DGL Causing Diarrhea?

[djtech]

Hello Everyone,

Is it possible that DGL can cause Diarrhea?  I had some pretty crazy
diarrhea today and I VERY rarely get that.  The only thing I can think
of are two things.  DGL, I just started taking it the night before,
and a bowl of cabbage/vegetable soup I had at the same time.  Any
thoughts on this one?  I have seen that standard licoric root has that
listed under side effects, but did not see any info on the DGL form.
Thanks

Djtech

[djtech]

Here are the latest results of my extensive blood tests...Everything was normal EXCEPT these things were over the high side:


Test        Mine     Reference

NA          149      [135-147]
CO2         32       [23-30]
ANION GAP   19       [5-14]
OSMO CALC   296      [268-292]
ALBUMUN     5.2      [3.3-4.9]
A/G Ratio   1.8      [.7-1.7]


Dont know what these might tell anyone who knows much about it but any input much appreciated.  For what it is worth, the billirubin levels were in check, so I suppose gallbladder is okay, which is what the ultrasound came up with too.  Amylase and Lipase were normal as well, so pancreas looks ok too.  Thanks everyone

DJ

[karie]

How long did you take DGL before you felt your symptoms go away ?
Although I can have a good morning some days, I still don't have complete relief for a day. Since I can't have artificial sugars and caffeine due to the effects on CNS : heart beats.
Any input on clinical data too ? My doctor was given the sheet I had on the comparrison to zantac , tagamet.

[Nogrog]

Thanks for the details. I've always reacted well to the ppi's and was doing well and ready to drop to a lower dose until I tried the DGL alongside them, so I assume that I just may have had an atypical reaction to it. They tried me on a motility emptying drug once during the spasm and that sent me mad ( sort of restless and hyperactive for four days til I stopped it), so maybe there's just some things I don't get along with. I seem to be ok (although sore from previous day) until after dinner at the moment, when I get bad reflux. I'd just like the 'process' the DGL brought about to stop so I can get back to normal! I think someone on this site mentioned that 'reactions' can take up to 6 weeks to pass on.
Thanks for all the advice - good luck to everyone else!

[karie]

I reviewed my journal and today is day 16 on DGL by Natural Factors and 9 days previous were filled with severe heartburn, pain, etc. I take it day by day and if symptoms lessen try to review what occurred.
I phoned Enzymatic therapy and they said all dgl's have the same working ablility and no known side effects, In India they use licorice for everything.
It's hard to believe anything will heal and help But I sure hope it does for all of us.............

[Nogrog]

Thanks for everyone's help - I really do appreciate it. I was using Holland and Barrett's DGL tablets - I chewed them for a good 30 seconds or so about 20 mins before each meal. I don't think they upset my stomach that much - they just seem to have caused reflux! Perhaps they are a different formula to the Enzymatic ones.

Thanks for all the tips. I am now careful what I eat (although when I'm anxious or sore that is often not much as I'm scared of reflux at the moment), and have eliminated chocolate and other GERD causing foods. The one decent thing is that I've lost about 3 stone in 12 months! I used to be quite overweight but I'm now much more normal. I drink chamomile tea and the odd cup of green tea to try to soothe things. How long does the 'process' the DGL brings about take to revert once you stop? Obviously it took a little while on the DGL to get the pain, so I assume (and have been told) that I must wait a while for it to calm down, and that it will flare up and down for a while. I find it hard to believe (and hope) that I could become naturally resistant to PPIs in the space of 4 weeks, especially as when I started the DGL I was ready to drop to a lower dose of PPI! Many thanks for all the help.

[Concerned lady]

I can only say that (sorry to be so graphic) my stools look just like they did before I ever started using the DGL. No change noticed from using the "Enzymatic Therapy" brand of DGL.

If I watch what I eat, use digestive enzymes, and probiotics, the stools are what some describe as (sorry again here) "golden floaters". This phrase was used by the Reiki master Mrs. Hawayo Takata, to describe healthy stools.

Concerned lady

[aklap]

As long as we are on this subject...  :)

I have been taking dgl for 3 days. Today i noticed my stool was a blackish/greenish color - everything else appears normal.  Is this usual when taking dgl??

thanks,

al

[Concerned lady]

Just to clarify one thing: About 20 minutes before each meal, we chew the DGL tablet(s) for about 10 seconds, to mix it with saliva, then swallow, then wait about 20 minutes, then eat the meal.

