Linaclotide for Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation User Reviews (Page 5)

• Jen...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 2, 2014

"I am 33 and have Irritable Bowel Syndrome-Constipation. My bowels have a great habit of becoming immune to whatever medicines I try, so after Amitiza was my savior, it no longer worked. So my doctor gave me samples of Linzess. I have 2 major IBS problems: constipation and severe bloating/abdominal distension. I am giving Linzess a 7 for the bloating/distension, as that is why my GI doctor gave it to me. As for the constipation, it gave me watery stools for a few days, then stopped working. I've been on it over a month. My side effects are: I have horrid sinus pain and pressure, constant runny nose drip, lots of fatigue, and decreased appetite. So my belly is a normal size now, but I have to have a tall bottle of magnesium citrate for a bowel motion."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 1, 2017

"Linzess has been extremely helpful for my constipation. I am able to go every day now, sometimes more than once. My only two complaints are the diarrhea and weight gain. I am a bit of a gym addict and go at least 5 times per week, running and weight lifting. I have a very healthy diet around 1300 calories a day, high protein and fiber, low fat, low carb, and low sugar. Since I have been on Linzess (4 weeks consistently), I have gained 7 lbs. I believe I am retaining water despite being able to go to the bathroom often. This is the only drug that has worked to alleviate the constipation, and I have tried MANY! However, I am not happy about the bloating and weight gain."

• jpm...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 2, 2023

"I don’t know how anyone can tolerate this. I know everyone is different. Began on 290 mg, and it took many days to work, but when it did, oh boy. I didn’t make it to the bathroom. Now I started on 72 mg, and by day 2, I did go and am sick to my stomach. This inconsistency of it working just won’t cut it. I also can’t be sick for the day when it works. Being constipated and other IBS symptoms are better than this."

• not...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 23, 2023

"My doctor prescribed this overpriced medication about 10 years ago when I still had insurance that would cover most of the cost. At that time, I gave up after a few days because it wasn’t working at all. Just recently, it’s been prescribed for me again, and my doctor gave me some samples. Why is there no generic yet? This stuff has been around forever. I decided to check the reviews, and now I’m afraid to take it. If I have to stay home and close to a bathroom every day until noon, I can just keep using Miralax and spend a lot less money. Right now, I’m afraid it’s not going to work, and I’m afraid it is going to work. I will update this review after a few more days if there are significant developments. Meanwhile, our government should be fixing the fact that we can’t use our dismal 50/50 chance on a more reasonably priced generic."

• Anonymous
• April 26, 2016

"My experience with this medication has been absolutely horrible! I have been taking it for 2 months. I have severe bloating, gas, and bad diarrhea. Can't even leave my home. My doctor told me to cut back to one pill every other day, and it's like it has completely stopped working. I have bad pain and nothing coming out! I have had IBS-C for 14 years, and I just wish they could come up with something that works and that's not so harsh on your bowels! It's absolutely terrible!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 4, 2015

"I love, love this medication! After suffering from IBS for years, I am now normally, every day, going to the bathroom. The first couple of weeks were a lot of diarrhea and not going far from the bathroom, but after my body got used to it, I was fine. I would highly recommend this to anyone suffering from IBS-C."

• Nur...
• January 7, 2016

"I've tried this medicine three times. The first and second time had no response. The third time I had major gas, bloating, diarrhea, chest pain, shortness of breath, sweating, and anxiety, major fatigue so bad I could not function. I took myself off this and felt better. Never again. I also gained water weight, I have no diabetes or thyroid issues. I couldn't even eat, I would bloat so bad, so why the weight gain in five days? I'll go back to Miralax. I have IBS-C. Wish they would bring Zelnorm back, it was the only thing that worked with no side effects."

• mel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 31, 2024

"At around 8 years old, I began to have painful constipation that grew worse. I didn't know any better either and thought it was normal. Then, around 45 years old, the constipation became so severe I began to take senna every day for relief. I still had issues but got some relief every few days. The movements kept getting further apart over time, and having mentioned this to the doc, he told me lots of people my age complain and told me to take Metamucil. I had been on the stuff for years with no positive results and now was not able to go unless I took an herbal lower bowel stimulator (over-the-counter Nature's Sunshine). This worked but with lots of pain. The label states not to be used on a regular basis, so I knew I needed more help. Finally, I took the quiz and provided this to my doc (who had already decided to recommend Linzess). This week, I began and am on day 3 with great results. Yesterday, I took it later in the day at around 2 pm, but it caused a mess overnight."

