Vaginal Valium Suppositories Made With Glycerin

[icnmgrjill]

This is not an immediate concern here in the USA but it's worth being aware of... particularly for those of you getting compounded suppositories, including: vaginal valium, boric acid suppositories, etc. etc. Also, this is a perfect example of why buying from a foreign pharmacy online can be so dangerous. Just FYI! - Jill

FDA warned pharmaceutical manufacturers, suppliers, drug repackers, and healthcare professionals who compound medications using glycerin of the importance of assuring that the glycerin used is not contaminated with diethylene glycol (DEG), a known poison used in antifreeze and as a solvent. Glycerin is a sweetener commonly used worldwide in liquid over-the-counter and prescription drug products. Although, at the present time, FDA has no reason to believe that the U. S. supply of glycerin is contaminated with DEG, it is aware of reports from other countries over the past several years in which DEG contaminated glycerin has caused human deaths. FDA emphases the importance of testing glycerin for DEG due to the serious nature of this potentially fatal problem.

FDA issued guidance to industry recommending methods of testing glycerin and other controls to identify any contamination with DEG before using glycerin in the manufacture or preparation of pharmaceutical products.

Read the complete 2007 safety summary, including a link to the FDA's News Release regarding this issue at:

http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/safety/2007/safety07.htm#Glycerin

Jill

[glassd18]

Does this include the glycerin they use in capsules for vitamins etc...

[wolfaleena]

thanks for the warning Jill. I use vag valium supp compounded with boric acid as well. they are the only thing that is somewhat helping me . i get them through my healthplan. Should we be concerned if they are being compounded in USA and do you think we should ask about this danger??

[anniepie1976]

Just thought I would add this. There is an interesting article in the ICA update newsletter I recieved today that has a doctor saying we can actually crush the tablets ourselves, then mix the powder in vaseline and insert vaginally. Just thought it was worth mentioning. He also mentioned just inserting the tablet too. Anyone know anything about this?

[wolfaleena]

hi i read the same article in the ica update.
I tried inserting the tablet crushed up (not in vaseline though)
the tablet crushed up didn't work for me... but maybe it will for others.
I didn't try it with vaseline.
I use the compounded vaginal valium mixed with boric acid (for yeast infection)because the constant moisture of the valium suppositiores was giving me a yeast infection. so we killed to birds with one stone (what it that saying a bird in the bush.... no offense anyone)
Anyway the boric acid keeps the vagina ph in check and the valium suppository helps calm down the urgency with me. it gives me a little more time to get to the bathroom with out being completely dying!!
My insurance plan covers the compounded meds so i am very blessed. If my insurance didn't cover them, i would definetly try to crush it up and use the vaseline. valium in the generic form is really cheap, however the suppositories compounded are very expensive if your insurance doesn't cover them..
Good luck to everyone! gottta go:toilet:

[Romans8:28]

I am having mine compounded not with valium but another med. like valium, lorazapn, benadryl and lidocaine. They add a little tea tree oil for me, to prevent yeast infections/ I get these compounded from Dakota pharmacy by Kevin, I don't have insurance and they are not that expensive. They work well and I am so thankful he came up with this combination.

1-800-290-7028

Shelly

[wolfaleena]

hi that sounds like an interesting compound. what is the benadryl do in the suppositiory? thanks

[Kathleen Philli]

I have not heard of this treatment before but it sounds like it might help during a bad flare. Do these make you drowsey? How often and when do you take them? Also, do you know the mgs of Lorazapan,Benedryl and lido?
My uro is not very creative, but is willing to let me try new things. I may ask him to give me an RX. Thanks for your help.

[sphinx]

I was going to ask if other benzos besides valium would work then saw someone else mention Ativan (lorazepam)......how many mg is that? Can xanax be used also?

I am curious, as I'd like to try this, and I think my docs might be more open to a suppository than an oral pill, with all the meds I am on, etc.

[LisaM]

Shelly (Romans 8:28), :hi:

I am so glad you are having sucess with a combination that you and Kevin, the pharmacist, found for you! Yea!

