Eluxadoline for Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Diarrhea User Reviews (Page 5)

• Hop...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 11, 2017

"I have had IBS-D for 37 years, which has made it impossible to hold down a job for long periods of time. I get a job and work as long as possible, when they get tired of a sick employee, then I have to look for another. Today is my first day of taking 100 mg bid. Within 15 minutes, I get a warm sensation like I just got IV contrast, body aches and chest pain, then followed by numbness. 1st day in years I have been even normal. Concerned about some of the reviews, but the others make me hopeful. Praying this works for me. Good luck, everyone, it is a depressing/exhausting diagnosis, which nobody can understand if they don't have it. Oh, they have savings cards now for those who said it was $$$$."

• Bon...
• April 18, 2017

"Actually, it slows it down. But after a year on it, I was in the ER three times with pain in the upper GI tract. I guess my liver didn't like it, and I got drug-induced hepatitis. Quit taking it, slowed down on sodium intake. Processed foods. Watch diet. That's it."

• Spe...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 2, 2017

"I had to take Imodium daily in order to fend off diarrhea and the constant bathroom breaks. It has impacted every aspect of my life. I was afraid to eat when a bathroom wasn't readily available. As I grew older, the condition became worse. I would eat and have to go immediately. A normal day out with the wife and kids stopping for lunch would create a great deal of anxiety. Should I eat, can I eat, and would I make it to a bathroom on time? My working career took into account how accessible bathroom facilities were. Viberzi worked to end diarrhea and has limited my bathroom calls. However, I get extremely tired 15 minutes after taking the dosage and remain so all day. Dry mouth and gas are also a problem. The price cost is $18 a pill."

• The...
• October 11, 2016

"I'm giving this medicine a 9 out of 10. And if it wasn't for the severe stomach pain, I would give it a 10. For the past seven years, I have experienced IBS-D. In the past 5 years, it has gotten so bad where I choose to stay home rather than face the consequences that come with traveling outside of my home. I have had my gallbladder checked, a colonoscopy, an UGI (scope), biopsies, ultrasound, CAT scan, and numerous blood work tests for parasites, not to mention all of the embarrassing stool samples given throughout the years. It's safe to say it's been a dark road with no light at the end. This medicine makes it a little better and manageable. Hoping the cramps will stop."

• Kri...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 7, 2016

"After having my gallbladder removed 2 years ago, I have been battling IBS-D. I have been on Welchol for about 2 years, and it's okay, not great, but okay. I was taking 1 a day, but I think it needs to be upped to 2. My doctor gave me Viberzi to try, I put it off for a while, then finally took it. Days 1-2 were great. Days 3-4 went downhill fast. By day 5, I was staying within 5 feet of the bathroom. I didn't realize one of the side effects was dizziness (since I have vertigo, I figured my allergies were acting up), weakness, and major gas. I had to stop taking it so I could actually go to work. I think I'll buy stock in Imodium. I am very disappointed this didn't work, so many people worse off than I am did well on it. It's so frustrating."

• che...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 13, 2019

"Though the drug stopped the issue of me going to the bathroom 8 times a day, the negative or side effect is that it gave me constipation, and I would bleed each time I wiped. For this, I stopped using the drug, and I was only taking 75 mg a day."

• Joy...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 4, 2017

"Went to my doctor in tears, diarrhea was so bad, it was up to 30 or more times a day. Stomach pain, everything I ate made me sick. My doctor gave me the FODMAP diet to follow and to go gluten-free, he also prescribed Viberzi. I took the first tablet that evening (100 mg) twice a day. In less than 24 hours, my diarrhea had stopped and the pain was gone. I feel strictly following the FODMAP diet along with Viberzi did the trick. I've been taking Viberzi for a month and a half. I had one bout of severe diarrhea when I ate a biscuit, and boy did I feel the pain. It took 24 hours for it to stop. I'm one of those people who just can't eat gluten."

• Tri...
• December 2, 2016

"Viberzi stopped my constant diarrhea. I have suffered from this for 7 years, since colon cancer, chemo, radiation, and surgery with resection. I have diarrhea at least 3-4 times a week, and it lasts for hours. I am exhausted by it, forced to stay inside and suffer from dehydration often. Viberzi stopped all of this, but I was unable to function in my daily routines. I became exhausted, tired, and slept most of the day. If I didn't lay down, I was extremely dizzy and nauseous. My health insurance refused to stock Viberzi, as the cost was $1,000 per month and, of course, prohibitive for me. Being on Medicare with drug coverage makes me ineligible for any discount coupons."

