Lubiprostone and Diarrhea: What Users Say

• Ano...
• March 26, 2017

For Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "Amitiza has worked great for me every time that I have taken it. I only have to take it as needed. It works very fast! Usually between 30 min-1 hour. The longest it has ever taken was 3 hours. No cramping or distention. The only problem is the diarrhea, sometimes explosive. Still better than being constipated to the point of impaction though. A word of caution: If you take it, beware of passing gas... it sometimes isn't just gas you are feeling... let's just say you may be in a bit of a messy situation if you aren't careful!"

• Ano...
• March 26, 2017

For Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "Amitiza has worked great for me every time that I have taken it. I only have to take it as needed. It works very fast! Usually between 30 min-1 hour. The longest it has ever taken was 3 hours. No cramping or distention. The only problem is the diarrhea, sometimes explosive. Still better than being constipated to the point of impaction though. A word of caution: If you take it, beware of passing gas... it sometimes isn't just gas you are feeling... let's just say you may be in a bit of a messy situation if you aren't careful!"

• Sal...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 13, 2021

For Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "I am a 27-year-old female who suffers from lifelong chronic idiopathic constipation. Much like most of you, I have tried everything the FDA has approved under the sun. Ran out of options and was prescribed Amitiza. I took two capsules the first day and was the sickest I have ever been. Projectile vomiting, shaking, faintness, heart palpitations, tight chest, and liquid stool. I was close to calling 911, but vomiting brought me back to life, so to speak. I completely emptied my bowels, the price of becoming that ill was not worth it. I have stopped taking it and am so heartbroken. I was hoping this would be it. The cure. I wasted so much money on the prescription."

• Anonymous
• September 7, 2016

For Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "After being diagnosed with POTS syndrome about two and a half years ago, I developed awful constipation. Like a lot of others said on here, I tried everything! For a while, Miralax twice daily worked, but slowly it stopped. I've tried Citrucel, Metamucil, Milk of Mag, Colace, high fiber diets, and nothing would help. I ended up going to the emergency room after not going for seventeen days, and even an enema did barely anything. I was first put on a low dose of Linzess, but got awful bloating, pains, and diarrhea. Then I got put on the lowest dose of Amitiza and only take it one time daily. It did wonders, and I am one who is incredibly sensitive with meds. I take one before bed with yogurt, which helps soothe any possible nausea."

• AMM...
• June 5, 2013

For Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "I have been on Amitiza for nearly 8 years. I take three tablets, 24 mcg, daily; however, I only take it at bedtime. If I, for some reason, have to take it during the day because I missed my bedtime dose, I get very nauseous, gag, and diarrhea. I strongly suggest taking this medicine when you are ready to sleep. The other problem is that I need three tablets daily, and it is extremely expensive."

• Bun...
• June 23, 2017

For Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "In the first week I took Amitiza, I thought it was going to be a miracle answer to my chronic constipation. But I had a side effect of severe headaches almost every day... and sometimes all day long. Since I already have migraines, I blamed it on them getting worse... even though the symptoms were different. First, the headache would start, and within 5-10 minutes, a gush of uncontrollable diarrhea. I kept blaming it all on migraines and seeking treatment for them. Finally, because of the expense of this one medication and having to take so many more, I had to stop taking Amitiza. Within just a few days, the headaches with diarrhea stopped. This is an excellent product if you don't have the side effects."

• Atl...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 27, 2017

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation "I started taking Amitiza 8 mcg twice a day about a year ago. At first, I didn't notice anything. I have really bad bloating issues due to slow motility in my large intestines. He then increased my dosage to 24 mcg twice a day, and that's when my bloating decreased. I'm able to eat foods I couldn't eat before. It does give me diarrhea badly at times, but it doesn't bother me. I would give it a 10, but I still feel like there is something in my low intestines. Like it's not completely moving everything out of me. If I don't take it for a few days, I do notice the bloating get worse. I definitely feel a whole lot better taking it than if I don't."

