Linaclotide for Irritable Bowel Syndrome User Reviews

• Priest
• April 25, 2017

"I've suffered with constipation and stomach pain for 6 years. Everytime I eat i get pain. All the food that I eat and any liquids seem to stay in my body. I feel bloated, tired and the pain creeps up from lower abdomen and spreads to sides back and upper abdomen areas causing pressure on the heart and lungs. I've had many many tests done but nothing has been found. This medicine has been a saviour. I wake up early 5am take one pill and go back to sleep. Wake up at 7am and start to get ready for work by that time I go to the toilet and my whole body is completely flushed out of food and liquids. You have to take it on an empty stomach to get the full benefit and take 1 every day for at least the first 6-8 weeks."

• Senga
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 23, 2020

"I have used this medicine for 6 years, it has worked miracles for me in terms of quality of life. I have reduced my dosage by measuring approx one third of 290mcg into gelatin capsules. People might try to up their liquid intake a lot to resolve some of the issues with the drug, eg drink at least a half litre of water after the capsule, because of the way it acts in the gut."

• zazaz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 31, 2016

"Half hour after the first dose, taken on an empty stomach first thing on waking I had to RUN to the loo and had an explosive BM. After this it failed to work again ( as was my experience with Epsom salts, very similar) . I did however get very bad bloating gurgling sloshy sounding belly, felt tired and nauseous amd thirsty needing 4 glasses of water at night. Bloating was far worse than my usual ibs symptoms , and no further bm after 6 days on the drug. Just felt toxic and my face was puffy....so I discontinued its use. Back to low FODMAP diet and enemas when necessary, which is often the case. I was so hopeful after first dose, but think severe bloating affects the nerves and hinders reflex of evacuation in my case. "

• Ursula
• March 3, 2021

"I would have a bowel motion maybe one a week or every 2 weeks, laxatives didn’t work I would have to take docusate and magnesium citrate together just the have a bowel movement and they were far too loose. I would be in pain all the time and gas was horrible. I am now on Constella and my goodness, I have never felt better. I don’t have to suffer at all. Thank you to researchers and Doctors."

• prett...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 4, 2021

"I was instructed to take this medication by my GI doctor due to constipation. Let me tell you this stuff works at least for me anyway. It cleans you out. My experience is stomach cramps, dizziness and it makes me feel kind of sick like I have a cold or something. I also get a terrible headache the next day. The side effects may be my fault as I don’t take the medication like I should I’m suppose to take it in the morning, 30 mins before eating. But I only take it once a week due to its side effects. I’m on the lowest dosage 75mg. This has been the only medication that has allowed me to go it’s just the side effects are a bit too much for me to handle."

• Helena
• November 8, 2015

"Hi. I was given this medication for ibs d, not constipation. I took one pill and it increased the d part for a day. After that, my ibs d symptoms are almost gone. After three years of having to know where a bathroom was every minute, this is a miracle. Just wanted folks with ibs d that this may work for them. One pill did it."

• Polly...
• March 17, 2014

"At last! A drug that seems to help. I've had chronic constipation for many years. I had endometriosis 20 years ago & the scarring & adhesions from that cause a degree of stricture on parts of my bowels. I'm in the UK so no cost to the medicine. My gastroenterologist has tried so many medicines with me & nothing seemed to be effective- gabapentin was the most effective out of the lot but left me really foggy-brained. So a week ago I got prescribed Linaclotide. The first day was explosive. Probably 20 times to the loo. The 2nd day, maybe 15, the 3rd around 12. I'm now (about a week later) at maybe 8 x a day & seem to have settled out at that for now. I'm much less tired & although my rectum is sore, that seems to be settling down. Massive relief!"

• heavy...
• August 30, 2013

"I've suffered from constipation/ irregular bathroom visits for years. I'm talking 2 times/ week and constantly felt bloated. I just mentioned it to my doc at a recent regular visit and he gave me a couple samples of Linzess. Went to bathroom the day I took it. I did get diarrhea for about 3 or 4 days but every day it got better. Talk about instant relief! I've been on Linzess for about week and a half now and its changed the way my stomach feels and I go to the bathroom about everyday."

