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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2005 >> KUDZU SIDE EFFECTS??
        
(Message started by: toolong on Mar 27th, 2005, 11:25am)
Title: KUDZU SIDE EFFECTS??
Post by toolong on Mar 27th, 2005, 11:25am
BEEN DOING THE ZU NOW FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS SHORT OF A MONTH.ONE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE AN UPSET STOMACH.I TAKE NEXIUM IN THE MORNING BUT DOESN'T SEEM TO HELP MUCH.AS FOR THE CH I WOULD SAY IT'S THE BEST THING YET.STILL STAYING WITH MY NADOLOL AND VOLTAREN.AFRAID TO FIX WHAT'S NOT BROKEN.        HAPPY EASTER AND PF DAYS AND NIGHT TO ALL! [smiley=mellow.gif] DAVID
Title: Re: KUDZU SIDE EFFECTS??
Post by nani on Mar 27th, 2005, 11:29am
Some of us have been er, gassier. I wouldn't say I've had an upset stomach though. Keep an eye on it David. Keep us posted, too. Have you taken the first week survey yet?     :)    love, nani
Title: Re: KUDZU SIDE EFFECTS??
Post by PaulL on Mar 27th, 2005, 11:51am
I tried kudzu for a couple of weeks at the very tail end of my episode.  It seemed to work but definitely gave me an upset stomach.

This brings up an interesting point.  I've always been skeptical that the only symptom of cluster is the terrible head pain.  There must be other effects on other parts of the body.  I've noticed that during an episode there will be days here and there where I don't get the headaches but get massive stomach pains instead.  Anyone have similar experiences with unusual pains in other parts of the body during an episode?
Title: Re: KUDZU SIDE EFFECTS??
Post by rickyshot on Mar 27th, 2005, 5:34pm
Paul What you are describing sounds like abdominal migraines. Those are a bitch too. Sick like a dog. A lot of people don't know that sometimes the only symptom of a migraine is the abdominal symptoms at times. The first time it happened to me I thought I was getting an ulcer. After 20 years of suffering complicated migraines and episodic ch I have been through the most amazing battery of things that can happen to an unfortunate person. You must remember the brain rules the body so anything can happen. But abdominal migraines are a true diagnosis. I don't know of any links to look up. Maybe someone else like Floridian can help.
Title: Re: KUDZU SIDE EFFECTS??
Post by clarence on Mar 27th, 2005, 8:15pm
gassy...and some other related things.


ricky - that sounds strange and terrible.  sorry you have to deal with that.

Casey
Title: Re: KUDZU SIDE EFFECTS??
Post by ozzy on Mar 29th, 2005, 1:47pm
It seems from the reports and personal experience that Kudzu affects the 5-HT2 receptors. The 5-HT2B recptors are involved in stomach contractions. This would explain some stomach pains. However I am willing to believe that kudzu may affect the 5-HT4 recptors which are involved in gastrointestinal motility (movement of food). I guess this might be good, as it may makes hummm more "regular"

For more on the 5-HT receptors, there is a very good Wiki on the topic:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5-HT_receptor


Ozzy
Title: Re: KUDZU SIDE EFFECTS??
Post by Frank_W on Mar 29th, 2005, 1:55pm
That makes perfect sense, Ozzy. When I first began taking kudzu, that was one of the things I immediately noticed: My trips to the "throne" were more frequent. Now that I've been on it awhile, that little side effect seems to have leveled off. (Maybe I was just "full of it"?) LOL
Title: Re: KUDZU SIDE EFFECTS??
Post by Bob P on Mar 29th, 2005, 2:50pm
Fart production is definately enhanced on this stuff.  I'm on day 3 and blastin' like a trottin' horse!!!  I'd call it a good side effect though.  Sure has put a smile on my face (my wife has a different opinion though).

Hey Margi - PULL MY FINGER!
Title: Re: KUDZU SIDE EFFECTS??
Post by Margi on Mar 29th, 2005, 3:05pm
psst, hey Bob!  You should get a t-shirt with that written on it!  ;)
Title: Re: KUDZU SIDE EFFECTS??
Post by toolong on Mar 29th, 2005, 6:06pm
Yep,I guess that's why I asked the question.Gas!But I try to be somewhat discreet when passing.But you know what?Don't really give a hoot.My CH pain has been cut by 80%.Not really sure how long it will last but if I have to pass a little gas to live a PF day so be it. ;;DDavid
Title: Re: KUDZU SIDE EFFECTS??
Post by Frank_W on Mar 29th, 2005, 7:06pm
Nawww, man. Be PROUD!! Just honk 'em on out there. A little flatus will persuade us! LMAO!  [smiley=laugh.gif]
Title: Re: KUDZU SIDE EFFECTS??
Post by MarnyandMichael on Mar 29th, 2005, 11:26pm
Omg you guys are too funny.  But I can honestly say that Michael (The CH sufferer has always been, well, to say it politely very gassy as a norm)  Yes I buy stock in air freshener companies.  lol.