I am glad you brought up the point that they are NOT THAT EXPENSIVE. I told Kevin that I have heard complaints about this and that I find them irritating because they are not that expensive and how can a price be put on relief? We are talking quality of life here folks, yours and the people around you!

Kevin said that they are very time consuming to make because they are made for each individual according to their custom needs. The pharmacy needs to make some kind of profit. Kevin spends so long on the phone talking to patients to learn what will best help them. He does not get paid for all that time and is actually doing what our doctors should be doing but won't. Plus, you should see the way they have to package the temperature sensitive prescriptions for overnight fed-ex delivery, that is also time consuming.

I am really happy because Kevin has developed a real interest in helping us IC patients. The more of us that call and order from him, the more experience he will get with us and the better he will be at helping all of us.

He does a lot of bioidentical hormone prescriptions and is very knowledgeable about that...I get progesterone cream from him too.

As for benadryl, wolfaleena, Kevin told me that it has pain relieving properties (at least that is what I understood him to say).

Again, Shelly, good for you for finding something that helps you!

I live in Minnesota and a doctor here wrote me a prescriptiona and told me to send it to Dakota pharmacy about 15 years ago! So, Kevin has been helping me a long time.

Last year, I paid $7,600.00 for my opiate that was not covered by insurance. Now that is expensive!

www.dakotarx.com

1-800-290-7028

Lisa : )

[LisaM]

Hi Kathleen,

Kevin, Dakota Pharmacy pharmacist owner, told me that for one patient ativan (lorazapam) made her less drowsy than valium. Valium supps can make you drowsy but not nearly like if you take it orally, that is what is one huge benefit to using it vaginally. Your body does adjust and any drowsiness gets better, at least that is my experience.

You can call Kevin and ask him how many mg.s of each so you can tell your doctor what to write on the prescription. Then after you get the prescription, fax or mail it to Kevin. I have asked the ladies at the doctor's office front desk to just fax it for me sometimes.

You can give your doctor Kevin's phone number if he feels more comfortable talking to Kevin about it or maybe ask Kevin to fax or email you or your doctor a sheet with a list of the drugs and the mgs that you are interested in getting a prescription for..

Just some suggestions..hope it was helpful.

(By the way, I read someone say vaseline, I would never put vaseline in my vagina, isn't that like petroleum?? Use K-Y or aloe vera gel or something...)

Lisa :)


I have not heard of this treatment before but it sounds like it might help during a bad flare. Do these make you drowsey? How often and when do you take them? Also, do you know the mgs of Lorazapan,Benedryl and lido?
My uro is not very creative, but is willing to let me try new things. I may ask him to give me an RX. Thanks for your help.

[wolfaleena]

Thanks Lisa M:
I didn't know that benadryl worked on pain as well. Interesting!!!!
My suppostiories are valium mixed with boric acid (prone to yeast infections)
I am very blessed to have insurance to cover them. I use them three times a day ...but i also take oxyocondone liquid for pain. the suppositories give me a little more time in between potty trips, but i still have pain.
Anyone else have any other different compounds with the suppositories.
I have talked to Kevin before on the phone.
He is very very informative. and is very interested i helping IC patients.
He is extremely knowledgable!!
Kudos to Kevin for spending his time talking with us. It was very neat chatting with him!

The nurse practitioner in my uro's practice is very open to working with pharmacists who will compound meds for IC patients.
Thanks for the info Lisa M.
A lot of IC patients are not aware that these options..

