I am a 28 year old female who prior to about 1 1/2 years ago, had absolutely no medical issues, let alone GI issues, to speak of. I'll also say there are no GI issues in my family history, with the exception of my brother who developed ulcerative colitis around the same time I started having constipation issues. All of a sudden I went from having regular bowel movements to having 1 every few days. I would take laxatives and it would still not help and would cause a great deal of pain in my stomach. MY PCP said increase fiber,exercise,miralax,etc. I followed those instruction and still no change in bowel habits. In fact, miralax makes my abdominal pain much worse than if I do not use it. I saw a GI specialist who said the same thing and then put me on bentyl (which I later found out through my current GI doc was probably making my abdominal pain worse). I came back to that GI doc after finishing the bentyl with no improvements and was put on linzess. Still no change in bowel movements after 2 months of being on linzess. I did not appreciate how this GI doctor never listened to what I had to say so I switched to a female (who I thought may be more sympathetic and compassionate to another female) GI doctor. I repeated the history of my constipation/IBS issue and was prescribed amitiza (take 2x a day 8mcg each dosing). I began having bowel movements every other day-however I still had to use at least 4 suppositories each day to make a bowel movement occur. I went back for my follow up appointment and reiterated that I still constantly feel like there is a knot in my stomach or a pile of bricks building up in my stomach sometimes making it difficult to breathe. She told me I could take 3 a day (24 mcg) which I began to do. I now have a bowel movement daily but it varies to whether it is liquid or solid or pellets and sometimes it is next to nothing coming out. Also the issue(s) with my insurance is 1. the maximum they will cover is 2 a day 2. I have a $3500.00 deductible and the monthly quantity of 60 (for 2 a day) costs me $286.00 out of pocket each month (and that is after the discount coupon I printed out online) 3. Since 3 a day is the only way I can have bowel movements, I am running out much sooner than my insurance will allow the medication to be filled. Even with 3 a day, I still need to wake up 1 hour than I would have to otherwise for work just so I have enough time to use the now 3 suppositories I need per day to have a bowel movement in the morning. I am in a great amount of pain everyday still-I am constantly bloated with cramps (is this an amitiza side effect?), my stomach is constantly making "squishy" , gurggling sounding noises even when I have not eaten recently, It is extrememly painful to sit (which is becoming increasingly difficult because I have a desk job), and I can constantly feel things 'popping" in my stomach (again side effect of amitiza?). I always with no exceptions feel like I am not emptying myself completely. I have heard of people combining linzess and amitiza -can anyone tell me if they think this will help me since I cannot continue to take 24mcg a day due to insurance and furthermore even taking 24 mcg a day is not making anything more comfortable to me-the only thing it does is create a bowel movement but does not relieve any of the bloating,"popping" in my stomach, cramping,etc. I'd also like to add I have had multiple X-rays,ultrasounds, and scans-all I have been told is "all thye reveal is a lot of gas and stool). I should also additionally add since beginning the amitiza I have a real issue with gas-I am constantly emitting gas and the whole reason my GI doctor told me I could take 3 was because maybe it would help relieve the extra gas I was experiencing however I feel it may be worse at 24mcg than 16 mcg). Also, I have gone to the ER on 4 separate occassions due to the intense abdominal pain and have consistently been told "there is nothing they can do for me-all of my x-rays only show gas and stool). I have had a colonoscopy too where polyps were removed but I was told that they would not have been the cause of my IBS and I think that is accurate because I still have the symptoms and they are worse after the polyps were removed. I am really at my wits end and hope someone can offer some type of advice to improve my quality of life-I don't know how much longer I can go on like this. I am so desperate, please any advice (even if not directly an answer to my question) would be appreciated.
Amitiza not really working - any advice or suggestions?
Question posted by lhoover1985 on 6 May 2014
Last updated on 17 July 2023
14 Answers
Try fleet enemas
I am in the same boat as you guys. I’ve been on Amitiza for years. It has always been unpredictable but acceptable. Until almost a year ago. It no longer seems to be working. Doctor doubled my dosage about 2 weeks ago so I’m currently taking 2 24 mg capsules a day plus one dose of Miralax. I use a suppository almost every day. I’m more bloated than ever. My diagnosis is a loopy colon. In other words, from years of constipation my colon has been stretched out making it difficult to empty. I have also tried Linzess and it did nothing for me. I was told years ago that the doctor is out of options for me. I need to self discipline and try to force down more water each day and give that a try. As one person said, I’m thinking it’s neurological.
Did you ever find an answer to your problem? Did a doctor ever find out what was actually causing this? I am in the same exact situation. All tests, colonoscopy, ct scan xrays, say that I’m perfectly fine just constantly full of stool. Stomach makes gurgling/squishy noises constantly. I always have a tightness in my side and lower back even when I was completely empty before the colonoscopy. Nothing helps. Linzess seems to give random BMs but they are never consistent. Some watery, pebbles or solid. And the tightness in my side never goes away. Amitiza hasn’t seemed to do anything as I’m just getting more backed up and bloated. MiraLax, nothing. Doctor thinks it’s SIBO and I took the antibiotic xiflaxan or whatever it’s called along with doing a low FODMAP diet. Nothing changed. Absolutely no effect. Cut out gluten and diary, nothing. I’m losing weight being on the strict diet but nothing helps the cramping, constipation and bloating.
