Benefiber lower effectiveness of BCP?

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-05-2004
Benefiber lower effectiveness of BCP?
5
Wed, 06-09-2004 - 10:31pm
Hi,

I went to see my doctor yesterday but I forgot to ask her my question...maybe someone can help? I have to take daily (natural)laxatives... I take one packet of benefiber every morning in my coffee because I had a colostomy (now reversed) several years ago and because of diverticulitis, my surgeon recommended that I take a natural laxative every day for the rest of my life. I've tried fibercon and metamucil but I like benefiber better. Anyhow, this is really not a normal exlax type of laxative that will give you diahrhea (sp?) but I want to ensure that taking it in the morning, approximately 45 minutes after I take my bcp is not going to lower the effectiveness of my pill. Would it be better if I take my benefiber later in the day? Anyone know? Thanks for your help.
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-15-2003
Wed, 06-09-2004 - 10:39pm
This is just my opinion, not based on any medical fact....

Provided that the laxative is just making you "regular" (ie, normal bowel movements, not diarrhea), I think you should be fine. If it causes loose stools, I would likely time it so that you take your pill at a different time of day than the looseness happens - so if you commonly have loose stools in the morning, I would take the pill in the evening.

But like I said, just my opinion!

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-05-2004
Thu, 06-10-2004 - 7:08am
I greatly appreciate your opinion. No it doesn't give me loose stools, just makes me regular. Thanks for the advise.
Avatar for lucy4980
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 06-10-2004 - 4:23pm
The reason that loose stools can lower the effectiveness of BCPs is that they can cause things to go through your system quickly, therefore not allowing the BCP to be fully absorbed into your system. Benefiber and others just keep you regular. They don't speed up the rate at which your digestive track operates, so I think that you will be fine.
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-14-2000
Thu, 06-10-2004 - 5:54pm
I checked the Eckerd.com Drug Interaction tool. You didn't say which pill you are on, so I used mine (TriPhasil). I couldn't find Benefiber, so I used a few different fiber products (Medemucil, generic fiber therepy), and it came back with "no interactions reported". You might want to call your pharmacist, but I think unless it unexpectedly "cleans you out" in a rush, you should be ok.
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-05-2004
Thu, 06-10-2004 - 6:37pm
Thanks to those of you that gave me your opinions; it is greatly appreciated. I asked same question in another website and the response I received was "Why are you taking laxatives daily?.. that's the bigger issue." Not very helpful. Anyhow, I feel better about taking the benefiber in the morning and will continue to do so because as you all mentioned, it does not cause loose stools, it just makes me regular. Again... very much appreciated.