As for Stomach or abdominal migraines...He doesn't complain about any pain per se...but bowel irritation...his explanation.  I am just the messenger folks..lol

Marny - who thinks kudru is a godsend....but I do have a question....has anyone found after using it a while that it loses its effectiveness?
Title: Re: KUDZU SIDE EFFECTS??
Post by nani on Mar 29th, 2005, 11:29pm
I've had to increase my dosage, but I can't say it's lost any effectiveness. I'm still not at the maximum dose stated on the label.  I'm also chronic, and while I've improved 99%, I still have an occasional bad day. Still great compared to before...but a bad day nonetheless.

edited to add: this is week 7 for me
Title: Re: KUDZU SIDE EFFECTS??
Post by Frank_W on Mar 30th, 2005, 9:30am
It has lost its effectiveness to produce monster gas bubbles, and I'm a little angry about that.  [smiley=laugh.gif]

In all seriousness, I can't remember the last time I got hit with a cluster headache... It might have been three weeks ago.

The only times I've been hit is when I've missed a dose, or gotten the timing messed up on my doses.

I've been on it since late February.
Title: Re: KUDZU SIDE EFFECTS??
Post by Bob P on Mar 30th, 2005, 9:48am
I'm a newbie.  This is day 4 for me.  The last 2 nights I haven't even had to get out of bed when the 1.5 hours after going to bed attack comes.  I can't even call it an attack.  Just the feeling that one is trying to start.  I take the cafegot tab that I keep on the night table and go back to sleep.  I still have that swollen feeling in the cluster area to tell me they aren't gone yet but I haven't hit the O2 for a couple of days now.

This weekend I'll skip a few doses to see if it's really the kudzu.  I'm having trouble believing something like this could work.
Title: Re: KUDZU SIDE EFFECTS??
Post by seasonalboomer on Mar 30th, 2005, 10:02am
Bob,

From what I've been trying to glean from the threads, take care about trying to go off the kudzu too quickly. From my experience, it seems that if you still feel like you are still "in cycle" but having great results from the Kudzu, you are and the removal of the Kudzu will also bring the return of some headaches. (I think Frank can attest to that as well).

I pushed to drop the Kudzu a little quickly and took a few bumps as a result. When I started to feel that the beast had truly left (no mini-shadows and such) I was able to truly drop the Kudzu and go on about my business.

So, as I said, if you're still feeling that "feeling" when you're feeling what you're feeling, maybe love the kudzu a little longer just for good measure. Not wishing to instill anxiety or quash confidence on the idea of coming off, just trying to suggest a potential sidestep for PFDAN right on through to the end of your cycle.

Congratulations on your results. It's cool isn't it?

Scott
Title: Re: KUDZU SIDE EFFECTS??
Post by Bob P on Mar 30th, 2005, 10:07am
Scott,

Like Happy said in another thread, beta testing is rough stuff.

I'm thinking of skipping a few doses to see if I get hit.  If I do, then I'm back on the kudzu right away and a firm believer that it works.  If I don't get hit, then I would tend to think it was the shrooms from last week.

Anyway, I'm talking experiment to see if the zu is what's holding them at bay.
Title: Re: KUDZU SIDE EFFECTS??
Post by seasonalboomer on Mar 30th, 2005, 10:12am
Cool. That was my objective too when I went off. Looking forward to hearing the result for you. My result was that Nature's Way Kudzu takes a prominent place in my medicine cabinet and I'll be making sure I have supply for the Fall dance.
Title: Re: KUDZU SIDE EFFECTS??
Post by Frank_W on Mar 30th, 2005, 10:59am
Another thing that I noticed with the kudzu: The times that I have had hits, they have been "muted." None of the three hits lasted longer than 20-30 minutes, and although they were enough to make me pace, they weren't accompanied by the hanging eyelid, temperature spike, or "melting face symptoms."


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