Linzess and Gas: What Users Say (Page 3)

• jul...
• June 22, 2018

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation "I suffered greatly, unable to poop for years. Then I started Linzess 145, taken 30-60 min after a hot, fatty breakfast gave me 6-10 bouts of diarrhea daily, sometimes spastic cramping of intestines. The first 2 weeks were worst with all listed side effects, especially bloating, cramping, and gas, but also including a wired, speedy feeling that prevented me from sleeping/resting. By the 3rd and 4th week, I felt less severe side effects. In the 3rd week, the pockets that painfully retained matter were cleaned out, and I felt much better. The Linzess seemed to keep me cleaned out, and I felt good besides the accelerated nervous system and diarrhea. Overall, my lifestyle was compromised, but I physically felt better. At week 5, the doctor was unhappy with diarrhea and reduced my dose to 72 mg. My body responded the same, but at week 6, like a switch, my body turned off and the Linzess didn't work at all anymore. I was back to not being able to poop at all, along with severe burning, inflammation, and pain. Now I'm very depressed and waiting for the doctor to return my call."

• Mak...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 13, 2019

For Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "I’ve been dealing with severe IBS-C for a couple of years now and never been able to find a solution for my constipation. I’ve been taking Linzess for about 3 weeks now, and it definitely makes me use the bathroom on the lowest dose. The only reason I didn’t give 10 stars is because it isn’t consistent (I can take Linzess consistently but don’t always go consistently), and I feel like it enhances bloating and gas. Overall, I love Linzess, and I don’t mind dealing with some bloating and gas if I can use the bathroom."

• Jai...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 10, 2016

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation "First day had bad gas. I have been taking this almost two months from a research company and haven't seen any changes or feel any different other than the first day. I still only go once every two weeks. I'm on the lowest dosage right now."

• Jt3...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 4, 2016

For Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "Have been taking this off and on for about 3 months. While it definitely causes bowel movements, the side effects are difficult to manage for a busy, working mom. The gas it creates is horrible (for me and those around me), and the spontaneous bouts of diarrhea make me nervous to take it in the morning. I'm taking one pill every night and one in the morning on weekends. I have had great success with Miralax in my morning coffee, but when I have to sit a lot for work or travel, it's just not enough, so I tried Linzess."

• but...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 7, 2015

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation "37-year-old female. Suffered with IBS-C going on 2 years now. 1st prescription of Linzess for this issue this week (was trying OTC products, they stopped working). All I gotta say is I can't complain about side effects or cost because I feel myself again, FINALLY! My symptoms have caused me to become unreliable. I just quit planning period, lost weight (gradually went to 112 from 130, now I'm 119 before Linzess). Taken 2 doses so far. Have some gas/rumbling but no bloating yet. Have to take it in the evening due to work schedule. I don't think I will need it every day, but will take it every day the 1st week just to see how it does. It would be good if insurance covered. This is a REAL DEBILITATING ISSUE! I wish they knew what causes IBS, and I pray this med continues to work! ☺"

• Joh...
• October 5, 2019

For Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "I quit using marijuana and had gas and could not pass bowel movements. Took the pill for 8 days, had a good diet following the food guide pyramid, getting 15 g of fiber from food and drinking 1 gallon of water a day with Gatorade and Naked mango juice and Naked vegetable juice as part of my meals. I mixed water with Gatorade at times. I also exercised for 30 min to 1 hour a day. I always took the pill in the morning with 8-16 oz of water, then I would eat 30 min later. Today is day 8, and I took the pill after eating my second meal around 2 pm and got uncontrollable diarrhea. I had to stop eating, still can't eat. I'll see how I am tomorrow. Googled the dangerous risk of this medication, so I will never take it again, but it helped with my problems. I seem better after today, the diarrhea. I don't like this pill because it could have bad long-term side effects, even death in some people. I'll just eat a good diet with fiber supplements and exercise every day, weight lifting with cardio helps."

