Brief Answer: A reaction to your current medication. Detailed Answer: Hi, Thanks for your query. Is the pain in the left hand side of your abdomen? Assuming that it is and looking at your recent medical history and medication this pain may be related to your recent reaction to diclofenac and current use of loperamide. Loperamide reduces the contractility of the bowel and the speed of transit of your motions. Usually you would take loperamide for diarrhoea, start with 2-4mg and then take 2mg with every subsequent loose motion. If you feel that the loperamide is no longer required i.e. if your loose motions have stopped then I would cease to use it and see if your symptoms improve. Overuse can cause constipation and this will cause pain on the left hand side of your abdomen. This is the location of your descending bowel and sigmoid colon. Best wishes

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Brief Answer: Caution regarding reducing medicines Detailed Answer: Hi XXXXXX, Trying to wean yourself of your medication if it is no longer indicated is a good idea, you may want to check with your family Dr why exactly you were started on these drugs before you do. You have the right idea in terms of reducing your intake slowly maybe taking it every other day rather than every day if its a once a day medication and then every 2 days until eventually stopping it over a few weeks whilst monitoring your symptoms at the same time. If the beta blockers were started for symptoms related to hyperthyroidism and you are no longer hyperthyroid then it would seem reasonable to stop these although I would be more cautious that with the losec and loperamide and you may want to discuss this with your family doctor. If your symptoms in your abdomen are not related to you loperamide and diclofenac reaction then another cause of left sided abdominal pain and flatulence which is common in the west is diverticular disease. Please follow the link below to find out more information regarding this diagnosis. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diverticulosis best wishes

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