• Hil...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 3, 2018

"I'm suspicious of so many positive reviews because the pharmaceutical company has a vested interest in their drug appearing as a good product. My experience has not been so good. Although the drug worked for me, it caused severe vomiting, headache, and stomach pain. I wouldn't take the drug again due to the pain level, but it could be that it was an isolated experience."

• Mis...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 26, 2018

"Don't take this drug! I took one pill 30 minutes before dinner, woke up at 5 am and had explosive diarrhea for 30 minutes. The next day, severe abdominal pain that I had to go to the ER and take painkillers all day. It is now 2 am, two days later, and it seems that the pain has finally faded. Never again!"

• Hap...
• May 28, 2018

"I suffer from bloating, constipation, and abdominal cramping too. My social life was gone. I'm afraid to take a vacation with my husband because if I ate something, it goes right through me, no warning at all. I spend all my time in the house in the bathroom, 8 hours or more, trying to have a complete bowel motion. I still didn't get good results, I still had the urge to go. This was an everyday routine for me. I had been battling with this problem for 6 years. I had a colonoscopy in 2015, everything was normal, but I still wasn't having a complete bowel motion. I talked to my doctor, he had me try different laxatives, none of them worked. Finally, he referred me to a GI doctor, and she gave me samples of Linzess 290 mg to try. Linzess 290 mg changed my whole life. The best thing to ever happen to me, I have no regret! I take it every morning with a hot cup of coffee and a full glass of water. Two months later, and it's still working for me. The trick is drinking plenty of water, the more water, the better the results. THE HAPPY LADY!!!"

• Sam...
• February 21, 2013

"This medicine has helped significantly more than any other irritable bowel syndrome prescription I've been on, and it helps me lead the most normal life possible. I'm grateful that this has become available and at HALF the cost of my other medication."

• IBS...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 13, 2017

"I have struggled with severe constipation (IBS-C) for years. Nothing worked... fiber, laxatives, Rex meds. Linzess worked too well and painfully. I can't leave the house after taking this. I read on one reviewers' post to try Nopalina... I thought, why not, I've tried everything else. It definitely helped. I take Nopalina capsules every day as directed, and drink lots of water and sometimes add Miralax to my routine (if needed). Changed my life!!!"

• Tes...
• June 12, 2016

"Physicians are way too excited about Linzess. It definitely does not work for everyone and not exactly as indicated. The first three days I took it were fine. Then no effect for two days. Then incredible pain. I asked the doctor if I could try a lower dose. Was advised to take it at bedtime!? Definitely not a good idea when part of the problem was extreme diarrhea. Quit taking it for two weeks. Went back and tried one tablet. Dizziness, wobbly, weakness, malaise. Does it treat constipation? Yes. But it is a guanylate cyclase agonist, so, of course, it has systemic effects. When are too many side effects too much to even put a drug on the market?"

• Car...
• October 28, 2015

"I absolutely love this drug. I suffer from IBS constipation and also have to take pain medicine for back pain, which does not help my constipation problems. I tried all kinds of things, including multiple suppositories, and this is the only thing that would work. I am so thankful for this drug! It works for me usually within an hour."

• ell...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 11, 2015

"Dr. gave me a sample to see if it would relieve my IBS-C. Although I couldn't afford the prescription, I was very impressed with how well Linzess worked in my case. I didn't realize how much of a storm was going on in my gut until this drug calmed it, amazing! I am definitely going to check out the coupon options."

