Too anxious to take prelief?

[Hope ICN Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hope]

In the four years I have had ic, I have been too chicken to try prelief. I get really anxious about all medications/supplements. Elmiron is helping enormously, but I am incredibly sensitive to food. I am SO sick of white bread (can't eat whole wheat) and american cheese and pears. I want to be brave and try prelief. So, my question is this -- what does it mean that it is a nutritional supplement. I have no problem with tums. Will I get any side effects with prelief? Years ago, I thought some folks were experiencing nausea. I appreciate all help, as I really should do more for myself than just the elmiron.

Thanks.
Hope

[Cawaggi Registered User Find all posts View Profile Close Cawaggi]

Hi Hope, I use Prelief with almost everything I eat, even if I think it's safe, and I have never had a bad side effect. I have only been using it for a few weeks, and I am like you..I don't like drugs in general and usually if the lable says "take two", I take one and that's all I need. I did stray from the IC diet yesterday and ate 2 cream filled Chips Ahoy cookies (with Prelief) and oh my gosh! I felt so spoiled, and later I felt so lucky that I didn't react to the chocolate. I'm not sure if the Prelief helped, but I can sure say it has never made me feel bad, or feel anything at all. I think it's considered a dietary supplement because it has calcium in it... Calcuim glycerophosphate and magnesium stearate, the lable says. If Tums is ok for you, it might be worth a try. I usually take two with meals, except breakfast, and then I took two with the cookies, which will have to be a rare treat, but it will be so nice to be able to have my treats on ocassion. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[MelanieJ Registered User Find all posts View Profile Close MelanieJ]

Hi Hope! Always good to see you back on the boards. [img]wink.gif[/img] I think most people do tolerate Prelief without any problem, though I know of at least one person who didn't do well with it. In my own case, I have never had any problems taking it. In fact, when I have something like salad dressing or other major no-no's, I'll take a pill after every bite or two. One or two pills I found doesn't work well enough for me, but more do. I've chatted with other ICers on the boards who take larger quantities with food like I do with no problem. It has definitely helped me be able to eat some of those things we miss so much.

Won't it be wonderful if it helps you enjoy a more diverse diet? Won't know until you give it a whirl, though... [img]wink.gif[/img] By the way, I've definitely found the longer I'm on Elmiron, the better I feel. I have been able to expand my diet back out this year but it's been 2.5+ years in the making. I hope that happens for you too.

Good luck!
Melanie J.

[angiec Registered User Find all posts View Profile Close angiec]

Hi Hope,
I have used Prelief for the last two and 1/2 years. I have never had a side effect from it and have always considered it in the same family as Tums. It is a dietary supplement and not a drug and I could be wrong, but also agree with Cawaggi and think it has to do with the calcium that is in it that puts it in the supplement category.
Prelief has been something that has allowed me to eat foods that I never thought I could eat again. I have even used it when wanting a cocktail or two and not had flares.
Trying anything new is scary, but this is something I would say is worth giving a try.
Best Wishes,
Angie

[prbetty ICN Member Find all posts View Profile Close prbetty]

Hi Hope:

Prelief is a dietary supplement (calcium glycerophosphate) that takes the acid out of food. Prelief works on the food; it is not a drug. A dietary supplement is defined, in pertinent part, as a product that contains a vitamin, mineral, or other specified "dietary ingredient". Prelief is made from an FDA Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) dietary supplement ingredient and is also listed as a food ingredient in the US Government Food Chemicals Codex (FCC).

Each Prelief tablet supplies 6% (65 mg) of the USRDA for calcium and 5% (50 mg) of the USRDA for phosphorus. The tablets also contain 0.5% magnesium stearate as a processing aid.

We recommend taking 2 Prelief tablets with each meal, snack and beverage. Because tolerance to food varies greatly as does the acid content of food you may find that you need to use more.

Use Limitations: None, except as may apply below.
Adverse Reactions: None known
Toxicity: None known
Interactions with Drugs: Calcium may interfere with the efficacy of some medications. If you are not sure about your medication, we suggest you check with your pharmacist or physician about the possible inhibition of that medication by calcium.
Precautions: None, except for people who have been advised by their doctor not to take calcium, phosphorus or glycerin/glycerol.

We hear from so many IC patients who are using Prelief successfully and who have been able to add some of their favorite acidy foods back into their diets with Prelief.

Please do not hesitate to contact me direct if you have any questions.

Betty Corson
[email protected]
1-800-994-4711

[Misery IC Friend Find all posts View Profile Close Misery]

Hi Hope..

Just a short note 2 U !!
Prelief is your friend...try it, it works 4 me
[img]biggrin.gif[/img]
Christine <img src="graemlins/grouphug.gif" border="0" alt="[grouphug]" />

[Hope ICN Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hope]

Thank you thank you to everyone who replied to this anxious person. I really must give it a try. Some tea or heaven forbid a few sips of wine or dare I say it -- a tiny bit of pizza <img src="graemlins/lmao.gif" border="0" alt="[lmao]" />

Much love, Hope

Thanks for noticing me Melanie [img]biggrin.gif[/img]

[SueP1 ICN Member Find all posts View Profile Close SueP1]

Hope, just be careful with the tomato sauce...Prelief allows me to have my one cup of coffee, but I haven't been able to do tomato sauce at all.