Linaclotide and Constipation: What Users Say (Page 3)

• Bob...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 30, 2020

Linaclotide for Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation "I’ve been using Linzess 145 mg for about a year, and it definitely works, but planning your day is a nightmare. What I’m trying to say to you is you don’t know from the time you take the pill when you’re going to have a bowel movement. It could be from one hour to four hours after taking the pill. Then there’s another problem: you don’t have a consistent formed stool. It could be anywhere from diarrhea to normal, and every day is different. Also, you’re using the bathroom anywhere from one hour to two hours or more. So how could you plan anything in your life in the morning? So any appointments have to be after 1 PM, such as doctors or meeting up with friends, etc. The only thing I could say is it definitely works, and you’re not in pain from the bloating and the constipation, but it’s a horrible life."

• Ann...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 13, 2022

Linaclotide for Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation "This medication, Linzess, is the best. I have been taking it for almost 9 months now, and it has been a life-changing experience. No more constipation, no more bloated feeling. I take it as soon as I wake up in the morning with an empty stomach, and in approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour later, I have a bowel movement. They are expensive, but I really can’t be without them."

• Sop...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 1, 2019

Linaclotide for Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "Ever since I have been on pain meds for chronic pain, I have had problems with constipation. When Linzess came out, I was thrilled! Now I wouldn’t have to rely on Miralax and stool softeners or harsh laxatives. I’ve been taking Linzess for quite a while now, but it seems like I’ve always had to add a little something to get my bowels moving. Recently, I asked my Dr to up my dose from 145 mcg to 290 mcg, and I swear it’s gotten worse! I think it’s time to get off this med and try senna + Miralax!"

• All...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 15, 2021

Linaclotide for Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "I'm a 38-year-old female, and I'm on the strongest dose of Linzess. And it's not working. My stomach is bloated, and that is the only thing I have going on. I'm not sure what to do at this point. My doctor put me on Miralax to take with it as well. This has been the worst case of constipation I encountered."

• Poo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 22, 2021

Linaclotide for Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "It takes about a week for it to kick in. I’m taking the max, 290 mg. I used to take it 30 mins before eating without a problem, but now it’s led to me taking it in the middle of the night when I wake up to pee, so around 3-5 a.m. Then I eat breakfast, and around 30 mins to 1 hr after, I have a movement. I don’t think I would ever go without this medicine!! Some days it's a normal BM, and other days it’s soft or constipated, but I go every day now."

• bet...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 12, 2015

Linaclotide for Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "I have been on opioids for many years, and that was increased in 2013 with a knee replacement surgery. That's when the constipation became uncontrollable. All the fiber in the world would not move me. Until Linzess. It is still unpredictable some days (unexpected and explosive), but it is better than being backed up, bloated, and miserable. I've been taking it on and off because my insurance would not pay, or they would pay for a lower dose, which I cannot use except very infrequently."

• bre...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 13, 2024

Linaclotide for Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation "Well, I was on 145 mg, and the first week was great, but the second week I had diarrhea for 4 days and no bowel movement for 2 days. The doctor had me take 2 of the 145 mg this morning, and I took them at 6 a.m. and had breakfast at 6:30 a.m. and went to the bathroom at 7:30 a.m. It was all constipation, but no diarrhea, solid stools, so he now has me taking the 290 mg because it worked this morning. I'm so glad I was able to go today, and hopefully it will continue to work. This is a miracle drug."

• Ian...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 21, 2021

Linaclotide for Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation "It worked for the first ten days, after that, it worked only off and on. Usually diarrhea immediately after taking it, then followed by constipation. Now it doesn't work at all, just makes me more uncomfortable after I have taken it."

• Fai...
• August 8, 2022

Linaclotide for Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "I have gastroparesis and IBS and celiac disease. I've been taking this for two months and go from severe constipation to having severe diarrhea overnight. Literally, in the middle of the night, I have gone all over myself. I am not sure what to do or when it's going to explode, but I go all night and all day having diarrhea and then just like that, it stops working for weeks and I have no bowel movement. I don't want to stop taking it, but I may have to and go back to taking Phillips Milk of Magnesia every day."

• Mor...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 15, 2022

Linaclotide for Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "So it helps tremendously; however, I didn’t get results until I was prescribed the highest dose. Also, I was prescribed fluoxetine for stress. So if you haven’t had results, ask about adding fluoxetine with the Linzess. I now never want to stop taking the Linzess, as I go immediately back to constipation without it. Take it every day; that is key. I had the best results taking it before bed."

