Supplement works, side effects don’t

Dear Dr. Roach: I was having lots of arthritis pain in my neck and feet last summer.

Someone recommended turmeric supplements to help. I started taking 600 mg twice a day.

The pain slowly subsided. Needless to say, I was ecstatic. I took it for about a month, then I started getting minor stomach cramping and diarrhea, which would come on suddenly and urgently.

I stopped taking the supplements, and the diarrhea stopped right away. I tried the supplement again but lowered the dosage to a single 600-mg capsule a day. The cramping and diarrhea came back right away.

I have stopped taking the supplements, but now the pain is back, especially in my feet. It is affecting my ability to exercise as I would like.

Is there a form of turmeric that does not cause this side effect? I have tried turmeric tea with the same results. I feel so much better taking the turmeric — except for the dreaded stomach cramping and diarrhea. — R.S.J.

Turmeric does not cause side effects in most people, but when it does, stomach upset, nausea and diarrhea are the most common.

The fact that your symptoms went away when you stopped taking the supplement and returned upon restarting does suggest the symptoms are caused by the supplement.

Curcumin is the active chemical, which can be extracted from the spice turmeric.

You can try taking curcumin itself, which might help.

The dose you are taking is fine for either turmeric or curcumin.

If you are already taking curcumin, you can lower the dose even further. Unfortunately, some people simply will not tolerate it at any dose.