• Dis...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 8, 2017

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation "I started taking Linzess 145 in January 2017. It worked great for a couple of weeks and then suddenly stopped working. I had to resort to Milk of Mag. I gave it another try, and it worked on and off. I gave it one more try, and all I have is horrible gas and cramps, even after a bowel movement. Seems like my life revolved around this med. I have an appointment with my PCP next week and will discuss it with her. I am currently not taking any medication but still feel effects from it after 5 days of not taking it."

• rer...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 10, 2020

For Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "Started taking Linzess 145 mg about a month ago. Bloating and gas have subsided quite a bit. I don't use the bathroom daily. But, I have been going more often with the meds and not as much straining as before. My appetite also seems to be somewhat suppressed. So, I've lost a few pounds and actually feel more comfortable in my clothes than before."

• Ton...
• August 17, 2016

For Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "On day 5 of 29, on day 5 of 290 milligram Linzess, all I have experienced is a lot of gas. Last evening, my stomach was extremely distended. Not sure if this is going to work for me, but I'm not going to give up the fight. The constipation is severe and causes major problems in daily living, so I'm going to hold on until my next doctor's appointment."

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

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation "I had chronic IBS-C for years and was on opiates for at least 6 years. The suffering I had on Linzess for 2 weeks I have anxiety just thinking about it. When I was taking opiates, I would have a bowel movement once a week. I never had gas, cramping, or any other issue other than going once a week. Recently, I started Linzess at the request of my doctor. See, I had been stuck without a BM for almost 3 weeks. I went to the hospital twice because of this rare pain and not having a BM. I did find out I had a hernia, but it didn't have anything to do with it. The first day on Linzess I had no BM, but the next day I was helping my husband pack for a work trip and... well, I had to throw away those pajamas. This kind of thing continued for 11 days. My doctor took me off the medication, and 4 days later I still am afraid of leaving the house. When will the pain and pooping end!!"

• Jil...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 19, 2022

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation "Haven’t got a specific diagnosis (IBS-C vs. chronic constipation), but was given samples to try because the chronic constipation was causing an anal fissure to not heal. About 2 weeks into therapy, it finally kicked in, and I was having a bout of diarrhea in the morning. This was seriously inconvenient; how do you manage if you have to be somewhere? Maybe take it WAY earlier? I also noticed that the initial bit of stool was quite hard every morning, which was painful as always, followed by diarrhea. But I have sleep problems, so forcing myself awake extra early isn’t fun. I stopped taking it before the samples ran out. However, I’m going to give it another try. My doc suggested I drink less (only when thirsty), but I’m not sure how I feel about that as I tend to get easily dehydrated and live in bone-dry Colorado. One huge positive I noticed, though, was that my gas/bloating went away. After the diarrhea, I had almost no gas for the rest of the day. So that was really fantastic."

• lil...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 12, 2022

For Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "I started Linzess two and a half weeks ago after intense cramping brought me to the ER. I have struggled with chronic constipation over the last several years because of taking buprenorphine for chronic pain. I then went to a gastroenterologist who prescribed this medication and instructed me to take 72 mcgs, plus Metamucil and Miralax, but the combination just increased my gas, bloating, and cramping, including severe pain in my pelvic floor. I have been originally taking an herbal tea with senna in it, but it stopped working after a few years. The Linzess worked in settling down my upper GI tract but not for my lower. I'm constantly dealing with zero motility and need a laxative to get moving, but Linzess doesn't seem to work. My doctor told me to take two if I went two days without a BM, and that was a mistake. The cramping and bloating I got was horrible. I'm also losing too much weight. I have to go back to the gastro doc, but Linzess definitely isn't for me."

• EGr...
• October 30, 2016

"I was diagnosed with gastroparesis in 2012 and have a neuro-abdominal stimulator transplant. I take both strengths: 290 when home and 145 when I travel. Both work well as I have no ability for food to move out of my stomach. I do take it every morning, and while I can consider it a bit violent at times (stay close to a bathroom after a couple of hours of taking it), if I don't take it, I will not have any movement. I don't care for Miralax or other over-the-counter medications as I experience a lot of bloating, gas, and cramps before it finally kicks in... and it takes too long to kick in for me. My specialist has approved me to take the different strengths; I still don't know over the long term what effects will be on my kidneys or liver."

