Diseases and Conditions

Dumping syndrome

Treatment

Early dumping syndrome is likely to resolve on its own within three months. In the meantime, there's a good chance that diet changes will ease your symptoms. If not, your doctor may recommend medications or surgery.

Medications

For people with severe signs and symptoms unrelieved by dietary changes, doctors sometimes prescribe octreotide (Sandostatin). This anti-diarrheal drug, administered by injection under your skin, can slow the emptying of food into the intestine. Possible side effects include nausea, vomiting and stomach upset.

Talk with your doctor about the proper way to self-administer the drug.

Surgery

Doctors use a number of surgical procedures to treat people who have dumping syndrome that doesn't respond to more conservative approaches. Most of these operations are reconstructive techniques, such as reconstructing the pylorus, or they're intended to reverse gastric bypass surgery.

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