I have chronic constipation due to extra twists and turns in my bowels. I was prescribed this med 3 weeks ago but it hasn't worked. I know I'm not supposed to eat for an hour but I've been drinking coffee with it in the morning. Is that preventing it from working?
Is it OK to drink coffee immediately after taking Linzess?
Question posted by sbarradas on 30 Nov 2015
Last updated on 8 September 2024 by Kwilhelm
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8 Answers
Kwilhelm
8 Sep 2024
I started Linzess 5 weeks ago. My GI doctor put me on the highest dose. I noticed within 2 weeks I had uncontrollable watery bowel as I was rushing to get to the bathroom. I have also had severe diarrhea sometimes going 15 times from the time I get up in the mornings around 6 am till around 11 am. This is not daily but when it is, it is bad. Then my bowels will settle down and by the afternoon to later in the evening I feel severe stomach pain, sometimes bloating, gas and I can’t go. It’s horrible but I’m patiently waiting it out as I read it takes up to 12 weeks to see full results from the medication. I was told by my Dr. to take Miralax daily when needed. Iv had to do this sometimes twice a day as it seems to help me go during the night when I can’t go in the evening. I wouldn’t recommend doing this unless your doctor says it is ok.
Watch certain foods you eat as well as I am intolerant to dairy, gluten, spicy foods now which drives me crazy because I love it. I hope this helps and I hope you get the relief you need very soon. I know this is miserable to deal with.
Jacob-2023
2 Aug 2024
I had an endoscopy and was diagnosed with a stomach ulcer.
I was prescribed omeprazole twice daily before meals. It ultimately healed.
Having chronic constipation having been prescribed OxyContin immediate release, Vicodin & 10 mg Valium for muscle spasms.
Even supplements can cause symptoms.
My Orthopaedic surgeon diagnosed me with peripheral and peroneal neuropathy and the Gabapentin and Celebrex didn’t agree with me. So I was prescribed the medications mentioned above for about 6 years.
I quit all in 2015 and found when I sleep that’s when I had the leg spasms.
I found out the mattress had to be firmer, plus when I have them now I simply get on my feet and hands on my knees for a minute or two. Not having to take the Valium daily!
I just had bilateral hernia procedure having the surgeon entering my abdomen and placed the mesh.
Also, having bilateral lower spine back arthritis pain I have no feeling of having to have a BM.
So one can easily see there’s a lot making it difficult.
Also, if one is experiencing stomach pain it usually with me indicates I need to have a BM.
When eating food do drink water with your meal and I never did and found out I had better movements when I did.
I do urinate over a gallon of water daily.
Linzess I find one should drink a full glass of water then take a capsule with warm water and don’t eat for an hour. Try to have a glass of liquid or coffee before eating.
Then if you’re not completely impacted, a BM should happen within 2 hours.
Also I’ve done organic coffee enemas if impacted. YouTube has any info needed.
I will utilize Linzess maybe once a week to have a good clean out.
Also I’ve found open the capsule and sprinkle it on your food. Try at the start of a meal, midway or near the end and be sure to DRINK PLENTY OF LIQUIDS.
I brew Smooth Move tea two bags & blend with ginger tea bag and brew in a teapot. I refrigerate it and simply have it ready when it’s bedtime.
I also take 2 capsules of Smooth Move Senna tea usually at bedtime and 6 hours later it works wonders.
Be careful and start with a small amount because my wife gets stomach cramps so she has to stick with Linzess.
I’m a retired tradesman and 79 years of age.
Having spinal issues I believe is the reason I don’t have any feeling that I need to have a BM.
So, what I have found out I use a latex glove coated with Coconut oil and Aquaphor and digitally remove the feces.
My index finger nail I let grow longer and this will help pull the feces down.
I also put a soft cushion or pillow behind my back when sitting on the toilet seat.
I rock gently side to side and sometimes stand and move around this helps.
The initial ones will be dried and the size of large blueberries.
My gastroenterologist ordered a Anal BioFeedback procedure that a nurse works with me for I think it was 6 sessions to enable me how to initiate and tighten the stomach muscles in order to relax the anal sphincter.
She puts a probe into your anus and has me watch the monitor and tells me when to bare down or relax while tightening the abdominal muscles.
BTW, the glove can be cleaned with alcohol and turn it inside out and reuse it the next time.
I hope this is helpful.
By all means please consult your health care provider prior to initiating what I’ve mentioned what works for me.
In closing, I always have some fruit with yogurt at bedtime. Cut up prunes, dried figs & apricots, mango, raisins and add hot water to a jar and refrigerate it and sip some of the juice.
This is my first post!
vrenda
19 Jan 2021
I am also taking this for idiopathic constipation. The first few weeks I was on the higher dose and had uncontrollable bowels. My gastro put me on the lower dose. I still have issues of going for about 2 hours till I am drained. I wonder if my drinking coffee right away with half and half is making that happen. I guess I will know when I stop drinking it with or so soon after I take the Linzess. I am having the opposite reaction to yours so I think that coffee would in fact, help you go. I will update once I stop drinking it. There was a day or two after some bad diarrhea on the higher dose that I was not going at all.
Mwest42
27 Oct 2020
I was taking 145mcg of linzess and I was constantly going to the bathroom not even a week after I started the medication. It was to the point I couldn’t control my bowels. My doctor switched me to a lower dose. I think you should talk to your doctor because they can give you a higher dosage. Hope this helps!!
bestpup
6 Feb 2020
Hello
To obtain the maximum results from Linzess it's recommended that you drink six to eight (8oz) glasses of water a day.
Staying hydrated will help the symptoms of (IBS) irritable bowel syndrome and constipation.
Furthermore, taking your morning dose of Linzess at the same time everyday & 30 minutes prior to eating will also help.
On a final note, do not expect Linzess to work completely overnight.
In order for Linzess to work completely you must have patience. By week 4 you should notice less constipation and be able to have more complete bowel movements.
Best regards
bestpup
Gfl
5 Feb 2020
I take linzess for the same reason you do and I drink coffee. The first time I used it it worked then it stopped the next day. This is my third med for this and they all seem to work this way, works then stops. one thing I found that makes linzess work more often is I take a half dose of milk of magnesia when I get up and take the linzess a half hour later and it works more often. good luck.
Petloverlady1
30 April 2018
You should be able to drink coffee because it's warm and will help it work better the doctor told me I could eat a fatty breakfast and take this with the fatty breakfast like some avocado toast or some bacon and eggs if it didn't work on an empty stomach to try it that way so the hot coffee is not going to hurt you
suzanne66
26 March 2016
Linzess is a medication used to treat chronic constipation, or chronic irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in adults who have had constipation as the main symptom. It works by increasing the secretion of chloride and water in the intestines, which can soften stools and stimulate bowel movements.
This from : https://www.drugs.com/interactions-check.php?drug_list=450-0,3413-15864
Taking Linzess with food may increase gastrointestinal side effects such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, and gas. To reduce the risk of gastrointestinal intolerance, it is recommended that it should be taken on an empty stomach at least 30 minutes prior to the first meal of the day.
I don't think drinking coffee after your Linzess would have any significant effect on the effectiveness of your medicine. It could cause stomach pain, gas or diarrhea though.
It can take several weeks of taking Linzess to ease constipation so give it a little while longer before seeing your doctor again.
Related topics
constipation, constipation - chronic, chronic, linzess
Further information
- Linzess uses and safety info
- Linzess prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Linzess (detailed)
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