Generic Name: Amitiza (lubiprostone)
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."
For Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "I've had chronic constipation all my adult life. Tried Linzess, it worked for a month then stopped. Doctor started me on Amitiza (24 mg) and it is a miracle. I've been on for four months now. After a life of 7-10 days between bowel motions, I now go comfortably 3-4 times per week. No pain, very little gas. It's a miracle for me."
For Opioid-Induced Constipation "I'd never been regular in my whole life, it was always a problem. I was lucky if it resolved itself every 3 or 4 days. But then, once I aged and my rheumatoid arthritis advanced to a debilitating degree, I had to go on opiates... oh dear. 7-8 days or even more of being bound up became the norm. It was REALLY painful! The only way I could help myself was to stop taking my pain meds and overdose on laxatives and enemas every few days. That usually worked within 24 hrs, but it really isn't good for you. I finally confessed to my gastroenterologist that this was going on, and he prescribed me Amitiza. It took a week to work for me, but now I have the exact opposite problem. I'm on 24 mcg 2x daily. I think maybe it needs to be just once!"
For Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "Thank God for modern medicine! Constipation may seem, to those who don't suffer from it in its severe form, to be a minor issue, but it is NOT! When going to the bathroom induces fear and anger because you know that you will spend the next 45 minutes suffering, doing what others take for granted, it's time to get help. After a year of using Fleets and OTC meds which did nothing, I was finally given Amitiza, and it was a little miracle. Don't suffer, demand this medication, don't let your MD's tell you to take OTC meds, which do nothing or next to nothing. I had to suffer a fissure before finally getting this simple solution to a horrible problem. Don't wait until it's a very serious medical problem, deal with it now."
For Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation "I have Irritable Bowel Syndrome-constipation and have tried everything out there. They either didn't work or had ridiculous side effects that outnumbered the advantages. Amitiza is the best medicine I have ever taken. I have very severe constipation and take 24mcg 2x/daily. I went from no bowel motions to going once every other day on average. Advice...take it with food. The only side effect I have is crazy nausea and a horrid headache if I take it on an empty stomach. Also, it is very expensive and can have a hefty co-pay. Amitiza has a website where you will get a free card to cover your co-pay. I went from $25 out of pocket to $0!"
For Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "I have had Chronic idiopathic Constipation all my life. I am a 64-year-old female. I had hemorrhoid surgery at 18 and again at 28. I remember as a young girl straining to have a bowel movement. I have tried all kinds of laxatives, lubricants, fiber, stimulants, motility drugs, and everything in between. I have been taking Amitiza for 8 days, and I've had 6 BMs. WONDERFUL, LIFE-CHANGING MEDICATION. I have had no side effects, and my insurance covers most of the drug. I am so excited I don't know what to do. I would advise anyone with CIC to give this drug a try. It has been a lifesaver for me. I'm so glad I found out about it."
For Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "I am a 25-year-old female. I have been constipated since I was a baby, and nobody knew why. I always had to strain to go to the bathroom. As a matter of fact, I had to mentally prepare. I had to focus on my breathing to try to cope with the pain and fear of going to the bathroom. Sometimes it would take me 2 hours for nothing. I have used Amitiza for 18 months now, and if they ever took it away, I would start a riot. I go to the bathroom about 4 times a week. No pain, no strain, and it's soft and not hard. My stomach is so much flatter. I can see I actually have a shape. I lost 10 pounds of waste in the first 2 weeks. I feel lighter and happier. Going to the bathroom is a breeze. Sometimes I get nausea. But the cons are light compared to the pros."
For Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation "After reading all of these negative reviews, I decided I need to give my 2 cents in. I have suffered with constipation and stomach aches my entire life, and recently it went from bad to worse, and I finally told my doctor that I needed to do something. He originally prescribed Linzess, but my insurance would only cover that after trying Amitiza. I have been taking Amitiza as a laxative for a week, and it is a miracle, it works so well! I take two MCG pills a day. I have found 1 at night after dinner and 1 in the morning after breakfast works great. I am having normal and complete movements for the first time in years (usually I have diarrhea from taking laxatives or rocks)... it was never normal or complete. I do get a little nauseated sometimes after I take Amitiza, but it does not compare to the nausea I get from other laxatives I have tried or being backed up. I have been drinking mint tea, and it really helps. This drug is a miracle."