• Moliver
• August 7, 2015

"Great. First day I took it I got diarrhea and felt discouraged, however, I took it next day cause it was expensive and I wanted to see if the expense was worth it. It was. I have been taking my pill every morning and my stomach is not bloated anymore and I can go to the bathroom daily. "

• Sinon
• June 11, 2016

"I'm not sure that this was a direct result of taking Linaclotide, but My experience was constipation. My doctor prescribed it because I had bowel movements almost every day, but the stool was so hard and large by the time it reached the end of me that I couldn't pass it. So my bowels would move...but the contents couldn't exit. I started Linaclotide 145mcg as directed on a Wednesday, by the next Wednesday I was very uncomfortable, bloated, clocked an extra six pounds (surely not actual weight gain), and hadn't passed any stool or had any arrive in my rectum. Pico-salax was needed, the meds stopped, and I'm still not returned to baseline (14 days from dose 1). We're not sure what's happened."

• Granny...
• September 4, 2017

"After years of pain, bloating, anal bleeding, fissures, chronic constipation, being told to eat more fibre, tears, and several trips to hospital I was prescribed Constella (Europe brand) by a Consultant. It is a miracle drug but I have found it hard to fit Into a long working day due to the fact that once it works I need to stay close to the toilet! I seem to keep going until empty.(where does it all come from!!) I experience some very loose watery stools and can become light headed. I take the tablet in the evening in the week which means I am often late to bed and social activities are restricted but it beats the misery of severe constipation. Having read helpful reviews I am going to try taking it before bed to see if I can hold until morning."

• Jane...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 9, 2024

Linzess (linaclotide) "Linzess 72mcg daily did help me to have more frequent bowel movements. However, it also caused urinary incontinence for me. Apparently, it relaxed the muscles in my urethra as well as those in my intestinal tract. So I had to stop it for that reason."

• Collie
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 23, 2020

"IBS for 16 years however mixed or variable versus C with allergy to gluten. I am on my sixth day of this medication and have been housebound the past two days -day 5 and 6. I read that you are to stay on it for seven days but I have decided that this will be my last. Symptoms are worsening. Severe diarrhea after an hour of taking it and it lasted 12 hours yesterday. It feels like someone is milking my intestine. I have headache am tired, brain fog sore abdomen, gassy, loud gurgle and have been running to the bathroom a good 40 or more times in 24 hours. Possibly more. Day one was like food poisoning for half day then I felt okay or good after first couple of hours. Day 2-4 okay with gas and mild watery diarrhea 3-4 times per day. It must be the wrong medication for me. I have prolapse and thought this may make it better than impact of constipation but now fear it may be worse. Great to hear it works for some people."

• bamba...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 6, 2021

"I've suffered with IBS and diverticular disease for years. I used to take magnesium citrate capsules to help with constipation but consultant recently gave me linaclotide ,after reading lots of good reviews I was really optimistic but its really messed me up big time. I've been unable to leave the bed for 5 days in lots of abdominal cramps and pain like labour pains and instead of the diarrhea people talk about they give me constipation I'm passing loads of painful gas but no bowel movement. This has really made my diverticular disease 100 times worse."

• GM28
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 19, 2021

"I am currently on Linaclotide 280mg, they have changed my life. I was suffering from a period of really bad constipation, where I could go without going to the toilet for 3 weeks at least. I had gotten into a habit of using harsh laxatives of a weekend causing me pain and sickness. The Dr prescribed these as a last resort (1 month course). Almost 2 weeks in and I seem to be going to the toilet every day/ every other day. No diahorrea as described. I take these first thing in a morning 30 mins before food. Time of bowel movement varies."

• Anonymous
• January 25, 2022

"I take 290 dose it helps me have a proper BM, but still have a lot of abdominal pain and really bad bloating. This medication is very expensive. I don’t think I will get a refill because I can’t afford it."

• free...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 6, 2017

"I have been taking Linzess 290 for about 2 months for severe abdominal pain due to irritable bowel syndrome with constipation. From the start of taking it, I have had no further episodes of abdominal pain or constipation. If I don't take it for one day, I start to feel very unwell again with abdominal cramps. I find that once I take it, I need to be near a bathroom within a couple of hours but after 1 or 2 bowel movements, there are no more. To be free of the severe cramps that were so bad that I would be sick to my stomach and almost pass out from the pain, is such a relief and has improved my quality of life immensely. The pills are expensive though"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 25, 2023

Linzess (linaclotide) "Works wonders! It relieves the pressure of bloating, upset stomach, gas, and major discomfort. Helps with the relief of having a bowel movement, but a bowel movement you won't forget."

• Avie
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 7, 2018

"Bloating. Excessive diarrhea."