VSL#3DS Probiotics

Hi folks, On this forum I've seen mentioned the prescription probiotic called VSL#3DS. Anyone try it? I currently take a high quality probiotic; HMF Superpowder by Genestra. Going thru quite a flare right now - can't believe how weak I was today - totally bedridden and it was a gorgeous day. :(

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41 yrs.
Last sigmoidoscopy Jan 2009, 17" inflammation of lower colon.
Naturals: probiotics, ground flax, salmon oil, Glutagenics, Aloe Vera juice, mega vitamin supplements, Glutamine, Vegan diet.
Pharma: Salofalk enema every other night and oral 2 500mg tablets a day
My brother had UC and ended up with an illiostomy after years of struggle.

I've taken VSL#3DS for several years. I can't say for sure that it has helped limit my symptoms, but I think it has. Colitis is unpredictable and it is hard to correlate the effects of different things on it.

"Primal defense" (another probiotic) had a much more clear-cut impact than VSL#3DS.

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DX Pancolitis 2003. Subsequent flares limited to left side
Flare every 2-3 years.
Apriso 2 x 4 tabs daily, Mesalamine enema 2 X daily.
Probiotics: Primal defense and VSL#3DS. Fiber: Psyllium and "super seed".
Allergic to Imuran

Currently mild flare last 6 months. Limited to Rectum and lower sigmoid. No diarrhea.
Added cortifoam.
Prednisone 5 mg 2.5 mg (tapering)

Thanks for mentioning the Primal Defense. I looked it up - solid!

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41 yrs.
Last sigmoidoscopy Jan 2009, 17" inflammation of lower colon.
Naturals: probiotics, ground flax, salmon oil, Glutagenics, Aloe Vera juice, mega vitamin supplements, Glutamine, Vegan diet.
Pharma: Salofalk enema every other night and oral 2 500mg tablets a day
My brother had UC and ended up with an illiostomy after years of struggle.

Hello UNiG,  You might want to look into Renew Life-Ultimate Flora Critical Care Probiotic .  Many of us here are using this one and for me it has worked great.  I take 2 a day morning and evening on an empty stomach.  When flaring I have taken up to 4 per day.  Each capsule has 50billion live cutures and if you are in the US they make one with 80billion live cultures per capsule.

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Diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis 1995

I've taken VSL for about 16 months and the DS strength since January - I just upped that to two packets per day, along with cortenemas, and averted a flare.....(so I don't know which helped more, the VSL or the enemas...)
In the first few months I'd started VSL, I was chasing a minor but persistant flare, and I stopped the VSL twice to see if I could get by without it - within 2 days the bleeding resumed, and stopped again within a few days when I restarted the VSL, so I guess I have to say it works for me.

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Co-Moderator, UC Forum
Age 54. Diagnosed UP 1983, UC 1986
Prednisone 2 years! 86-88
Now:Asacol - 16 pills/day, Cortenemas
Metamucil - 2 doses/day since '86
VSL#3DS, Multivitamin, Calcium and D
homemade yogurt each day
hip replacement 4/5/10
flare averted....?
Son, 17, dx pancolitis 2007, in remission

I use VSL#3DS. I am very fortunate in that it is covered by my health care insurance. I have used it in conjunction with a rather strict diet that is pretty consistent with the SCD diet, with a few modifications. I noticed with the initial dosage of VSL#3 that I did have some increased gas and an increase/change of odor of the stool. After a week, this really settled and I have enjoyed a wonderful remission. I use the VSL#3 twice to three times daily and mix it with plain homemade yogurt. Good luck.

34 yo male physician
Diagnosed Severe Pancolitis 10/07.
Currently in remission with SCD, VSL#3DS, Curcumin

It worked like a miracle over and over for me.

Then their supplier ran out so I switched pharmacies.

It failed to help twice which struck me as odd. So everyone is out of it but this one chain and theirs seems inneffective, I switched back yesterday.

I got thru my 4 hour interview and lunch with a good company today no problemo.

Primal defense did nothing for me, but I have been seeing endorsements of it here lately.

Intestimine wrecked me. The yogurt with Bifodus Regularis is bad news as well and have seen IBS/IBD people saying they lost all control of their bowels from taking it.

Post Edited (aguywithuc) : 8/18/2010 10:19:11 PM (GMT-6)

I usually have gas out the wazoo. I often wonder if the VSL#3 makes it worse. My wife is really getting sick of it, and of course having constant gas is really uncomfortable, especially with an inflammed rectum! Sometimes when I first wake up in the morning, I have to pass a huge about of wind, enough to wake my kids up if they are sleeping with us. It's hard to differentiate whether it is just from the colitis or if the probiotics are mostly the cause, or at least making it worse. Anyone else have this problem while taking probiotics?

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DX Pancolitis 2003. Subsequent flares limited to left side
Flare every 2-3 years.
Apriso 2 x 4 tabs daily, Mesalamine enema 2 X daily.
Probiotics: Primal defense and VSL#3DS. Fiber: Psyllium and "super seed".
Allergic to Imuran

Currently mild flare last 6 months. Limited to Rectum and lower sigmoid. No diarrhea.
Added cortifoam.
Prednisone 5 mg 2.5 mg (tapering)

I've not had any gas from probiotics.... I've been on PB8, Digestive Advantage, ULtimate Flora CC, VSL and VSLDS.... I do get gas from flaring and also from Rowasa.....
We're all different.
And we react to the different probiotics in different ways, too. Frustrating, no "one remedy fits all...."

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Co-Moderator, UC Forum
Age 54. Diagnosed UP 1983, UC 1986
Prednisone 2 years! 86-88
Now:Asacol - 16 pills/day, Cortenemas
Metamucil - 2 doses/day since '86
VSL#3DS, Multivitamin, Calcium and D
homemade yogurt each day
hip replacement 4/5/10
flare averted....?
Son, 17, dx pancolitis 2007, in remission

Probiotics have never helped my UC, but they have helped my IBS. One VSL DS packet usually lasts me 2-3 days. (I hate the flavor!)

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Female, Age 21
Remicade, Asacol, VSL #3 DS, Vitamin D, Calcium, Prozac, Turmeric, Biotin, Zyrtec

I used to get terrible, painful gas which I finally figured out was from my probiotic.  I now take it at night, two hours after eating anything, right before bed.  I no longer have the problem. 

I totally agree with taking them at night on an empty stomach. I would get lots of gas if I took them during the day, regardless of what kind.

The worst offender is yogurt, however...I've now stopped eating it again...nice snack after supper, but wow. Owie.

q

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*Heather* I give suggestions, do with them what you will.
Status: ...Asacol 3 @ 2x daily; Salofalk enema @ 3rd night (nightly/ flares, tapered/maintenance)
~diagnosed January 1989 UC (proctosigmoiditis)
~Bentylol 20mg as needed; Ranitidine; Effexor XR 37.5mg (depression), Pulmicort/Airomir (asthma)
~vitamins/minerals/supplements; Probiotics....(RenewLife Ultimate Flora Critical Care+Primadophilus Reuteri capsules @ bedtime
~Metamucil capsules 6 twice daily with meals; Vitamin D 2000 IU
~URSO for PSC (or PBC) 500mg X 2 daily (LFTs back to NORMAL!!)
My doc's logic.. "TREAT (FROM)BOTH ENDS" worth it !!!