Questran

[marian walton]

So, docors only read BNF?????????????

I have been taking this for Crohn's disease (after hemi-colectomy) for 25 YEARS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[marian walton]

AND loperamide is NOT recommended for anyone with bowel problems and certainly not anyone who has had surgery. (I had many sub-acute blockages and hospital admitances due to loperamide before being prescribed QUESTRAN)
I don't believe your comments. And codeine phosphate???? OK for a while, then the floodgates open. ) Any Crohn'e disease sufferer will know what I mean)

[johnep]

A Dr would probably look at the BNF first. However, if has attended a talk on Crohn's disease, then undoubtedly Questran would be mentioned.
Remember you are the expert because you are an informed pt, I have only had a few Crohn's pts make themselves known to me over last 60 years in pharmacy. Now you have raised the topic, I will look at the pts on chronic loperamide/codeine more closely and see if record shows they have Crohn's. An excellent subject for my own CPD.

We have one pt on Questran and I may discreetly ask them if taking for cholesterol or ?.

Many more pts with ulcerative colitis.

johnep

[marian walton]

Yeah, thank you johnep. Result !!!!

[Isadora]

QUESTRAN is sold in Spain under the name of EFENSOL, which has the same components as Questran but as Questran Light ie. It contains Aspertame. I live in Spain and get some for you if you need it.

Thanks for the information and the offer, Marian. My sister is going to Alicante soon and she will see if she can get some there for me. If not I will certainly get back to you. Have you any idea why there is such a shortage at present?

[marian walton]

Can't figure out what's going on but I think it may be political. I tried EFENSOL yesterday for the first time and it's the most revolting thing I've ever tasted!. Give me Questran anyday. It's very thick and slimy so you have to mix it with loads of water to get it down! At least drinking Questran can be over with pretty quickly. I may try mixing EFENSOL with fruit/yogurt and drinking loads of water wit it, but I certainly couldn't drink it everyday.

[Isadora]

Sounds revolting. didn't think that there could be anything worse than Questran!
I remember hearing something about Bristol Myers having some legal problems in the US because of something they did, (possibly bribes) to have Questran approved by the FDA. Maybe it's all catching up on them now.

[John Grant]

Hi Isadora and Marian, just picked up this thread while doing some research on how to obtain Questran on-line in Europe. I have just arrived
in Spain and need to secure a supply of Questran (light). I took the information leaflet to the local farmacia here in Nerja and she did some
enquiring and got me a product called 'Resincolestramina' made by a company called 'Laboratorios Rubio SA' in Barcelona. It is exactly the
same constituent ingredients as Questran in 4mg sachets. Cost me 28 Euro for 5 sachets (ouch - hence trying to find an on-line cheaper supply).
I have to say that it is actually more pleasant than Questran to drink - has a very mild kind of strawberry flavour and is not so 'gritty'. Only been
taking it for past two days but so far so good. Hope this is useful.

[Isadora]

Thanks for the information John, Comes at a good time as Questran is unavailable again in Ireland. Apparently due to a strike. Did you try getting a prescription from a doctor in Spain? It reduces the price you pay for your drugs.

[John Grant]

Thanks for advice Isadora - just waiting for my EHC to arrive (figured that paying for a consultation to get the prescription while I was waiting would cost more than buying the Rubio). On that subject I would love to know how/where Marian got her 2 years supply of Questran in Spain - having now used the Rubio for a couple of weeks I find that it does not suit me too well. Does the job inteneded but gives me terrible indigestion... (now where did I put that Gaviscon).

Good luck with the search.

Marian - are you there?