Here are some GASTRIC REFLUX TIPS, which have helped many, and can be used WHILE one takes acid blockers. Then, IF all the tips help, after about 2 weeks of using these tips, THEN, ask your pharmacist & doctor for a very, very, very gradual, slow, tapering down (weaning) schedule, to taper off acid blockers.

It is IMPORTANT to NOT SUDDENLY STOP using acid blockers. Suddenly stopping them often causes REBOUND EXTRA ACID PRODUCTION, making the GERD way worse!!!!!! See below: I apologize, in advance, for the lengthiness of this posting, but...there's a bunch of helpful ideas in it. People are unique, and each idea may help some people and not others.

**************************************************

Some GASTRIC REFLUX TIPS (without acid blockers):

GER=Gastro-Esophageal Reflux. (Gastro=stomach. Esophagus=food tube.)

LPR= Laryngeal-Pharyngeal Reflux. (Larynx=voice box, containing the 2 vocal cords. Pharynx=throat, above the larynx. The larynx is above the trachea/windpipe.)

Reflux=acidic or alkaline stomach material that backs up into the esophagus (food tube), causing any of these problems: VCD/Vocal Cord Dysfunction/Laryngospasm attacks, cough, voice problems, asthma, globus (feeling of lump in throat), constant need to clear throat, worsening of sinus condition, sore throat, pre-cancerous conditions of throat &/or esophagus, etc.

SOME GER/LPR CONTROL THINGS WE DO, that we learned from the excellent book: STOMACH AILMENTS AND DIGESTIVE DISTURBANCES, by Michael T. Murray, N.D. See page 9, References, in my website: http://cantbreathesuspectvcd.com   and, also see GER/LPR info on page 5, and on LINKS page.

PLEASE READ THIS GREAT BOOK. It may possibly be bought on-line, from Michael T. Murray

[Concerned lady]

These bad reactions to the "DGL" may be ALLERGIC reactions to either the DGL, &/or to some other ingredient(s) in the DGL chewable tablets. (Don't use capsules. The DGL MUST MIX WITH SALIVA, to be effective).

So far, of all the people who have told me they tried the "Enzymatic Therapy" brand of CHEWABLE DGL tablets, no one has told me of having any negative reactions. My husband and I have not had any diarrhea from the "Enzymatic Therapy" brand.

So, my advice is to stop using your various brands of DGL for a while, wait 'til things calm down, and if you want to try the DGL again, try the "Enzymatic Therapy" brand, while you are still taking your regular amount of acid blockers.

The DGL helps to HEAL ESOPHAGUS, & HEAL STOMACH. Chew one or two tablets of this particular brand (use non-sweetened type, with no mint added), about 20 minutes before each meal. Don't take the acid blocker med at the same time of day, as the DGL.

If the "Enzymatic Therapy" brand of DGL does agree with you, continue for about 2 weeks, and THEN, begin to very slowly wean off the acid blocker meds.

If the "Enzymatic Therapy" brand of DGL DOES NOT agree with you, use all the OTHER TIPS in the GASTRIC REFLUX TIPS, which I'll post below. Try using ALL of those "tips", which includes the "Acid Ease" preparation of the gentler digestive enzymes with some herbs, carrot juice, slippery elm, life style & diet changes, etc.

Keep us posted on your results.

Sincerely, Concerned lady
http://cantbreathesuspectvcd.com

P.S. Read my website for more food for thought.

[karie]

What brand and how much are you taking?
This is my 3rd attempt at DGL and for a patient who has had numerous bad side-effects to PPI's etc. I found the DGL did not effect the heart rate or CNS. I however develop red gums and bleeding after being on it a week. DGL heals the stomach lining as in the previous very well informed post by Concerned lady.
It takes a week to get in your system and start healing as many doctors suggest that a PPI will.
I do still have some GERD symptoms But keep a food and meds journal during my ordeal with onset and take this to my doctor appointments. Keep us posted.

