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Treatments and drugs
By Mayo Clinic staffMost cases of dumping syndrome improve as people learn to eat better for the condition and as the digestive system adjusts. There's a good chance that changing your diet will resolve your symptoms. But if it doesn't, your doctor may advise medications or surgery to slow the emptying of your stomach's contents.
Medications
Your doctor may prescribe certain medications to slow the passage of food out of your stomach, and relieve the signs and symptoms associated with dumping syndrome. These drugs are most appropriate for people with severe signs and symptoms, and they don't work for everyone.
The medications that doctors most frequently prescribe are:
- Acarbose (Precose). This medication delays the digestion of carbohydrates. Doctors prescribe it most often for the management of type 2 diabetes, and it has also been found to be effective in people with late-onset dumping syndrome. Side effects may include sweating, headaches, sudden hunger and weakness.
- Octreotide (Sandostatin). This anti-diarrheal drug can slow down the emptying of food into the intestine. You take this drug by injecting it under your skin (subcutaneously). Be sure to talk with your doctor about the proper way to self-administer the drug, including optimal choices for injection sites. Long-acting formulations of this medication are available. Because octreotide carries the risk of side effects (diarrhea, bulky stools, gallstones, flatulence, bloating) in some people, doctors recommend it only for people who haven't responded to other treatments.
Surgery
Doctors use a number of surgical procedures to treat cases of dumping syndrome that are resistant 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.
- Rapid gastric emptying. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/rapidgastricemptying/. Accessed Feb. 18, 2010.
- Tack J, et al. Pathophysiology, diagnosis and management of postoperative dumping syndrome. Nature Reviews Gastroenterology and Hepatology. 2009;6:583.
- Mun EC, et al. Complications of bariatric surgery. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Feb. 22, 2010.
- Mun EC, et al. Medical management of patients after bariatric surgery. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Feb. 22, 2010.
- Deitel, M. The change in the dumping syndrome concept. Obesity Surgery. 2008;18:1622.
- Hejazi RA, et al. Dumping syndrome: Establishing criteria for diagnosis and identifying new etiologies. Digestive Diseases and Sciences. 2010;55:117.
- Dumping syndrome. University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. http://www.uwhealth.org/healthfacts/B_EXTRANET_HEALTH_INFORMATION-FlexMember-Show_Public_HFFY_1104449365863.html. Accessed Feb. 27, 2010.
- Pectin. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://www.naturaldatabase.com. Accessed Feb. 27, 2010.
- Guar gum. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://www.naturaldatabase.com. Accessed Feb. 27, 2010.
- Black psyllium. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://www.naturaldatabase.com. Accessed Feb. 27, 2010.
- Blond psyllium. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://www.naturaldatabase.com. Accessed Feb. 27, 2010.
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