• Bar...
• November 18, 2016

"Glad to find this forum. I have long stretches with constipation and then explosions, no control and very embarrassing 'accidents.' At my wit's end, my doc is great about letting me try new meds, so I've just started this one. Also started a new probiotic--previously, a probiotic made a big difference, and I hadn't had the accidents until recently. Two episodes this week alone. I understand why people stay home, because I work, and it's not functional to have to change my clothes and clean the restroom on the job. I've started keeping a change of clothes in the car. I will come back here and report on the outcomes of taking Viberzi."

• Wil...
• December 8, 2016

"This drug has worked tremendously for me. I take it 2x a day with food, and it has almost ended my rushing to the bathroom. I can go about my life without always knowing where the bathroom is. It has some bloating and gas side effects, but it cut my IBS-D down to shreds. I used to go 8-10 times a day, and now I have a much more normal schedule. Cannot praise this drug enough!"

• alt...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 11, 2019

"I have been dealing with IBS-D for 8 years. It has not been so severe that I couldn't work or go out, but I always carried toilet paper with me, especially on walks. Viberzi 100 mg only once every other day has been a miracle! I no longer feel like I can't control what's coming, and the severe cramping I would have is gone! I have not had side effects that I am aware of as I take it at night after dinner instead of in the morning after breakfast. I did try to drop down to 75 mg, and the cramping became so severe that I ended up in the ER thinking I had appendicitis after just two 75 mg doses. Back on 100 mg and doing just fine. So far, just taking samples, waiting for insurance to approve it."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 22, 2017

"4 months with Viberzi, and I am really happy. I just feel bad sometimes when I eat too much junk food, but it's nothing compared to before. For me, it's very helpful, no side effects at all, just the first days."

• SRi...
• March 6, 2017

"For me, this medication did absolutely nothing. Went back to my usual 2 daily Imodium after one miserable week of 'going' almost nonstop. BUT even though it was useless for me, I say try it out, we are all different. Best wishes to us all."

• NCM...
• August 28, 2016

"I got Viberzi and took 2 pills a day, 75 mg. I took them for 2 weeks and had to stop. I couldn't have a bowel movement. I woke up one Sunday morning at 4 a.m., and my stomach felt like a volcano. Finally, I had a bowel movement, and it felt like I lost 20 pounds. It didn't work for me because you cannot go that long without a bowel movement. I got this medicine for IBS and diarrhea. It stopped the diarrhea and stopped all bowel movements. I literally thought I was going to die because my stomach was hurting so bad. I was hoping this medicine would work, but it didn't."

• Sar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 4, 2019

"I've had IBS-D for a little over a year after taking antibiotics for a sore throat. Went to a colon doc and even had a colonoscopy, everything checked out okay. I've been using Imodium without much success, so my PCP RX'd 75mg Viberzi 2X a day. The first few days it worked somewhat, I had solid stool followed by a little soft. After a few days, I went back to diarrhea. I even tried to increase my dosage by taking 1.5 pills twice a day. Absolutely no difference. My doc said treating IBS is by trial and error, so I'm curious to see what she will have me try next. What is so unbelievable to me is the cost of this drug. Narcotic pain pills, which Viberzi mimics the side effect of constipation, are pennies compared to the outrageous charge for this drug!"

• Gab...
• September 28, 2016

"I have been dealing with IBS-D since I was about 13 years old - I am now 25. The uncontrollable cramping and diarrhea gave me no quality of life. I wouldn't leave my house or do anything. What kind of life is that for a young adult? Back in December 2015, my doctor told me about Viberzi. This has been a GODSEND medicine. I have my life back!! The second week I started taking it, though, I woke up in excruciating pain. I went to the ER, and I had a spasm of the sphincter of Oddi. I stopped Viberzi for a few days, then went on the 75 mg, and I take it once a day. I FINALLY can live a normal life and not worry every 5 seconds about where the bathroom is."

• GIm...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 30, 2016

"As of today, I can safely say that Viberzi has totally stopped working. I'm going back on two weeks of Xifaxan generic (rifaximin) 550 mg three times a day. It has not been easy with Viberzi, as others on here have said... I had incredibly painful cramps at first. The gastro said it'd be OK to experiment with dosage. I eventually got to a good place of 100 mg in the morning and 50 mg at night. It mostly worked for two months, but now it's done. So I'm sad. I hope the rifaximin will work now that I have been off of it for several months."

