I have suffered from IBS for 8+ years for the last 6+ years I have random "flare ups" with horrible stabbing pain with gas and usually diarrhea. I've never been a constipation sufferer really, always having soft to very soft movements 2-6 times a day on average without the "flare ups". I've been on the medication for 4 days so far, but take it when I wake up and wait at least an hour before eating and within 20-30 minutes of eating I am in the bathroom with liquid BMs for the remainder of the day. I have been purposely not drinking anything much to avoid the liquid BMs the most relief I've had from my usual symptoms is no cramping, but I'm still having the stabbing pains in my abdomen after the BMs. I just want to know how long I should keep trying this medication.
Linzess - How long does the severe diarrhea go on?
Question posted by damurphy on 14 July 2013
Last updated on 4 February 2019 by kkclark1007
7 Answers
I realize this question is almost 6 years old but I was given Linzess recently for chronic constipation and I couldn't leave the bathroom for almost 3 days. This is a new diagnosis for me and I finally went to the doctor when my regular amount of Miralax in my coffee wasn't helping. Does the diarrhea go away after continued use? I think I got severely dehydrated so I've been drinking a ton of water and a few bottles of smart water to help replenish my system. If it goes away as my body gets used to it, I'll continue it. But if this is how life will be as long as I'm taking it, no thank you. I'd rather go another route.
Hi there! Helping out another sufferer such as myself. I have chronic IbS with constipation. I take linzess. However I also take a probiotic medical food called VSL #3. Also I had started with Tobias deep immune system capsules. Takes about a week or so but I’m completely pain free with minor bloating and discomfort. It’s been a LIFE SAVER. Do your research. I get it on amazon. It’s a game changer. I’m still on linzess I think I could probably stop it if I take more probiotics. You can take up to 16 capsules. Currently I was taking two now started with 3 every morning a few dats ago. Best of luck. We have to be our own doctors sometimes. They only treat symptoms and don’t solve the problem. I solved and made my problem bareable. And disappear almost completely. If I stop the probiotic the problem returns. Very pleased with the producers notated above.
If you're not constipated what are you doing taking linzess at all.!
All you doing is stripping yourself of your electrolytes you don't need Linzess !
It's strictly for constipation
I know this post was from last year but I was curious what your doctor said about putting you on the meds when you had ibs-d and not ibs-c. I have ibs-d and the doctor just put me on linzess. I didnt realize it was for ibs-c until I took it and had horrible diarreha and googled it. Did the doctor keep you on it? Does it help with ibs-d?
Linzess is NOT for D. If you have IBS D and you were prescribed it, you're doctor is WRONG and you need to stop taking it. You are probably not taking it anymore at this point anyways but you need to watch out for dehydration. You also need to print out the info on Linzess and show it to your Dr and ask him why he didn't know this, and if he DID know why he Rxed it for you.
damurphy,
delila and lady are right, Linzess is for IBS with constipation. But don't stop taking it until you talk to your doctor. Definitely, start drinking water or if you don't like water, put Crystal Light in it. That's what I do. Until you can talk to your doc, start eating some Activia yogurt, bananas, and oatmeal. These will all help to naturally slow the diarrhea down to a manageable level. Avoid high fiber foods, especially corn and nuts. They will irritate the IBS and make it worse during a flare up. Corn and nuts should probably be cut out of your diet altogether because they are killer on IBS.
Although Linzess might be the wrong med for you, you need to give it more than 4 days to get into your system. I take hyoscyamine sub-lingual 4 times a day for IBS with diarrhea. Might have to cut the number of doses because it is making me go the other way, if ya know what I mean. Your doctor will find the right med for you, don't worry. As with any other meds, it's a trial and error situation. Hang in there! Load up on Activia, bananas and oatmeal and call your doc in the morning. Oh yeah, one other thing! Stay far, far away from aspirin and ibuprofen. Bad, bad news with IBS because of GI effects and possibility for bleeding. Stick with acetaminophen. Feel better soon!
Kath
Thank you!! I tend to avoid corn and nuts anyways since they are NOT nice to the digestive tract especially with IBS. I've taken Hyoscyamine in the past only as a PRN medication though, sometimes it helps sometimes it does not. Thank you again for your feedback!
I'm not sure why your doctor gave you Linzess as it is usually given for Chronic IBS sufferers with constipation and I can't imagine that it would help with for the constant diarrhea.
Delila is right you need to contact your doctor as this is serious.
For my IBS I take a med called Buscopan which is taken as needed and works very well to calm the intestines, stop the spasms and stop the diarrhea. I don't know if it is available where you are but it works.
The other thing that helps me if you don't have stomach problems is Natural oil of Peppermint. I buy that at the pharmacy or health food store. You put a few drops on a spoon with some sugar. It is rather strong in the mouth so you need to breath in through your nose and out through your mouth when you take it but it works even faster than the Buscopan does.
I have had IBS with the colon spasms since I was 12 so I know how much you are suffering. I hope your doctor can get you something that gives you relief as the Linzess doesn't sound like it is the med for you.
Take care
Thank you very much for the feedback. I will definitely be contacting my doctor. I have been on several different medicines in the past. Librax had helped me in the past, but he didn't acknowledge that when I said it the other day.
When the diarrhea gets bad for me I go on the BRAT diet and it helps.
That is Bananas, Rice (white only), Applesauce, Toast (again white and dry). I can eat some yogurt but not too much at once as it is a milk product and can cause too much mucous to form in the colon.
Hope you are feeling better soon.
The BRAT diet is dangerous--see cdc.gov and studies.
It is only meant for short term to stop the diarrhea and it works where nothing else will for me. Loosing a pound a day for 20 days when you don't need to lose weight is more dangerous than spending 2 or 3 days on the BRAT diet
Hi, you need to contact your doctor now. Don't wait any longer. I'm very concerned about you becoming dehydrated. I understand your reason for not wanting to drink too much because of the diarrhoea, but please start drinking water again now. 6 pints a day to rehydrate. Your doctor will be able to advise you about he next step to take...
Thank I will contact them as soon as I can. I appreciate your feedback!
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constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, diarrhea, pain, gas
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