• fra...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 7, 2016

Linaclotide for Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "I think I just worry too much after reading other people's experiences! But after one constipation experience, I started to worry even more! I had a 2 cups of blood BM! I'm 82 and wish for a shortcut! Seems all laxative meds do what they want to! I wish I had been accepting that fact sooner!"

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

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome "I've suffered with IBS and diverticular disease for years. I used to take magnesium citrate capsules to help with constipation, but a consultant recently gave me linaclotide. After reading lots of good reviews, I was really optimistic, but it's 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 labor pains. 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."

• SMa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 20, 2021

Linaclotide for Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "Man, the first day I took it felt like everything I had eaten for days finally left my body. I have been dealing with issues with my BM since I got my gallbladder removed and had a Nissen fundoplication. I have had the urgency to go to the restroom, but that's to be expected until my body gets used to it. I have only been on it for a month and a half, but no cramping when I go to the bathroom, and it even helps with my lady cramps because those were worse, and I would be constipated during that time. This has really helped. I take it in the morning between 9-9:30 am, and then by lunchtime, I have gone to the bathroom at least twice. I am still getting used to the urgency and can hold it but try not to. Good thing that I work from home though. Thanks for letting me share. Have a wonderful day, everyone!"

• Sin...
• June 11, 2016

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome "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 145 mcg 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."

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

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome "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."

• Mik...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• November 16, 2021

For Constipation, Chronic "Summary: Linzess works wonders, but it is expensive and only available in the US. I had been on Linzess / Linaclotide for 5 years because it was the only thing on the market that helped me be regular, otherwise, I have IBS-C with bad stomach cramps and chronic constipation. Last year, I moved abroad. I could not find Linzess. It sells only in the US. My doctor could not prescribe it to a Canadian online pharmacy. I could not find it in India (where they make just about all meds) or in Europe. I tried to get it shipped from the US, however, without health insurance, the 28-pill box costs $450. So, I am trying alternatives. The Ayurvedic cure involves drinking salty water while doing a set of exercises that are supposed to restore a healthy peristalsis. This, combined with Dulcolax suppositories, helps the bottom end of the colon relax and allow passage. I am learning to deal with the psychological causes of IBS-C that doctors don't talk about."

• RNp...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 24, 2021

Linaclotide for Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation "I've had chronic IBS for over 10 years, with the last five years having serious issues with switching randomly between IBS type D vs. C. That makes getting a bowel regimen complicated and difficult. I have tried almost everything, and nothing has worked. Miralax, supplemental fiber, and laxatives are actually not a good long-term solution because they can worsen constipation in the long term. My doctor prescribed this medication. I started out on the low dose, it was a miracle. However, the price of this miracle came at a cost. The cost being that you cannot trust so far, you will be in the toilet for a few episodes of going to the bathroom until it has subsided. The sensation is pretty specific, your stomach will rumble with feelings of impending bowels. Be near a toilet, do not use prior to going to the airport or car ride. I actually had to go up in dose, and I use it at 11 pm for 7 am BMs timed right. For the right bowel patient, it is excellent. Those of you having issues may require a lower dose or your problem may not suit Linzess."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 17, 2015

Linaclotide for Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "Weight gain very rapid. I'd rather deal with constipation than the weight gain."

• Tzx...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 4, 2016

Linaclotide for Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "I take my Linzess every morning as prescribed, but yet I still get constipated. I can go 3-4 days without having a movement even though I'm taking Linzess."

• aam...
• November 22, 2014

Linaclotide for Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "It didn't help me! Still constipated. I take the 145 mcg."

• Rav...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 16, 2021

Linaclotide for Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "Started taking Linzess. After 9 days, every symptom and constipation was worse. Slowly got a bigger and bigger distended stomach that is painful. Discontinuing use."

• LH6...
• August 13, 2015

Linaclotide for Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "Severe bloating, abdominal pains. When it does work, I get diarrhea along with cramps. I actually think this made me more constipated."

• Anonymous
• August 7, 2015

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

• ibs...
• June 16, 2018

Linaclotide for Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation "This medicine is useless. Still have 2-4 days of diarrhea, then 3-5 days of constipation... and on and on. All it did was blow up my belly like a hot air balloon."