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What Should I Do About Bloody Diarrhea, Slight Headache And Fatigue While Trying To Detox After Taking Prescription Hydrocodone For Over 14 Years?
Question: Trying to detox after taking prescription hydrocodon 10/325 for over 14 years. Experiencing bloody diahrea sleight headache and fatigue. Taking OTC loperamide and pepto Bismarck to control the symptoms. It has gone on for 8 days.
Brief Answer:
infection is the most likely cause
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
The bloody diarrhea, fatigue and headache are not likely due to the hydrocodone withdrawal but likely related to an infection of the gastrointestinal tract.
These infections are most commonly viral or bacterial but with a history of blood, bacterial infection is most likely.
Most infections of the GI tract resolve with treatment at home but in some cases, assessment by a doctor is needed.
The loperamide and Pepto Bismol may be keeping the bacteria inside of the gut.
Treatment can consist of:
(1) Holding off solid food till there is a 4 hour window with no symptoms, use of food would cause diarrhea.
When this 4 hour period occurs then you can start with dry plain foods first such as biscuits or toast or plain rice etc
(2) Probiotics either on their own or with yogurt
(3) Using fluids and electrolytes to replace what you are losing, an oral hydration product should be used
You may need to see your doctor so that a sample of stool can be sent to the lab if the symptoms continue.
Other causes of bloody diarrhea include inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, these are not nearly as common as an infection
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions.
infection is the most likely cause
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
The bloody diarrhea, fatigue and headache are not likely due to the hydrocodone withdrawal but likely related to an infection of the gastrointestinal tract.
These infections are most commonly viral or bacterial but with a history of blood, bacterial infection is most likely.
Most infections of the GI tract resolve with treatment at home but in some cases, assessment by a doctor is needed.
The loperamide and Pepto Bismol may be keeping the bacteria inside of the gut.
Treatment can consist of:
(1) Holding off solid food till there is a 4 hour window with no symptoms, use of food would cause diarrhea.
When this 4 hour period occurs then you can start with dry plain foods first such as biscuits or toast or plain rice etc
(2) Probiotics either on their own or with yogurt
(3) Using fluids and electrolytes to replace what you are losing, an oral hydration product should be used
You may need to see your doctor so that a sample of stool can be sent to the lab if the symptoms continue.
Other causes of bloody diarrhea include inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, these are not nearly as common as an infection
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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