[Nonna]

I got an RX for valium suppositories a little more than a year ago from a very good compounding pharmacy. I used them only once a year ago, found them to be messy and just quit. So then I decided to try inserting the valium tablet which my doctor says works just fine but one of the hassles with that is that I only wanted to use non-dye tablets and the only dosage that valium comes in that is dye-free is 2 mg (and most suppository Rx's, like mine, call for 10-20 mgs.), so I was told that I could just go ahead and put in 5 tablets with a bit of KY jelly. Well, I did that 2 days ago and didn't really notice much difference in my comfort level, and 12 hours later a portion of each tablet came out when I went to the bathroom (but at least some had been absorbed). So my latest idea is to crush the tablets (10-12 mg. worth with a mortar and pestle, mix with KY jelly and just insert. I have applicators around from other vaginal Rx's and thought I could fill an applicator. It's kind of a mess but I was thinking that maybe there wouldn't be so much stuff mixed with the valium. I did try using the suppositories again for a 2nd time and they had absolutely no effect at all. My thought was that maybe they were old since compounded medicines don't have any preservatives. Does anyone have any thoughts about all of this. Maybe this idea about crushing them is a crazy idea...but it sure is cheap since generic valium tablets cost very little. Has anyone else used the tablets as is instead of compounding suppositories? Nancy

[wolfaleena]

my nurse practioner suggested putting a cotton ball in vaginal area to keep the suppository for dripping out during the day so that the moisture doesn't cause yeast infection etc.
the suppositories don't have a long shelf life an they must be refrigerated. i have 20 mg of valium in mine.
i tried crushing them up and putting them in a capsule. just didn't have the same effect also tried crushing them up and inserting them and also just using the tablet uncrushed. none of them worked like having the compounded suppository.
However, the cotton ball has helped with the dripping during the day.
Best of luck

[Romans8:28]

Sorry the posts on this never came to my e-mail...,
Kevin is very kind and informative. Each vaginal suppository he makes is basically custom according to your needs. The time he has taken to help me is cheaper than a doctor visit, and often more helpful. He is VERY creative at solving medication issues! (I wish Jill would get him on here for a lecture/question time etc. I think you would all find him interesting. he has alot to give and is so compassionate to us ICer's)
I know he did tell a friend of mine he prefered to actually talk to the doctor but has always been willing to talk to me. Then benadryl is for pain but also because I seem to be very allergic reactive to many things, he felt this would help for me. As I mentioned he adds a few drops of tea tree oil for me to help prevent yeast infections too.

Another option we have talked about is transdermal medications. These he makes can be applied to the skin, and can cause less drowsiness that taking something orally. So that may be a consideration for some.

As far as the suppostories not working it could be many things. Who compounded them, were they preservative free? Do you react to the fillers etc.? Do you need a higher dosage etc.?
That is what I like about the combinations that Kevin uses, they seem to treat your individual needs. I did found nothing was helping me last week...
then realized I have been retaining and my bladder has about shut down.
I can not urinate at all, and am having to cath often. Then I am getting sore, the suppostories did help things settle down enough to go once, but mostly they are helping the soreness.

I was told to lay down for one hour after inserting them. I usually use them before bed.

To me the vaseline would irritate and block the absorbtion of the valium. It blocks your pores etc. that is how it protects agains wetness, so I don't really see how it would be as helpful! But as my doctor says, desperate people will try desperate things..., just don't hurt yourself trying to save a $$$$

Shelly

[LisaM]

Shelley, Thank you so much for your informative posts. I agree with you. Especially about the part about not hurting yourself to save some money. We have enough problems!

Also, I thought the same thing, that it would be great if Kevin could do a guest chat. I actually asked him if he would want to do something like that and he said he would be happy to. I just emailed Jill about it. She gets so many emails, I am not sure if she will read it. If you have time and are up to it, maybe you can give her a call 707-538-9442 and catch her in person, I left her a voice mail message about it a while back but she probably gets so many voice mails I am not sure she can keep up with those either.

I am not sure how Jill manages all she does, she is the most amazing woman I have ever known!!

And yes, as Wolfaleena said, the suppositories do expire because they do not have all the chemical preservatives in them. They probably only last six months or so, I am not sure.

Lisa :hi:

[Romans8:28]

Actually when I spoke to Jill about starting an IC support group in my area, which I am in the process of doing, somehow the formula of vaginal suppositories came up. She was very very positive and ask for his contact info. etc. I also talked to Kevin in advance of sending it and he was very much interested in being more involved with IC patients. I did send it to her but she has not contacted him. I believe that right now with the restructuring of the ICN shop etc. she is just pushed beyond limits and not able to do it all! Hopefully she will be able to get in touch with him soon!

