Amitiza and Gas: What Users Say

• Kel...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 21, 2016

For Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "I have had chronic IBS with constipation forever. At one point, I thought I had an obstruction, but didn't. I went to a gastroenterologist, and she prescribed 8 mcg of Amitiza twice per day. It worked pretty quickly, but then didn't seem to anymore. I had a lot of the side effects that other people mentioned, including gas, bloating, and bad stomach pains. I now take two 24 mcgs per day and figured out that if I take one before bed and one an hour before I get up, I don't have major issues. I go every morning completely and feel great for the rest of the day. I hope this helps other people trying this medication."

• Mag...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 5, 2016

For Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "I am 55 and have been living with IBS-C for the last 10 years. My doctor started me on Amitiza a week ago. I am on 24 mcg twice daily. I took my initial dose at the beginning of a meal. It caused pretty severe nausea, but really cleaned me out with 4 or 5 small BMs ranging from normal to explosive diarrhea. I have taken each subsequent dose in the middle of a meal and have had the most normal bowel pattern that I have had in years. No more nausea, reflux, cramping, or gas. This medication is allowing me to have several small BMs daily, as opposed to using laxatives, which is miserable. I hope it continues to work! I'm using samples from my doctor right now. Not sure if insurance is going to cover it."

• hap...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 31, 2013

For Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "This is the only thing that has worked! A bit of gas, but no problems otherwise. Insurance is not covering it because of the expense, but it is worth the expense to be regular again after years of trying everything under the sun. 24 mcg 2x daily with food and I'm a happy camper!"

• LMS...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 3, 2013

For Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "I've had irritable bowel syndrome and chronic constipation my entire life. Now at 23, after exhausting all over-the-counter and homeopathic remedies to no avail, I've decided to try a prescription. Overall, it works great and I don't plan to get off of it. What I have now is more like diarrhea than anything, but I'll take that over going up to 20 days without a bowel motion any day! I do get nausea about 30 minutes after I take it, and it gives me bad gas sometimes, but none of that is worth getting off of it. If you are serious about to give up on life because of constipation, this medicine is for you! I recommend it. I do also take Metamucil about every other morning, which helps the diarrhea. Also, the website for this product offers a $35 off prescription card."

• gig...
• May 13, 2015

For Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "I have been taking this medicine, 24 mcg once a day for a week now. Nothing has happened yet. I drink 1 to 2 quarts of water a day, on the FODMAP diet, eat tofu, fresh fruits, and fresh vegetables. Also eat a lot of chicken. I have had no luck so far. I have left 3 messages with my doctor's nurse and no callbacks yet. I feel bloated, full of gas, and feel miserable. So I am stuck taking laxatives, Epsom salt enemas, or citrate mag (awful tasting stuff ever), then feeling sick all the next day with an upset tummy and sitting on the throne off and on all day. I clean myself out about every 3 to 4 days because I feel miserable and sluggish, and it starts all over again after cleaning myself out. I have had this IBS-C for about 20 years now. It ruins my life!"

• mar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 15, 2013

For Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "I have been on laxatives forever. Specifically, Perdiem. I take 3 Perdiem and 1 Amitiza at bedtime and go every morning. The Perdiem (similar to Senokot) was starting to not work as well after 25 years, and once I added the Amitiza, all is well. I am trying to cut back on the laxative now. My doc wants me to take Linzess, but I'm reading how many people are gaining weight. My only complaint with Amitiza is the gas, so I am reluctant to take it in the morning."

• Qua...
• January 6, 2013

For Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "45-year-old female with a diagnosis of chronic constipation due to long-term use of meds, to include opioids for pain management. Also, diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome around 8 years ago. When I'm taking this medicine, usually 2-3 times per day, I'm regular with a bowel movement of one to two times a day, depending on my diet and food intake (I eat very little on most days). Whenever I'm not taking this medication, I'm lucky if I'm able to go once over a 3-4 day time frame, even with laxatives, stool softeners, and my daily dose of lactulose syrup. I took Zelnorm about 8 years ago, until it went off the market, but Amitiza works much better. I asked my doctor to prescribe it after seeing a commercial for it. I've done well with it, only side effect: flatulence."

• Anonymous
• October 21, 2009

For Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "I have had very severe chronic constipation for over two years that has just seemed to get worse and worse over time. I've tried Amitiza on a few occasions over the last couple of years, and each time has been an awful experience. It works, but it takes about 3 days, and those 3 days are unbearable. Horrible gas and bloating, headaches, cramps, nausea, not to mention the pain in my back and sides from the severe bloating. I gave a friend some of my samples, and it worked wonders for her, she had none of those side effects. Everyone is different, it's always worth a try."

• Bel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 7, 2012

For Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "I've suffered from constipation for about 10 years now. I would use a laxative once or twice a week. Tired of laxatives, so the doctor prescribed Amitiza. The first 2 days, I suffered from severe nausea and had to lay in bed for an hour or so until it passed. Then I had extreme diarrhea that lasted the whole day. So far, it seems that I'm only experiencing light nausea with the first dose, which seems to subside when I fill my stomach with food. It has been a full week now that I've been taking it and have yet to have a full bowel movement. I have constant gas and pains. I feel like I have to have a movement, but when I go to the bathroom, I find I still have to strain and nothing really comes out."

• Meg...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 28, 2016

For Opioid-Induced Constipation "I have opiate-induced constipation from narcotic pain killers. My doctor gave me samples of Manitoba, and it worked great. I didn't have any side effects other than cramping, which is to be expected with any laxative. It worked within 2 hours and continued to work throughout the rest of the day. I would definitely recommend taking this on a day you have nothing to do. It causes a little gas and stomach cramps that feel like you're gonna have diarrhea. But it definitely does the job. I also had a little nausea after taking it, but it was worth it. Especially if you have been dealing with chronic constipation for a while. Anything is better than the constant bloating and pain associated with constipation."