• Anonymous
• February 21, 2020

For Opioid-Induced Constipation "I have seen some of the comments on here about mood changes and how their doctors said that is not a side effect. WRONG. If you have a specific mood disorder, I highly suggest avoiding the drug to avoid a crisis. Here are a few of the extreme side effects this drug can have: 'Serious side effects of Amitiza: Severe diarrhea; swelling of arms and/or legs; changes in mental health; mood changes.' I wanted to start the medication because I take 80 mg of Oxycodone and 30 mg XR of morphine a day, and I cannot go at all without assistance. Laxatives do not work anymore, and the pain and hassle of enemas and suppositories are getting to be the worst. I am still unsure about what to do."

• Sam...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 27, 2019

For Opioid-Induced Constipation "I took Amitiza as prescribed (24 mg x 1) for constipation, which was a result of my medications for chronic depression and anxiety, as well as the addition of gabapentin for nerve pain. Aside from the bloating, cramps, and diarrhea, after about three days I relapsed into severe depression, even though I had been in remission for over 15 years. Not realizing my body was reacting to the Amitiza, I remained on it for about 10 days. I strongly caution anyone who is on medication for anxiety and/or depression to consider an alternative to Amitiza. Even after 3 weeks off of Amitiza, I am still struggling with the side effects of depression."

• coa...
• May 11, 2017

For Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "55 yr old female, chronic constipation my whole life. I have tried everything, OTC to Linzess, which did nothing. I am thin, exercise, high fiber, flax, Metamucil, probiotic, and nothing. I go 4-5 days, then take 3 Dulcolax, magnesium citrate, and pray. Now that doesn't work. Colonoscopy ruled out anything 'serious.' Prescribed 24 mcg Amitiza. Ate breakfast, took the pill, and within an hour, I was SO SICK. I had explosive diarrhea, felt faint, nauseous, cold chills, and sweating. Laying on my bathroom floor, going back and forth to the toilet, thought I would throw up too. But I went! I did not take it again because of the side effects. Doc gave me 8 mcg. I'm scared to take it. It's awful that I would even think of taking it again just to go to the bathroom."

• Ms...
• September 19, 2011

For Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "I've been chronically constipated since I was 5 (I'm in my early 20s now). I always went to doctors, who kept saying over and over, 'fiber and water.' Prune juice and normal laxatives (not stimulant laxatives) would have little to no effect on me. Amitiza makes me feel normal, and for the first time I can ever remember, I don't dread when I have to do a bowel movement. It's painless! I've solved this taboo problem that I have suffered with for my entire life! It's a great feeling to have relief now. I do get nausea and a headache if I take it without a moderate-sized meal. I also get cramps and explosive diarrhea if I take it and then eat a lot of dairy, like a milkshake (I'm not lactose intolerant though). Despite this, I love this medicine!"

• Tum...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 13, 2019

For Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "Oh my, no, no, no! Avoid this. I took one 24 mg pill with food. 30 mins later, I felt lightheaded and drenched in sweat. Vomited all over the floor. Couldn’t even make it to the bathroom, and more vomit hit. Then the horrible, loose stool started. So loose you can’t get off the toilet or you’ll have a mess. Finally took a Zofran to ease the vomiting. I feel so much worse. Not worth it! Avoid this med. I feel like death."

• Lil...
• September 26, 2015

For Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "My doctor put me on the 24s twice a day with a meal. Despite always taking it correctly, it always gives me unbearable nausea and occasionally diarrhea. For me personally, the side effects make this medication very unbearable. However, I gave it a decent rating because it certainly gets things moving along. The first day I took it, I passed stool 5 times, which seemed excessive. Overall, it's up to you to decide if you feel better or worse after taking it."

• 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."

• hon...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 24, 2019

For Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "I have been taking Amitiza 24 mcg twice a day for several years. I also take psyllium fiber and drink water up to 2 quarts a day. Since my work does not support a lot of walking, I tend to get abdominal bloating in the afternoon due to incomplete bowel emptying and inactivity. When my stool becomes dark brown, I may experience diarrhea as my colon is attempting to move hard stool. When my stool is soft formed and a light tan color, I experience a feeling of complete emptying and no abdominal bloating or diarrhea. This is a daily challenge to ensure sufficient exercise, water intake, and fiber-rich and roughage-producing foods. I feel that the medication would be more effective if the dosage could be titrated or time-released to meet individual patient needs."