• Ref...
• May 3, 2022

For Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "I started with the lowest dose of Linzess and now am at the highest. That being said, it started to not work for me, but I read a review that someone refrigerates it, and it seems to make the drug work better since humidity can degrade the medication. So I usually have a few on hand with me in a bottle with lots of desiccants and keep the rest in the fridge. I also have to notice the times you are taking it. Exactly 24 hours between doses or less/more? If you take less than 24 hours, you may get more diarrhea. If you take more than 24 hours or wait longer than 30 minutes, it seems less effective. Also, drink plenty of water with the medication. Another thing I don’t like about it is smelly stools and gas, it’s gross."

• Dis...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 18, 2017

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation "I have IBSC, and I read about Linzess and asked my Dr. if it would benefit me. Started on 145, and it worked great for a while. Then hit and miss with a lot of gas, belly pain, bloating, and either diarrhea or not going at all. Tried on and off, then the 74 became available. It is better but still has lots of side effects, and I can definitely not take it daily. I take it 30 minutes before breakfast, and it produces bowel movement within an hour. I have at least 3 trips to the bathroom with very soft BMs. Hope something more effective comes along without all the side effects."

• Reb...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 9, 2021

For Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "So I had a gastritis flare-up, and for some reason, I got constipated this time with it. Maybe the bland foods I was eating, honestly, I’m not sure. It had never caused that in the past. I tried everything to unclog. Finally, the ER recommended magnesium citrate. They told me it wouldn’t affect the lining of my stomach, and that was a complete lie! I got a referral to GI that recommended Linzess. I was freaking out, worried that it wouldn’t work or that it would mess up my stomach that was finally healing. I had horrible anxiety the whole day before deciding to finally take it. At 6 pm, I pop the pill. Drink 3 glasses of warm water...warm because cold hurts during a gastritis flare-up. After an hour, I felt some movement, some gas. Another hour goes by, and I walk in and, like magic, I produce poop! Like hallelujah!!! No weird rumbling like the magnesium gave me. Just almost instant relief. Would definitely recommend this to others."

• Anonymous
• April 26, 2016

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation "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 irritable bowel syndrome 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!"

• Sou...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 1, 2021

For Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "I am a 36-year-old female with chronic constipation. Amitza and Trulance didn’t work, 72 mcg daily. Blue Cross doesn't cover. Linzess has a coupon card that I use for $75. Allergen Patient Assistance is a joke. Nobody gets approved, and every story is the same as mine. My life changed when I started this. It does have its downsides. Some batches seem to work better than others. I take it at the same time every day. Sometimes I get diarrhea like it has built up, but that is rare now, when it does, I just skip for a day. Sometimes I will get backed up for a few days. I have learned that in order for this to work well, you have to be cleaned out. I will double up and drink a ton of water right after. Do an enema and get back to normal. If I don’t do this, then I could keep taking it for weeks and never get back to normal. You must drink lots of water! I’m talking 100 ounces for women and 140 for men. My belly does rumble, never in an uncomfortable way. I do have smelly flatulence."

• pac...
• April 24, 2014

For Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "I have suffered with constipation for most of my life. Nothing helped until Linzess became available. I have a daily bowel motion and feel really good. Only side effect is a little gassiness."

• YZa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 2, 2019

For Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "Didn't help at all. I've even doubled my dosage to 290 instead of 145 mg. It's been a couple of days, and no movement whatsoever. Only gas and bloating."

• Ter...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 14, 2022

For Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "Belly pain, gas, terrible diarrhea, body pain, bloating, and weight gain are my experiences from this drug (145 mg). Never again!!!"

• Anonymous
• August 7, 2015

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation "Gave me severe constipation. I've had to take laxatives, have gas pains, and bloated more than before."

• Ang...
• August 6, 2015

For Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "Rapid weight gain, 7 pounds in one week. Bloating and gas that I couldn't control."

• No ...
• April 10, 2016

For Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "I have been taking Linzess going to be a month. It hasn't worked on me, just gives me more gas. No, it doesn't make me go to the bathroom. 'Sad Momy'"

• Dis...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 14, 2021

For Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "Does not work and has nasty side effects. Severe cramping and gas. It's an expensive scam."