Has anyone tried Symprove?

If so, how did you get on with it? Any improvement? Did you experience any side effects?

Also - it's recommended you try it for 90 days. Can anyone say what happened with their symptoms after the 90 days?

Thanks

FF x

[Hidden]

controlled-trials.com/ISRCT...

learnaboutprobiotics.org/ht...

symprove.com/

Hi Osborne - some links above - I read about it recently in the press. It's been tested at King's College and the second round of clinical trials is ongoing, but it's available to purchase now, though it's not cheap. Depending on your body weight (you take 10ml for every 1kg weight, so 50ml per day if you weigh 50kg) it works out about £45-50 per month. Many people on the trials have apparently reported significant improvement in symptoms, which I believe is one reason why King's made the results available early.

This is what I've been able to find out so far but maybe someone else will know more.

FF x

[foxkennedy21]

Eh what's that? Never heard of it but has anyone heard of the new diet which works on Barley, interesting idea, no good for me pulse and bean allergy!

[Hidden]

I've bought 3 months' supply for my daughter who has severe IBS and has tried everything else. She's only been taking it 3 days. No side effects (yet) anyway and from the positive reports in the press I am really hoping, fingers crossed, she will see an improvement soon

Will keep you posted! x

[kiwimiwi]

I have moderate-severe IBS-D and I took part in the initial trial (I was 19yo). Personally it did not work for me at all, not one single thing improved. I was told I was on the Symprove and not the placebo at the end of the trial and was really disheartened by the news as all avenues for substantial help had been exhausted. I'd tried everything Dr Bjarnason at King's had recommended, which was why I was offered the trial. I have additional stomach problems and PCOS in addition to my IBS and according to him, these seem go hand in hand in females for some reason.

I was then told that the result at the time was that it didn't work very well or at all for 1 in 3 people but for the other 2 out of 3 it worked brilliantly, either reducing their symptoms substantially or to a point where they could function much better!

I'd second the recommendation of trying it out for three months. You need to take it for this long to see any improvement generally but I was told that some of the people it worked for saw improvements after one or two months for some of their symptoms. I suffered no ill effects whatsoever from trying it for the duration of the trial, it made none of my symptoms worse and it's a positive now that it's flavoured! I was told there was no flavouring added in the trial because it made the placebo and Symprove taste completely different and what I drank tasted like gone off tuna water!!

It didn't help me, but there's twice the amount of people benefiting from it than not. Good luck to your daughter and I really hope it works!! x

[LFHell in reply to kiwimiwi]

Do they know which type of people it helped?

[Hidden]

dear kiwimiwi

thanks so much for your response, exactly the information I was hoping for, ie the experience of someone on the trial. I'm so sorry it didn't help you at all, especially if you've tried everything else. Disheartening is an understatement I expect! Daughter has the diarrhoea form too (tho not PCOS) and finds it very difficult to manage, especially as her job is quite stressful and involves travel, conferences, "team bonding" sessions etc etc. She has tried everything but finds the best regime for her is a simple combo of daily immodium + amitryptiline, increased when necessary. But this only works cos she eats a very restricted diet and only drinks water. She's been told not to "pander to" her bowel but that's all very well when so many foods send her rushing to the loo, and she always has to know where the nearest one is.

I do hope you find something that helps you. I know stress is a definite trigger for my daughter but it's unavoidable in these hectic times. It's a horrible condition for a fastidious young person to cope with. People can be very insensitive too, constantly asking why she can't eat x or y and pressing alcohol on her, she finds that quite annoying as she'd love to but just can't.

I read a report that simple charcoal is now available in capsule form & has worked for some people, tho daughter hasn't tried it yet. I know it's a very old remedy but sometimes these things do work. Believe it or not it's a horse feed supplier which makes the capsules which I'm giving you the link for on the basis that anything is worth a try! finefettlefeed.com/our-spec...

best of luck to you

love, FF x

[LFHell in reply to Hidden]

Tell her to try Diclofor LGG probiotic on Amazon. I think it gave me C but it could be my dairy free-ish diet also. But it seemed to start 1 month into probiotic. I was also D before. So may help her and only needed to take for 1 month!

[Antand]

Yes...after reading about the trials I took Symprove for about a month. Made no difference to me and it's expensive. But presumably it was helpful to some.

[maria12]

My husband has been on Symprove for 3 weeks and noticed an improvement in his symptoms after 3-4 days and is now stable and functioning normally. He has had IBS for 30 years and is usually reasonably well controlled with a very strict low fibre diet and other probiotics. He is now able to eat a much more varied, normal diet and has remained symptom free. Although it is expensive he intends to complete the course of 12/13 weeks in an attempt to completely reset his gut bacteria and go into remission, as the symprove makers have stated happens with the majority of ibs sufferers on their research project.

[LFHell in reply to maria12]

How long do they recommend taking it for? Can they stop when gut bacteria is reset? And what type of IBS/issues did he have?

[Hidden]

That's great maria, I'm thrilled for him (and you). Unfortunately, after a very short-lived initial improvement, my daughter gave up on it after 10 weeks as it just wasn't helping at all. But it's fantastic that it's worked for your husband and so many others, it must be a great relief and so nice to be able to actually enjoy food again.

FF x

[Starlitte]

I have never heard of Symprove until joining and reading this forumn but then I don't read newspapers. I have tried some aspects of the FODMAP diet but find it difficult to follow but I will try the Symprove as it would be nice to eat a wider range of foods. I can see that it doesn't work for everyone but fingers crossed. Its very expensive though so hope see result early on.

Great to hear all the comments so I know I am not alone. Big hug to you all x.

[Hidden]

I have had IBS for the last 5 years or so... I got to the point where bloating and constant stomach discomfort and grumbling was keeping me up at night. I tried every other probiotic on the market as well as numerous diets which had very little effect on the condition. I found Symprove mentioned in an IBS forum 4 months ago and decided to try it. I was absolutely staggered at the effect I got after taking it. I took it in the morning and by that afternoon I knew that I was onto something. It is not a cure all but it has reduced my symptoms by 90% which is an extraordinary relief and I can honestly say it is a life changer. I am left with a bit of bloating (vastly less than I had) and the occasional loose stool. I would not hesitate if you are thinking of trying it. You have to give it a go for at least 12 weeks for the bacterial colonies to get back to a healthy state.

[Alaaaa in reply to Hidden]

Sounds like an ad!

[LFHell in reply to Hidden]

What type of IBS issues did you have?

[Pierre567]

For those who have taken it and work what was symptoms before and after they have taken it

[Jenny3267]

I tried it and I believe it made me very ill and possibly gave me SIBO. I am now in extremely poor health. Before it I had my ibs under reasonable control. Wish I had never gone near symprove.

[LFHell in reply to Jenny3267]

oh no. What type of IBS did you have?

[Jenny3267]

It was IBS-D and after taking Symprove it became much worse. Nothing else had changed in my diet or life at all.