I really can not say enough nice things about him. Even my friend and elderly lady who has trouble feeling comfortable talking to men about these kind of things found him very easy to talk to. She is now using the same formula I am and has not needed her instills for quite some time!

I also gave a patient of Dr. Moldwin the contact info, and encouraged her to share it with him!
I do believe when we have a medical person so willing to help, compassionate and creative, they can be a real asset to the IC community, when need to support them! There are plenty out there that don''t want to help us!

Shelly

PS just so no one wonders if somehow I have any personal interest here. I have never met him and only found out about him through here, and I have no benefits from sharing this info. other then wanted to help other people too!

[lbcharel]

Hi Im charel just new one on the block,just wondered if you take opuim for spasums ,Iv been in bed more than 2 weeks with big pain now I have to go for a exray scared its something wrong with my bladder other then the IC hope you well

[lbcharel]

Hi when I read the bible verse I cryed I havent been to church or anything when my Mom died I have to learn to have faith so thank you for the word

[Romans8:28]

Gald the verse encouarged you, want to help you any way I can! Feel free to pm me!

Welcome!
I have been having some rough bladder issues lately too, first spasms now shutting down. I find the vaginal suppositories really help the spasms.., so does the valium orally or the flexeril. The orals though seem to irritate the inablity to go. For some reason taking AZO keeps things going?

I am getting ready to leave in the next few minutes,and will be gone for a few days. I check back here when I get home.

Shelly

[lbcharel]

hope you get a good rest away,do you ever have problems with constipation I do big time,where do you live I live near Vancouver B.C.

[lbcharel]

Im gone a few days home on sunday need a change

[lbcharel]

Hi how are you feeling now Im still in pain hope you find out why I know its IC but boy does it hurt take care have a good week talk soon

[Romans8:28]

Hey, we just got back late last night. Actually my bladder pain level was good on the trip and I managed to make it with on a few scares with the bladder. Had the kidney side pain off and on but was able to enjoy our vacation... thankfully!
Having more pain today so did an instill etc. I am going for an IVP on Thur.
to check for a stone etc,

I will tell you charel that a couple weeks ago my IC pain was off the charts and nothing seemed to be helping. Thought about going in early to my doctor but at this point I am pretty self equiped and thought there was nothing he could do. Finally decided I better go back to do my MSM instill every other day. Then I realized that I was retaining. aAfter going to the bathroon I cathed off 400cc, the next time I cathed off 300cc. At that point I called the doc etc. and by the end of that day the bladder had shut down completely. For some reason AZO has allowed me to go.., My doctor has no clue why. But several times since had the same reaction.

My IC, right now is actually better then in months.., my doctor feels like a basically gave my self a hydrodestention on accident... (wasn't fun don't try that on purpose!)

MY point is when your IC is suddenly worse, there is usually a reason. First think about food... any new foods lately? Eating more yellow tomatoes that you should? that got me once...

Are you under a lot more stress etc.

If you doctor like mine doesn't do an exam etc. when things are worse,, it might be good to go to another doctor, gyn etc. that would check things out..., very carefully since an exam can make things worse.

IC can be very painful..., but if the pain is worse, it's a good idea to check it out!

What treatments are you using for your IC?

(PS used the vaginal suppostiories and it really helped on the trip. LOng drives are bad for me no matter how good my IC, I used the suppostiories when we had to drive the long distances and it really helped!.., just called and order more. Kevin was gone for a few day by the way and I need them pretty quick but he leaves a copy of the exact formula you use, in your file so any of them can make it..)

Hope things are better soon...,

Shelly

[lbcharel]

Hi Glad you had a good trip thats great just thought I would tell you Im in so much pain the Dr has me on morpine which Im upset about but the pain is so bad dont know what to do when I feel better let you know what Im on what Iv done on med IM off to bed talk when feeling better