[Supergwen]

Can someone explain to me how meds absorb and from where? Stomach and intestines? 

The reason why I am asking is that I have had REALLLLLLLY bad IBS issues and I think they have affected med absorption and making me less medicated and therefore more crazy. 

[AirMarshall]

The stomach serves as a storage, digestive and mixing bowl.    The stomach does not have significant absorption ability.   The stomach secretes acids and enzymes which start to break down the food.   It secretes mucus to protect itself from its own acids and enzymes.  The mucus would tend to inhibit medication absorption.

After a short delay the food is released into the small intestine where liver bile, and pancres enzymes are added.   Digestion continues, while simlultaneously the small intestine begins to absorb nutrients (and medications) as they are released by digestion.  The majority of medications are absorbed through the lengthy small intestine.
The large intestine primarily absorbs water and salts from the digested food, but some nutrient and medication absorption continues.

Some medications are designed to absorbed through the rectum of the large intestine.  Notable for use as suppositories are some antipsychotic, anti seizure and anti emetic (vomiting) meds, where the patient may not be able to take the meds by mouth.

Can IBS or other digestive problems affect medication absorption? Yes.  Several factors could cause changes in medication absorption and treatment effectiveness.  First, any condition that increases the speed of food passing throught the bowels, e.g. diarhea, could limit the TIME available for absorption.  This would have greater effect with Extended Release medications. IBS, Ulcerative Colitis, Celiac Sprue and other conditions that change the physical condition of the intestine lining could affect the ABILITY of the intestine to absorb the medication. 

Solutions you could explore with your doctors might focus on identifying medication compounds that would be more reliable. Changing to sub-lingual (under tongue) forms, fast release vice extended release forms, suppositories, and topical forms such as creams or patch delivery systems. I'm not aware of any MI meds that are available as inhalers or nose sprays, yet.

One other thing that I would recommend is a thorough drug interaction review with both your Pdoc, Family doctor, and your pharmacist.  Don't rely on one person alone to catch all interactions. It is entirely possible for one drug to increase or decrease effectiveness or absorption of another drug.

Good luck,

A.M.

This post has been edited by AirMarshall: 24 March 2006 - 11:49 AM

[Supergwen]

You're like, the coolest person EVER!    Thanks so much for the info!  I am going to the doc next thursday so hopefully that will be the beginning of getting better.  Till then, I will deal. 

[Penny Century]

are you doing anything for your IBS?

it sucks super big time... but things like keeping a food diary (looking for trigger foods) taking a lot of probiotics (or organic yogurt with active cultures, preferable with no added sugar) taking fiber, drinking enough water, magnesium, etc... CAN help.  there's that med zelnorm, it didn't help me... but may help you. 

it's good to talk to your pdoc about this.

you may also want to talk to a nutritionist about ways to help your IBS. 

penny

[mrsloony]

I'd been wondering where the ibs sufferers might be hiding. Are there any threads about it?
I've been having a terrible time with it- i hate yogurt ( i also think it has been a trigger food for migraines), zelnorm is only for ibs with constipation- i keep flip flopping back and forth from one extreme to the other.
Help!!!

[Penny Century]

mrsloony, on Mar 24 2006, 02:49 PM, said:

I'd been wondering where the ibs sufferers might be hiding. Are there any threads about it?
I've been having a terrible time with it- i hate yogurt ( i also think it has been a trigger food for migraines), zelnorm is only for ibs with constipation- i keep flip flopping back and forth from one extreme to the other.
Help!!!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

feel free to start a thread... i guess it would go in "i can't eat that" or "not otherwise specified."  most people with IBS treat it with special diet, which is why i think it may go in "i can't eat that" and also that i got some of the best IBS help from a nutritionist, not from my gastroenterologist.

have you tried taking a probiotic instead of yogurt to get the acidopholis, etc? 

are you eating yogurt with additives in it?

taking a good probiotic supplement works just as well or better than yogurt.  just make sure the vitamin store/ health food store has the probiotic  in a fridge.  the bacteria has to be alive, and so needs refrigeration.

penny