• 64r...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 11, 2017

"I'm baffled by reports of this not working. I tried Xifaxin and was flushed out for 10 days, worse than before. Then, on the first day of taking Viberzi, it stopped (35 yrs IBS-D tried everything & only Lotrexone worked prior to black box). It worked with the FIRST pill for me. I might suggest doing as I did, which was starting on 75 mg 2x a day, then on the 2nd week to 100 mg 2/day. I also did extensive research, and while I can eat whatever I want, one MUST not drink, and if you do, maybe 1 beer or 1 wine once or twice a week due to liver enzyme and prostate side effect possibility, so NOT for heavy drinkers! That said, I have been on it for 3 months now and have had JUST TWO upset stomachs. THIS IS NORMAL & I'm glad that Rx allows bad food or virus to come through. VIBERZI #1!"

• Fox...
• February 6, 2017

"After being on Viberzi for less than a week, I became suddenly stricken with severe abdominal pain and vomiting. My husband called an ambulance, and I don't even remember getting to the hospital. I came to 2 days later and was told I went into a coma in the ICU and my organs were shutting down. My doctor told me I came within minutes of dying, then just turned around and came back to the land of the living. I have absolutely no memory of any of it."

• Jma...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 5, 2020

"I've had ulcerative colitis for almost 20 years now. Attacks can be really bad for me, even dangerous sometimes, landing me in the hospital. Though my attacks only happen 2-4 times a year, they will put me on my back for 1-2 weeks. My doctor prescribed Viberzi. The first attack I felt come on, I took a 70 mg pill, and it stopped the attack entirely. I was so grateful. It prevented me from having any bouts for about a year and a half. The last 3 times, it hasn't prevented the attack from happening, but it's made recovery time 2-3 days instead of 7-10 and eliminated the intense pain I used to have. The only hesitation I have is knowing about the side effects. I worry about stuff like that. But I haven't had any that I've noticed. It's been a life changer for me, too! I actually carry a little vial with an emergency pill in it, so it's always on me."

• Wan...
• September 5, 2016

"I have suffered with IBS-D for about 4 years. Finally, in July, I had had it. I was starting to avoid activities or road trips as I was terrified of having an accident. Many times, I did. My doctor prescribed Viberzi, and right off, I had a reaction, so I cut it down to one pill a day. It was a dream come true. I felt normal. 3 days ago, my diarrhea was back, so I kicked it up to 2 pills a day. I'm hoping the drug will continue to work for me. I was at my wits' end."

• Nad...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 15, 2018

"Having tried almost everything in the past year with no success, I was not excited about trying another medication. I prefer holistic methods. However, when I take Viberzi, it is highly effective. It stops the worst part — the cramps — and also solidifies my bowel movements. I only take half or a quarter of the 100 mg as needed. I tend to need it less and less except when I’m having my monthly cycle — there is a connection there with my IBS-D. At that time, I need half a pill a day."

• Lit...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 18, 2016

"I was given the drug last Wednesday and started it Thursday morning. Things were fine that day. I woke up Friday morning in a lot of muscle pain, thought it was from my sleep. I took my morning pill and went through my day feeling very sorry my abdomen started getting tighter all day. I felt sick and couldn't even eat dinner. The rest of the night, I was in pain, vomiting, and never had a bowel movement that day. This is the fourth day, and I have diarrhea and very little appetite. I, of course, did not continue the medicine after Friday morning."

• CC3...
• July 7, 2016

"I've got a really great relationship with my GI, and I wanted to share what he told me since I've had a life-changing experience with Viberzi! 1 - there are drugs it interacts with that would mean you need to be careful, not take them together, or take a lower dose of Viberzi than the regular recommendation. I think they are mostly antibacterial meds, it's listed in the drug info, but I think a lot of people overlook that. 2 - you can't drink alcohol! I haven't had a drink in 15 years because it affects my BMs, but the drug states you should not drink while taking it. 3 - copay card is a must! It makes the drug $30, and when my insurance denied it because it was new, the company paid for the drug for me, and it paid off my deductible. Thank you!"

• ALT...
• September 30, 2016

"Female over 30 here. I have had IBS-D for about 3 years since I had my gallbladder removed. I've only been taking Viberzi for a couple of days so far, and while I started getting abdominal cramps day two, they're not awful and something I hope will not get worse, but I'm having maybe 2 BM's a day and not running to the toilet every time food touches my lips. It's such a relief to not have bathroom issues every time I eat anything. I'm praying this keeps working and the cramps go away with time."