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celevac
Rated 3.7/5 based on 3 reviews
Celevac is a fiber supplement made from methylcellulose, a plant fiber. Celevac is recommended for both diarrhea and constipation, as it can add bulk to the stool for diarrhea sufferers, and make stools softer and easier to pass for constipation sufferers. It is sometimes prescribed as a weight loss aid because it can take the edge off large appetites by making the stomach feel full. Celevac comes in tablet form. The tablets are chewed in the mouth and swallowed with water.
Celevac side effects
The most common side effects of Celevac are flatulence, stomach distension or bloating, bowel obstruction, fecal impaction and hypersensitivity reactions.
REVIEWS OF CELEVAC
Review by Steve 
I've had IBS-D for around 18 to 20 years and I've always found it difficult to go anywhere or do anything without knowing where the nearest bathroom is. Going on holiday has been impossible and days out are always spoilt by me and the constant search for toilets. It's always extremely loose movements without stomach cramps and mostly urgent so I cannot hold it.
Last year after changing my doctor I was told about Celevac and asked if I wanted to try it. As my symptoms had become worse (14 to 18 trips to the bathroom a day) I was ready to try anything. I take three tablets when I get up, three more mid-morning and two in the early afternoon.
I can honestly say my life has changed completely. I now go to the bathroom four to eight times a day maximum (mostly in the mornings). The urgency has mostly disappeared and I can now wait to go the bathroom for up to an hour, something previously I could never do. I still get the odd bad day but this is rare (once, maybe twice a month).
I have put two stone on but I'm unsure if that's because of the tablets or me recently hitting 40. I understand different people have completely different cases but I can honestly say it's given me a new lease of life and one I never thought would be possible.
Review by Michelle
I have suffered from IBS for about 12 years (I'm now 31). My symptoms included daily bouts of diarrhea about one hour after breakfast (making my commute very difficult - I had to skip breakfast until I reached the office), with tummy cramps in the evening and constipation lasting up to six days about once every two months.
Five years ago I moved to the USA where my doctor recommended Citrucel, a methylcellulose bulk-forming laxative, to be taken each morning before eating. In the USA it is available either in pill form (like Celevac) or in powder form, mixing a tablespoon with a glass of water. I don't think I exaggerate when I say my life was transformed!
I've now moved back to the UK and will be taking Celevac. I have to say that I found the powder more effective than the pills (except the powder which was mixed with artificial sweetener instead of sugar), but always carried pills when traveling, for ease of use. I don't think it is available in powder form in the UK, but I'd be very interested to hear if it is.
I agree with Clive (below): the cramps definitely come back if I've run out of the pills on holiday. However, unlike Clive, I intend to go on using methylcellulose (my doctor is happy with this) because the symptoms were pretty bad before I started using it.
Review by Clive 
I have had gut problems for a long time. Recently these changed to a more standard IBS form and Celevac was recommended to me. My main problem is diarrhea and long bowel movements with lots of cramping. Initially the Celevac results were dramatic. The amount of time spent on the toilet reduced dramatically and I felt as though I had found a miracle cure.
My happiness was short-lived however. Over about six months all my old symptoms returned. The problem now was that I had to take the Celevac even to keep to old levels of discomfort. If I forgot to take my Celevac, ran out on holiday, etc I became far worse than I was before taking them. I intend to slowly stop taking them and hope I can get back to a situation where I don't feel the need to take them. So my experience is that they helped in the short term, but not for long!
Do you suffer from IBS? Have you tried Celevac? Please contact Sophie to send in your review.