[Nogrog]

Hello there

I've been reading this site for a while now and I'm really grateful for all the advice people offer. I saw this message about DGL and wondered if either of you guys or anyone else might be able to help (and hope that some of my experience might help others), as I too seem not to be getting on with DGL - so wondered whether you're like me in reacting to it.

I'm a 23 year old man (in London) who's had reflux for 3 years or so after drinking far too much orange juice (about half a litre a day!) at University and doing myself some acid damage, and was diagnosed with a tiny hiatal hernia. I was on Zoton (or Prevacid as I think it's called in the US) minimum (15mg) dose and this cleared up ALL pain from reflux. I was able to eat what I liked, when I liked and drink and smoke and never suffer. Anway, a year ago I decided to stop the ppi altogether and just see how I got on and I let myself burn for quite a few days (didn't realise this was actually damaging). Before I started Zoton again I managed to send my oesophagus into spasm through the burning - and this was sporadic agony for months until I found this site and learned how to control it through not having too cold drinks or eating hard to swallow food. It still occurs now and then but I can just about control it - especially with the aid of a magnesium phosphate supplement, which relaxes the muscle. And obviously I've now stopped smoking, drinking much, spicy food and have lost quite a lot of weight.

Anyway, because it took a while to diagnose the spasm (I just thought the pain was horrible reflux) they tried me on different ppis to se if one worked better than the other. They all appeared to work once I realised the spasm was controlled, as I had no reflux pain on either 20mg Prilosec or 30mg Zoton/Prevacid, although 10mg Prilosec didn't work very well. I tried not taking my ppi for one day and got bad pain. So a few days later, and I know I should have asked my doctor first and just reduced to 15mg Zoton before doing anything, I tried to start using DGL (as recommendedd by concerned lady -except I used Holland & Barrett's brand) so I could wean myself off ppi's. That's when my problems have begun again. After about 4 days of DGL, I felt like I was breathing in something strange and got a tiny tickly cough. This was on and off for a few days. Then after about 10 days of DGL I got reflux pain! I haven't ever suffered this when I take my PPI's! The reflux got steadily worse until I suddenly stopped taking the DGL and immediately I felt better for three days. Now the reflux has come back - sometimes I'm fine(ish), sometimes I'm in terrible pain! I asked a pharmacist and my doctor and they have said I must wait for the DGL to get completely out of my system and it will revert to normal. It's been 8 days since I stopped! Do you guys know if in some people DGL can impair the ppi absorption? Concerned lady's posts have been really helpful generally - so am I a fluke reaction? Should I have dropped to minimum dose of ppi before trying it? The pain and trouble really does seem to date back to when I started it. Really sorry if this was long winded and dull.

[Concerned lady]

Dear DJTech,

I don't know if it's the DGL, but you can try to find out: Try using the DGL and NOT having cabbage soup. See if the diarrhea clears up. If yes, it was probably the soup and not the DGL.

Also, what brand of DGL are you using? How many milligrams are in the chewable tablet? How many tablets are you chewing about 20 minutes before each meal?

Try eating what you normally have eaten, that doesn't give you diarrhea, and try the DGL for a few more days. If you still get diarrhea, you'll know the DGL did it. If no diarrhea, then, it's something else that caused the diarrhea.

Was the soup homemade or store bought?

Also, I like probiotics for treating diarrhea, if the diarrhea was caused by bacteria, etc. I like acidophilus/bifidus probiotics.

Lactose (milk-sugar) intolerance can cause diarrhea, also. Are you lactose intolerant? If yes, had you eaten any milk products?

Gluten intolerance (like Celiac Disease/Sprue) usually causes diarrhea. Try going gluten free for a few days, if you like. Avoid wheat, rye, oats, barley, buckwheat. Brown rice is gluten-free.

Large amounts of Vitamin C often cause diarrhea.

Antibiotics cause diarrhea, by destroying the probiotics that normally live in the large intestine. Had you been on any antibiotics, or any other medicines?

Indigestion, due to lack of digestive enzyme production, can cause diarrhea. You might want to try taking some gentle digestive enzymes, such as "Acid Ease" by Prevail, and see if this helps, too.

Let us know what you discover actually caused that severe diarrhea.

Sincerely, Concerned lady
http://cantbreathesuspectvcd.com