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Dr. Andrew Rynne
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Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Have Diarrhea. Took Nexium And Dicyclomine. Should I Go For Colonoscopy?

I have bouts of diarrhea and I take 2 nexium a day. I also have irritable syndrome but The Dr. said I might have a light case of Crohns. I am taking Dicyclomine 3 a day. Should I have a colonoscopy? I had one will soon be 3 yrs. ago. He said then I didn't have to have another in ten yrs. But all this has diarrhea has started since then.Am I doing the right thing now?
Wed, 15 May 2013
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General Surgeon,  's  Response
Hello!

Thank you for the query.

Nexium is a medicine which can give diarrhea as a side effect. Especially if taken for a long time. It is because this medicine blocks stomach acid secretion. Stomach acid protects intestines from bad bacteria. If there is no stomach acid, bacteria can freely get to intestines and cause diarrhea.
Every diarrhea which lasts longer than 48 hours should be diagnosed. To do that stool tests and stool culture tests should be done. This tests will tell if there is any infection and what antibiotics should be used.
And this is what you should done at first. Dicyclomine can be ineffective.

If nothing will be found in stool tests, colonoscopy should be the next step. 10 years gap is valid only in case of colon cancer, not inflammatory bowels disease. So if Crohns is possible, colonoscopy should be done.

Hope this will help.
Regards.
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Have Diarrhea. Took Nexium And Dicyclomine. Should I Go For Colonoscopy?

Hello! Thank you for the query. Nexium is a medicine which can give diarrhea as a side effect. Especially if taken for a long time. It is because this medicine blocks stomach acid secretion. Stomach acid protects intestines from bad bacteria. If there is no stomach acid, bacteria can freely get to intestines and cause diarrhea. Every diarrhea which lasts longer than 48 hours should be diagnosed. To do that stool tests and stool culture tests should be done. This tests will tell if there is any infection and what antibiotics should be used. And this is what you should done at first. Dicyclomine can be ineffective. If nothing will be found in stool tests, colonoscopy should be the next step. 10 years gap is valid only in case of colon cancer, not inflammatory bowels disease. So if Crohns is possible, colonoscopy should be done. Hope this will help. Regards.