• Brn...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 11, 2016

For Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "I've had chronic constipation all my life, and I am in my 60s now. I have tried it all! I've practically lived on taking enemas every 4 to 5 days, which worked most of the time. I haven't had a 'normal' BM on my own in over 5 years. It just sits there and won't come out. I was prescribed 24 mg Amitiza a month ago. I took one at 8 a.m. I had a great BM at 10 a.m. It only took 2 hours to work! But it was not formed. It was almost like slight diarrhea. It felt like such a big relief to get all of that toxic poison out! The drawback, I had a lot of nausea all day and bouts of diarrhea 3 or 4 times later. I also felt bloated for a couple of hours, which was a bit uncomfortable. So at this point, I'm a little nervous to take another one."

• Eps...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 15, 2015

For Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "My prescription was for 24 mcg twice a day. I never tried it two times in one day because it is so unpredictable. After a few hours (or more), it gives me severe diarrhea lasting at least an hour. So I normally take it late at night so it works by the morning."

• Pau...
• December 10, 2016

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation "I was kind of shady to take this pill because of all the bad reviews on it. I have IBS, so I thought, what do I have to lose? So I took one pill, and within 10 minutes, this terrible nausea hit me. I even ate before I took it, and that didn't help, I was nauseous all day long, and I thought screw this, I am not taking it again, so I didn't. Two to three days later, I started having terrible stomach cramps to the point where I wanted to cry. I had diarrhea and also somewhat of stools. So does the drug make you go? Yeah. Are the side effects worth it? No! This is a really powerful drug with way too many side effects. It also gave me a bad headache."

• 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."

• Anonymous
• October 12, 2011

For Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "I have been on this medicine about 3 weeks now. The first week, I thought there was good progress, then things went back to more my norm of not going for days on end. My doctor increased it to 8 mcg 2 x/day, still not much change. I decided to take 3 at a time. Probably not a good idea. I had diarrhea within the hour, severe nausea, and a little shortness of breath."

• BCa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 18, 2018

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation "I took my first dose of 24 mcg about 11 pm and had eaten about 1/2 hour earlier. About 30 min later, I had severe cramping, my tongue started getting numb. So, I went to the bathroom and had severe diarrhea. I threw up, my feet and hands started going numb, and I broke out in a huge puddle of cold sweat. I thought I was going to pass out. Neither the doctor nor pharmacist told me about these types of side effects. Needless to say, I will stick to Miralax."

• HLa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 2, 2020

For Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "My doctor gave me Amitiza and Linzess in his office to take for chronic constipation. Within 10 minutes, I went to the bathroom all over myself, and then came the severe diarrhea. I went over 50 times in 5 hours. I had a headache, nausea, and stomach pain. I started getting dizzy and briefly passed out. Called the nurse, and she said to call the ambulance. I got to the ER, waited 5 hours, then got rehydration. It was awful. I told my doctor, and he said to just take Linzess if needed."

• Pau...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 25, 2015

For Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "I suffer from chronic constipation, mainly due to the side effects of medications I take to control pain from RRMS (Opana and Norco), and probably the MS itself. I am so sick of the nightly stomach pains, 'sitting sessions,' and nothing comes out, avoiding vacations due to a 'single' bathroom situation, nonstop talking about it, and the effect it has on my sex life. My neuro seems hesitant to Rx Amitiza and tells me to use Miralax, which does not work that well. Tried adding Magnesium Oxide, but it gave me cramps and bad diarrhea for 3 days (a bit of a purging session, if you will), of course followed by constipation again. I drink a gallon of H2O a day and just sick and tired of dealing with this. Is this med that good?"

• lui...
• December 26, 2012

For Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "Second day on this pill... severe diarrhea. I'm a dialysis patient, so constipation is part of many pills. I think I'm still afraid of going outside, thinking of the use of the restroom, dizziness, and weakness. Good for emergencies, but still thinking if someday I will be back to normality with no pills at all."

• 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."