Lubiprostone and Vomiting: What Users Say

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

Lubiprostone 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."

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

Lubiprostone 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."

• Mar...
• October 18, 2016

Lubiprostone for Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "I have been taking Amitiza for about a week and having a very limited BM every 3 days. I get terribly nauseated in about 20 minutes after taking it, and last evening after dinner, I became sick and vomited. My stomach is so bloated and hurts from the extreme pressure. I took the Linzess, and at first, it worked, and after a month, it stopped. I am not going to take this med tonight. I was taking 8 mcg 2x a day with meals. I might go back to Linzess and take it with Miralax to see if that would work."

• Ean...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 3, 2019

Lubiprostone for Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation "After Linzess quit working for me, my GI prescribed me Amitiza. The first few weeks of taking it twice daily with food were pretty rough with the unbearable side effects. I was unable to work after taking the medication due to the overwhelming fatigue and nausea. It even got to the point where I would have to vomit after taking the medication to get rid of the side effects. But after experimenting with how often and when I take the medication, the side effects became bearable. I now take the Amitiza once daily on an empty stomach, which helps with the nausea, but the fatigue that subsides within 2 or so hours is still there. In my opinion, I'd rather deal with the fatigue than not having a bowel movement. I do recommend!!"

• Anonymous
• April 16, 2012

Lubiprostone for Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "I've had chronic constipation for 8 years now, and I can go anywhere between one to three weeks without a movement. My doctor prescribed me Amitiza, and I'm now having a movement every other day. The only reason I didn't give a ten is that the side effects are brutal. I've eaten a full meal and drank water, and I've still gotten terrible nausea, and I've even vomited from it. And the headaches don't give a good impression either. But I would rather deal with that than the horrible constipation. Overall, I love it!"

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

Lubiprostone 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."

• Lee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 13, 2021

Lubiprostone for Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "Was given this for constipation. I had severe nausea and headache. I was certain I was going to vomit for several hours after each dose. I felt like I had a severe stomach virus. It was so debilitating I had to stop taking it after two days."

• All...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 25, 2018

Lubiprostone for Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation "When I started out taking Amitiza, it worked great at 24 mcg twice a day, but after 1 week, I started to get very sick every time I took it. My symptoms were syncope, dyspnea, nausea, vomiting, loose stool, heart palpitations, rapid heart rate, chills, sweating, headache, and tunnel vision. I tried taking it once a day, still had all the same effects. After talking to my Dr., we decided to go to 8 mcg twice a day. I didn't take any for 2 weeks and started taking the 8 mcg twice a day. After the 11th dose (1st dose day 6), I started experiencing nausea, syncope, dyspnea, headache, chills, skin stinging, and cold sweats."

• Qwe...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 27, 2023

For Opioid-Induced Constipation "I've been taking opioids for quite a while due to severe rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and fibromyalgia. I started taking Linzess, and over time I was going weeks without a bowel movement. My doctor had me take Miralax twice daily, and still no bowel movements. I told my gastrointestinal doctor I needed something good for opioid-induced constipation (OIC), and I was prescribed lubiprostone 24 mcg, twice daily. The first dose I took, I had nausea, vomiting, and gas, but as the day went by, it got better, and I had a bowel movement. I called my doctor to inform him once daily is all I can handle until I get used to them, and he was okay with that. I now only take these as needed because the side effects are not so good for me."

• OTT...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 22, 2016

Lubiprostone for Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation "I started on just 8 mcg and noticed no change at all in a month, so my GI decided to up it to 24, I believe. I'm on a lot of medication for chronic pain and tumor damage to my brain, so juggling all my meds, it took me almost a month to figure out the higher dosage was causing me to throw up every morning. I wake up and take all my morning pills, so obviously my stomach is kind of empty, and 40 minutes later I'm vomiting with little warning. I thought it was associated with another brain tumor, as when I took the pill again at 6, I didn't get sick, but by then I had a meal in me. It has helped somewhat with my bowels, but I'm still on Miralax and stool softener, and the copay is pretty high, so with all considered and how lousy the side effects are."

• coo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 23, 2018

Lubiprostone for Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation "Doc prescribed this medicine to me for my IBS problem. Sure, it did help with my bowel movement, but I ended up spending close to an hour in the bathroom due to the persistent pain! Into the 3rd day of taking it, it has caused me multiple horrible side effects - bloating, nausea, giddiness. The last straw came when the following day, it even resulted in vomiting! Would not recommend this due to the strong side effects."

• bbk...
• August 30, 2016

Lubiprostone for Opioid-Induced Constipation "The nausea hit within 20 minutes or so. I kept trying to vomit in the toilet, but just dry heaving. I was crying at the same time, and my poor cat was standing near me, crying, too. I was sick for hours and really thought about calling an ambulance. I laid down with a blanket and was shivering. This has been the worst experience I have ever had with a prescription drug. I feel so bad I will not be able to take my other meds tonight. I am afraid I will throw them up."

• bbk...
• August 30, 2016

Lubiprostone for Opioid-Induced Constipation "The nausea hit within 20 minutes or so. I kept trying to vomit in the toilet, but just dry heaving. I was crying at the same time, and my poor cat was standing near me, crying, too. I was sick for hours and really thought about calling an ambulance. I laid down with a blanket and was shivering. This has been the worst experience I have ever had with a prescription drug. I feel so bad I will not be able to take my other meds tonight. I am afraid I will throw them up."

• Cin...
• September 30, 2018

Lubiprostone for Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation "It is horrible. I have nauseousness, vomiting, and it doesn't work."