Even though all of us produce gas every day, most of the time this natural process doesn’t cause any undue shame or alarm. When the amount increases to the point that we notice it, however, we start looking for an explanation. That may also happen when it is exceptionally smelly gas.
Tracking the Cause of Smelly Gas:
Keeping a record of what is ingested and how it affects the level of flatulence can be an important part of the detective process. Such a fart chart can help pinpoint foods that may be a problem. In some cases, the culprit may turn out to be a medication or a supplement. That is what this reader discovered:
Q. I had bad smelly gas in December. I noticed it started two weeks earlier when I changed my multivitamin. I quickly threw that one out and went back to my old vitamin. The gas was no longer a problem.
Could the Problem Be Caused by Lactose?
A. Some people are so sensitive to fillers in vitamins or medications that they develop digestive tract upset as a reaction. Lactose (milk sugar) is a common additive in pills. People who are lactose intolerant may react to even small amounts of this compound with gas, bloating and even diarrhea.
We are sending you our Guide to Digestive Disorders, which has detailed instructions on dealing with flatulence, whether it is caused by foods, drugs or dietary supplements. The pharmacist may be able to tell you whether your prescription medicine contains lactose as an “excipient” (filler). For nonprescription medicines, though, your detective work may be more difficult.