• Anonymous
• September 20, 2012

For Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "I started taking Amitiza a month ago. I am on the 24 mg. It works sometimes, but I am experiencing side effects that I didn't think resulted from this medication until I read some of the reviews. I have trouble taking in breaths, coughing, severe headaches, nausea, but most of all, bloating and gas. Before the medication, while being constipated, I could still button up my pants. Now that I've started the medicine, it's a struggle due to bloating."

• 62...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 17, 2016

For Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "After reading all the previous reviews of Amitiza, I felt compelled to add my experience. The first morning I took it with a meal and plenty of water and went to work. Mistake! Jeff Foxworthy jokes about the side effects of certain medications, like fecal incontinence. I can assure you it's no laughing matter when it happens to you. Within 1 1/2 hrs., it began. My stomach was full of gas, and I was worried sick all day about not knowing when my issue would start. That evening, I took my second dose, and about three hours later had leakage on my sheets. I had just been diagnosed with hypothyroidism and was put on Synthroid. The combination of my age, Synthroid, and Amitiza = fecal incontinence according to the 'eHealthMe' website."

• Nic...
• November 1, 2015

For Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "I've had chronic constipation and IBS for six years. When I was first given this drug, it was stronger than I needed and caused severe cramping with gas. Later, when nothing else worked, I was given it again, and I learned to take it at bedtime so that I don't notice the cramping. It's just one of many medicines I take, but my body can't expel without it. I have developed hypoglycemia and found on an MRI that I also have a spastic colon, so I think we're about to make some trial changes, but I'm not sure I would be alive without Amitiza. My insurance only pays a portion, but I use the online coupons to make it affordable."

• Ban...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 15, 2019

For Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "I've been experiencing constipation for over 15 years. I was so miserable. I tried everything, nothing worked, so I had to take herbal teas with senna or cleanses to go. When I first tried Amitiza 8 mcg, it didn't work, then finally, after about a week and a half, it started working. I just have to drink a lot of water and take 2 bulk laxatives with it. I did experience some gas and bloating, but it's better than being full of poop. I'm so thankful. I finally don't look pregnant anymore! Yayyy."

• jm1...
• July 19, 2011

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation "Before taking Amitiza, I had stomach pain every single time I ate, suffered from severe constipation, had gas and bloating. I take 24 mg twice a day, and my pain has completely diminished, but I still have severe constipation and still get bloated every time I eat. The medicine does help, but not completely."

• crs...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 30, 2019

For Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "This medication gave me terrible side effects: bloating, gas, diarrhea, abdominal pain, exhaustion, headache. Do not use it if you do not have to. The benefit was not enough to warrant the amount of side effects I got from Amitiza, so I had to stop it. It took 2 weeks for the side effects to completely go away."

• Sun...
• December 23, 2014

For Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "I stopped after only taking 2 pills. I developed a slight problem breathing and a rash across my neck and shoulders. Also, I now have unbearable gas pains after taking 2 of these pills a week ago. I am glad that I was only given 4 pills by the pharmacist as they were out, so I wasn't charged."

• Fem...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 28, 2018

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation "So far, so good. I started this med due to my first IBS-C flare that went on for a week and showed no signs of going away. I’ve been on 8 mg samples, morning and night, for three days now. This medication is so amazing for shortening my time in the restroom; I’ve gone to 1-2 hours from 10-15 minutes. I had some nausea the first day, but that’s gone now. The only negatives with this med are that I get stomach cramping if I eat vegetables until I “go,” and sometimes simple gas, which has increased, feels like it’ll be a BM."

• Anonymous
• October 1, 2009

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation "I take 8 mg, 2 pills a day; 1 teaspoon of milk of magnesia at night; worked great for a month, then stopped. I am either not going or have runny stools; terrible gas and bloating; affecting my entire life; I take Gas-X and charcoal tablets daily; no real consistent relief, but runny stools are better than nothing for me; no nausea with food."

• Anonymous
• July 13, 2011

For Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "I take two 8 mcg capsules daily, and it does work without any side effects, except I have had some mild headaches, but don't know if it is from the Amitiza or not. It has really helped with my constipation, but I do get quite a bit of gas and have to go to the bathroom more times a day, but that is better than constipation."

• Meg...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 4, 2021

For Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "This drug has been a lifesaver. I have cystic fibrosis, and along with that comes chronic constipation. I had recurrent rectal prolapse as a child, and now as an adult, I have occasional DIOS-related bowel obstructions that require hospitalization for Gastrografin enemas and NG tube suction. I’ve been on Amitiza 24 mg, along with 200 mg Senokot-S twice daily for almost three years now, and I’m so thankful to be able to drop Miralax from my regular rotation (except for occasional use) because it would make me gag and give me gas (which are rarer side effects of the med). I’ve only had one bowel obstruction during this time period and no side effects, except for maybe some additional gurgling stomach noises after meals (which is literally just a sign that it’s working). My insurance covers it completely."

• Kat...
• February 15, 2017

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation "Took this medication for one day, that might have painful diarrhea and a lot of gas. This is not a solution for IBS if it just gives you more pain. Do not recommend if you are able to have semi-regular bowel movements. It's just too strong. Gave me heartburn and nausea too."

• jim...
• August 10, 2016

For Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "within an hour of having my first pill of Amitiza, I experienced gas, nausea, and feeling like I was food poisoned... not fun."