I’m at my wits end. Is this something I just have to deal with the rest of my life?? This is no way to live. M 30
My heart goes out to you, I am at my wits end also I have been hospitalized for the constipation and had emergency surgery because I got sepsis, Linzess did nothing for me and I have been on amitiza for 1 day, and I'm worried it won't work either, can you or anyone suggest something? I am also on movantik and drink go-lytly to have a bowel movement
I too tried linzess and Amitiza but the side effects out far weighed the drugs purpose! My problem was gas and constipation which runs in my family.I too had a colonoscopy and they removed a small polyp. Amitiza and Linzess made me feel nauseous all the time and cramping.I began to loose some weight because with IBS there are some foods I just can't eat anymore! And over the counter laxative make you feel the same way! I would suggest like myself just watch what you eat and what's on the low FODMAP and see if that help! I miss a lots of foods that I use to enjoy but my stomach will not tolerate them now. There is no cure for IBS and there are millions of people young and old that suffer with it every day.I think the research should focus more on the nerves in the upper GI system and how to relax them so they can respond back to the brain signals and cause the food to digest into the colon to turn into waiste.I belief it is a nerve problem instead of a food related problem.
I know this is an old post, but I take Movantik. I have gastrointestinal issues, and I’m a chronic pain patient. It works, because it goes straight to your stomach, as opposed to others.
Good luck, warm vibrations and many blessings to an end to your pain and discomfort.
Movantik does not work for me, i guess it's not for everyone
OMG... your symptoms are mine about 5 years ago; constipation, gurgling and what felt like hunger pangs. Without going into great detail, I began drinking lots of teas like chamomile, ginger & turmeric. My morning ritual is half of a fresh squeezed lemon juice and a teaspoon of ground ginger with boiling water. The Amitiza sort of settles my stomach but I do get various forms of BM's... never diareah. This is my second month and I reduced the dosage to one a day WITH my meal. I also have low iron and anemia, and at times I feel dizzy and a sense to have a movement. That part is annoying. Wish I had more info for you.
I feel bad for you... i am 57 and have the same exact symptoms..all the tests didn't show anything until I had a pelvic dynamic MRI with contrast. I have a rectocele... very common. Get an MRI somehow xrays do not show these problems and see a female urogyocologist .
My heart goes out to you sweetheart. I'm a 56 year old woman who has suffered your symptoms since childhood. Intermittently, I give up. Periodically, I seek out treatment - never successfully. I've been insulted by non-caring MDs and was one actually thrown out of a GI's office because I dared to express anger and disappointment in his clearly expressed lack of professionalism. (I guess you can't even pay to disagree with some physicians.) I've investigated the best GIs in my home city lately. I'm making an appointment with one tomorrow. If she is unable to help me I think I am going to start to investigate non-traditional therapy. (Oil enemas anyone... ayurvedics is an ancient Indian form of medicine that is supposed to be very effective. Food allergies? Maybe... ) I
will keep you updated and I will watch this thread closely to follow your experience. I hope you find relief. (I found Amitiza and Linzess to be completely unpredictable. Who needs to take a medication that may work, may not work or may cause you to have an embarrassing episode of diarrhea?)
I need in this one! I'm 43. Had gallbladder removal Feb 28 2017 and PURE HELL SINCE. All those symptoms and more! Amitiza, Linzess, castor oil, mag citrate (too many bottles to count), Miralax and God knows what else! GO doctor won't see me and has it where NO other GI doctors around here will see me because "They don't step on each other's toes." The doctor hurt me in May when I had 4 day hospital visit. I woke up during EGD and they held me down. They hurt me! He's worried ( No BAPTIST CORPORATION) is worried I'm going to sue. I'm not. I just want/NEED a new doctor and they are just hoping I die I think. I'm lost afraid and can't go, but all I hear is "You're really full, we'll keep trying from my PCP." At least he tries.
Hi! Similar symptoms here... same experience with docs. Did you find anything to work? Blessings..
I know this post is old but I had to reply. Why doesn't your doctor give you 1 pill 24mcg twice a day your insurance would cover that and I believe it would help with gas and bloating at least it did with me. 24mcg was getting it moving but not fast enough to stop the gas and bloating I started taking twice a day big difference. Not much out there for constipation. I'm a truck driver not much exercise got me where I'm at. Please try what I said for at least 2 months you should see a difference. Good luck and God bless.
I would lightly recommend that you try colon hydrotherapy. It was probably the best thing I've ever done for myself. At the very least it will help you completely empty your colon without all the harmful medications.
My experience is this-if it helps you: there is a 24 mcg pill for Amitiza which will be one dose daily, you will need a new prescription. I have to have at least 72 ounces of water a day-I stopped all soda pop and limit coffee to 2 cups with 1 cup of decaf. I walk 2 to 3 miles at least 3-4 times a week. I use Amitiza 4 days and Miralax 3 days inbetween. Any changes and it takes a week or more to get back to "regular" pattern. Have recently been given Linzess, I use it like I did the Amitiza and it seems to work. I also started a food diary to see if specific foods made things worse (for me high fiber created more difficulty). I also recently had a colonoscopy to remove a polyp. Good luck I have been at it for years to get to this point (the hardest was finding a good doctor with patience to listen).
Sorry, I see you tried Linzess. I would suggest you see an allergist. Obviously you don't have constipation caused by any medical issues - and with all the gas - I think of allergies. To start, I would go off all gluten. You might just be surprised how much gluten can affect people , due to the genetically modified grains. And the good news is that there now are a lot of alternatives to gluten, so you can still make the foods you love. Google "allergy free diet" to see what other foods to eliminate to see if an allergy could be the cause. Of course, this route is only if your GI doctor decides there is no blockage, etc causing this program. Regards - EJ23
You might want to try Linzess. It's new, and specifically for constipation. The GI doctors are all excited about it! See your GI doctor, or maybe even your primary care doctor could prescribe it. Take care! EJ23
She said she had already tried it. Some people just like to see their advice in print without reading what they are commenting on... She's looking for help and this is what she gets... Geez
Related topics
amitiza, constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, constipation - chronic, medical, female, family
Further information
- Amitiza uses and safety info
- Amitiza prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Amitiza (detailed)
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