• Tor...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 1, 2018

"I have suffered my entire life with bathroom issues. I wouldn't have a bowel motion from anywhere between 3 to 9 days, and when I did go, I would be doubled over with spasms, back and stomach pain as if I was giving birth and feeling like I never fully emptied my bowels. Took the 145 mg Linzess, drank 2-8 ounces of water, waited 30 to 45 minutes to eat my bagel and cream cheese. Within an hour, I had a normal bowel motion with ease... but then you get explosive diarrhea for the next 2 to 3 hours and it's all over: about 4 trips. But stay by the bathroom 'cause it works that good to CLEAN you out. No pain, no cramps. More water, the better the result, and you don't want to get dehydrated. The next day I had so much energy. I only take it once or twice a week. I couldn't take it every day because of my schedule. But this is a miracle drug. I will gladly deal with the explosive diarrhea over not being able to go and being doubled over for hours. I highly recommend Linzess! I love it. It's helped me so much. Thanks, Linzess."

• abe...
• February 4, 2017

"It worked from the first day, but I also had at least one episode a day of severe D. I used it for 22 days and then called the manufacturer for some input. They said D was the usual complaint when there was a complaint, and they had no recommendations except to speak to my doctor. I decided to try it every other day and have done that only for the last 4 days. There is a slight improvement, very slight in the D attacks. I will do this for the next 3 weeks (using it every other day) and then see what point I am at. I no longer get these terrible, painful IBS C attacks where I thought I was going to die from the pain. No more blood in the John. The doctor told me to take the Linzess with Colace and Senna, but I was afraid to do that."

• Haz...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 30, 2020

"I've suffered from constipation all my life. After turning 50, I have allergies to food, peanuts, and cayenne pepper. Some medication also. I took Linzess yesterday, and this morning I had diarrhea. I am weak, dizzy, have a headache, tongue tingling, my chest tightened, and I have bled from the rectum, small blot, but scary. I'm just not taking it anymore. I have Benadryl to take for headaches. I've taken Linzess one other time, and that's why I quit it, but forgot. So everyone's different, but I can die from allergies. There needs to be more information and drug interactions done on these kinds of medicines. And doctors and NPs check your patients' medical files."

• Gas...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 20, 2017

"I took Linzess earlier this year when I was constipated constantly from IBS and gastroparesis. It either gave me diarrhea or didn't work. Then my bowels normalized for a while, so I quit taking it. About two weeks ago, the constipation started again, so I began taking it again. This time it was wonderful. I haven't had diarrhea; instead, it gives me a regular bowel movement each day, and I don't have to stay at my house for several hours after I take it to make sure I stay near a bathroom. I'm on the higher dose of it. This is the way I had hoped it would work from the beginning."

• Goi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 6, 2013

"Today was my first day taking the Linzess. I took it at 7:30 a.m. and had my first bathroom visit at 11:30 a.m., and after I was done, I had really bad cramps that lasted a few minutes, but after that, I have felt good. I have not used the bathroom anymore, so I will have to see what tomorrow brings, but today was a good day."

• bmo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 22, 2018

"I took Linzess for the first time a couple of hours ago. I didn’t know a single medicine could hit me this hard. It feels like I’m having a horrible IBS episode, I’m in ridiculous pain. Bloated, gassy... oh, and I am still constipated. I cannot take this medicine again, not if it causes this much pain each time."

• Con...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 14, 2016

"I have been on Linzess for about 3 years, and that I am only the only way at times that I can go to the bathroom is taking this medication because at times I only go maybe 2 or 3 times a week without taking it. Is this dangerous? It seems like I strain all the time without it. Does anyone have any ideas? Thanks."

• fae...
• March 9, 2017

"I have been taking Linzess 290 mg for over 3 months now. In the beginning, I had a few experiences of diarrhea, but not so much now. What I cannot take is the stomach pain, gas, and bloating, which has gotten worse over time. I stopped taking the drug for a few days to determine if these symptoms were from the drug, and they were. The stomach pain came right back today when I took a dose. While it does help with the constipation, it is not worth the other side effects. Back to magnesium capsules I go."

• She...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 17, 2023

"Linzess is working great. After not having a BM for 7 days, I went to the emergency room where the hardened stool had to be digitally removed - very uncomfortable! I was diagnosed with IBS-C and started on Linzess 145 mcg 18 months ago. I find that taking it every other day, occasionally every third day, gives me a BM that day and also usually on the second day. My only negative is the price. On Medicare Advantage, if I took it every day, my cost would be $47/month, but the charge toward the donut hole would be over $6,000 per year."