For My Tummy

Wow! Four Weeks of Digestive Advantage-IBS ™

Reviewing Digestive Advantage-IBS and Align
After approximately ten weeks of using Align ™ probiotic caplets, and filing my objective reports of the experience, I thought it was a pretty good product with some real problems in pricing and supply. {See my Align reviews}

Four weeks ago this past Monday, I started Digestive Advantage-IBS ™ (DA) in caplet form. {See my earlier DA reviews.}At that time, and for a year at least before then, the caplets were readily available through Amazon.com and other online sources, and the chewable tablets could be purchased at the CVS across the street. The price of DA was about half that of Align ™. I knew that DA had the problems of pricing and supply licked.

Problems with GERD on Align
What I didn’t report, in the ten weeks or so that I took Align ™, was that I had ever increasing (and recurring) problems with GERD. After all, Align was a probiotic aimed at affecting digestion in the large intestine. Toward the end of the time on Align, I was taking Prilosec ™ OTC as well as Ranitidine 150 mg. on a daily basis to control GERD.

Prilosec ™ is only supposed to be taken for two weeks, and I had just started DA when the two weeks were up. My GERD was under control for the moment, so I thought, I’ll continue with the Ranitidine and wait and see on the Prilosec, expecting that “any day now” I would need Prilosec again.

IBS and GERD All Clear, on Digestive Advantage-IBS
The “WOW!” in the title is that during the four weeks on Digestive Advantage-IBS ™ I have never needed to go back on Prilosec ™. Align ™ gave me ever-increasing problems with GERD; the NSI probiotic 15-35 that I took before beginning Align also gave me problems with GERD. I thought it went with the territory. Four weeks plus without GERD is amazing to me.

Otherwise, Digestive Advantage-IBS ™ (plus diet, exercise, all that good stuff) has controlled my IBS tummy very well. I have begun to add fruits and vegetables–sometimes cautiously, sometimes not,. When I’ve added a fruit or vegetable that doesn’t work too well for me, and have an evening of a slightly rocky tummy, I take a second DA caplet. Generally in a half hour, and certainly by morning, I’m fine.

Subjective vs. Objective
My report is only subjective, and certainly not a scientific study. In spite of reports to the contrary, Digestive Advantage-IBS does have adequately controlled scientific studies that show significant results for IBS pain and bloating. In addition, my comparison of Align ™ with DA indicates that, while both are a little bit constipating to my system (with IBS-C), DA is slightly more so, making it potentially better for people with IBS-D. The constipating effect can be countered, if desired, by half a teaspoon more of Heather’s Organic Acacia Tummy Fiber ™ or Fibersure ™ or a guar gum Soluble Fiber Supplement.

Summary: A Probiotic for IBS *and* GERD
So, for the purpose of taking a probiotic, and for taking a probiotic that is easily available, and for taking a probiotic that is cheaper than most others on the market, I have a summary comment below.

Bottom Line
Not only a Digestive Advantage, but also a competitive advantage.

October 19th, 2007 Posted by tummyblogger | Probiotics, Align, NSI Probiotics, Digestive Advantage - IBS | 6 comments