other that has an inductive effect on peristalsis, and the fiber is also quite high. Yes, gramma was right. Prunes *are* different.
Simply taking magnesium salts can draw moisture into the gut, and the magnesium relaxes the muscle walls of the gut. Milk of magnesia (magnesium hydroxide) is commonly used for this, but any magnesium salt will do. Gradually titrate the dose, if you go this route. Individual sensitivity differs quite a bit, especially the older one gets.
> > If he will take Paxil for the IBS, the antidepressant effect would be a bonus, non?
> >
> Absolutely.Which is really why I "went there" first.
> > Would it help for him to read up on the difference between the definitions for dependency vs. addiction? Sometimes the mere use of a particular word is enough to trigger the stigma. It is quite possible to become physiologically dependent upon e.g. an SSRI, but there is no addiction.
> >
> Even I'm still confused about the difference. I'll have to poke around on the Net to self-educate.The distinction I prefer is that dependency is a necessary component of addiction. Addiction is dependency, plus: cravings for the drug, a tendency to escalate both the dose and the dosing frequency, changes in behaviour to acquire the drug, diminished response to the drug, and often, changes in personality. Did I leave something out?
The distinction is far more than semantic. We routinely discuss e.g. insulin-DEPENDENT diabetics, without any social approbation. No one would call such individuals addicts, despite the fact that withdrawal from the drug would quickly be both horrible and fatal.>
> Thanks, Larry, for taking your time to reply and for the, as always, helpful advice.You're very welcome.
Lar
poster:Larry Hoover
thread:644808
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060515/msgs/645067.html