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!"
For Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "I recently started Amitiza at the 24mcg dose twice a day for terrible constipation not resolved with tons of water, veggies, fruits, flax, chia, bottles of Miralax, or Linzess. I have taken it for 4.5 days with NO results at all. How long is this supposed to take to work? I have the side effects of nausea, stomach cramps, bloating, hot flashes then so cold I shiver, body aches like I am coming down with the flu, joint pain. And believe me, I would put up with all of this if I could just go! But nothing is happening. I even increased my fluid intake to 3L per day, which is ridiculous. Does anyone have suggestions out there?"
For Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation "I've had IBS-C for at least 2 years. In the last year, it has become increasingly worse, which resulted in me being diagnosed with pelvic floor dysfunction. Like most of you, I could barely go... nothing seemed to help: Miralax, Phillips, etc. I was resorting to using enemas a few times a week just to get some relief. Because of this, I was feeling tired all the time, moody, and having horrible headaches. It left me feeling awful. I recently started this medicine, and it has been a godsend. I went from never being able to go on my own to at least once a day. I take it with food and water. I read the reviews on here beforehand, so I made sure to follow what others said. The first day I took it, I felt a little nauseous, but haven't since."
For Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "I have had opioid-related constipation for approximately the last 6 months. I had tried Colace, Miralax, apricots, prunes - anything I knew of that might help. I eventually ended up using enemas every few days to make sure that I went to the bathroom because it was starting to cause me terrible stomach pains. I have only been on Amitiza for a little over a week, and it has only helped me go to the bathroom one time, and it really wasn't like a complete BM. After taking it, I have a severe headache and nausea. Is this just a phase at the beginning of taking this medication? I don't know, but I can't deal with this being sick constantly. All I want to do is be in bed because moving around makes me feel like I'm going to projectile vomit. I know this might not be a problem for everyone, but for me... this medicine is not helping but only making things worse."
For Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "I absolutely love this medicine. I was so constipated that all I did was sleep. I was miserably 'full' with bowel movements maybe once every 1 to 2 weeks. Nothing else worked for me. Slight nausea sometimes (which is nothing). My energy level is restored. I thank God for giving man the knowledge to make this medicine."
For Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "I have been taking this medicine for about two weeks now, and I must say it is heaven-sent. There's nothing worse than being compacted with waste and having that constipation sensation constantly. What prompted me to invest in this 'life saver' was one day, like some of you, I went to use the restroom, and yet again as usual, I was constipated. I was frustrated and everything else, so I forced my bowel movement, and when I finished, I was bleeding. I made an appointment with the doctor, and today I'm so glad I did. So, so, so happy now."
For Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "After several years of regular constipation and laxative use, my doctor prescribed Amitiza. I took it at 6, and by 10:30, it was working. I've been taking 24mg twice daily, but I think I'll cut back to only once a day because sometimes I'm nervous about leaving my house. It works too well and very fast."
For Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "My doctor put me on Amitiza yesterday. 2 hours after taking this medication, I had a BM. I had gone a week without a BM. I have suffered from constipation all of my life. Normally I would have one BM a week, on a good week, two. I was always in pain, full, and just uncomfortable. I can't tell you how good it feels to be 'normal.' I have had two more BMs today. For some, this may not seem exciting, but only if you have suffered from chronic constipation would you understand. I would recommend this to anyone. I have not suffered any of the side effects that others have talked about, for me, it has been a godsend. The only negative comment I would have is the price, as insurance does not cover it and it was over $300.00 a month."
For Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "I've been taking this medicine for about 6 months, and it has made a world of a difference. I've had constipation for over 8 years. I'm in my late 20s, healthy, female, and moderately active. Things that normally would give others runny diarrhea, like prune juice, I would barely see any effect. After being tired of painful amounts of fiber intake and OTC stool softeners that didn't help enough, my doctor put me on this twice a day, and it works great. I had few side effects, and only for about a week."
For Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation "I've been taking 8mcg Amitiza twice a day, for two months, to treat Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Finally! A Dr. who actually listened to me and provided a solution instead of blaming me for the GI/bowel problems. (i.e., 'You need more fiber,' 'It's your nerves,' or 'It's caused by the NSAIDS you take.'). Almost 40 years of daily chronic painful bloating, constipation & pain under my left rib cage is almost gone, (I'm 50.) It did take a few weeks to adjust to it. By that, I mean: 1.) Discovering that taking Fiber Supplements with the prescription caused painful gas/bloating, 2.) Determining exactly how much food/drink to ingest with each dose, to avoid gas/bloating or a headache & 3.) Remembering to take it with a meal. I'd give it a 10 if there was 0 bloating and no headaches."
For Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation "I am a 30-year-old woman who has been suffering from IBS-C since before my teen years. This is the only pill that has ever worked for me. There have been times where I would go off the medication because it is rather pricey. And I can tell you, I regret it every time. My IBS-C is so bad to the point where I will go weeks without any relief. And then when I am able to go, I get ridiculously sick for hours prior to the BM. The stomach pains I feel are worse than labor pains, and I would know since I have been through childbirth. I only need to take one 8mcg tablet a day (with food, typically lunchtime) and I stay regular. If you are struggling with a disease like this, Amitiza is totally worth a shot! What do you have to lose?"
For Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "I was in the hospital for a week in January with colitis. I was prescribed Amitiza when I was released, 2 capsules per day of 240 mcg. I started taking the medication, and after 3 days I was having very loose bowel movements 4 or 5 times a day. I had also been told to go on the Mediterranean diet. I only had nausea the first couple of days. I finally learned to take the medication only once a day and did so for a week. I started skipping the medication for 1 day and then 2 days. I started having regular bowel movements every morning, so (with the doctor's approval) I only take the medicine as needed. If you follow the directions VERY CAREFULLY, some of the symptoms will go away. I am a 79-year-old extremely active man."
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."
For Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation "I developed Irritable Bowel Syndrome-C and chronic constipation after a C-section. I now take Amitiza 24mcg 2x per day. I've been on it for about 10 months. It works fantastic. I can 'go' at least once a day now. Amitiza draws fluid from your body to increase bowel movement (I can actually hear it working) so it is important to drink a lot of water and eat before or immediately after. I've noticed that if I don't drink a lot of water, nausea will develop. In addition, IBS-C has caused me to change my diet and exercise. That helped a lot too. NOTE-- If the prescription costs a lot, even with insurance, Amitiza offers a discount card online."
For Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "As a survivor of very severe anorexia, I had renal failure and am now not able to produce the correct mucus or 'lubrication' in my intestines. This causes bowel movements to be infrequent and painful. Amitiza is a godsend. Works just like it should. Was on 16 mcg twice a day but was just put on 24 mcg twice a day with 40mg Zegrid. Not sure which one is causing nausea, but Amitiza never did it before. Has made bowel movements much easier."
For Chronic Idiopathic Constipation "I have had constipation my entire life (I'm nearly 64). My father (deceased) was a physician and kept things 'working' with various medications. As an adult, and after being diagnosed with lupus in '84, it gradually worsened. I had tried everything. My normal routine was a bowel movement every 5-7 days, and then it was difficult. I have been hospitalized for impaction. In the more recent years, I have been on a Miralax-type product twice a day and 24 mcg of Amitiza (once or twice a day). Amitiza is the only thing that has ever worked. I can't remember how long it took to 'kick' in, but after decades of food not transitioning through my system, I was patient. I couldn't function without it. I feel somewhat normal now. AMAZING!"
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!"
