Linzess for Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation User Reviews (Page 2)

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 7, 2013

"I'm on the low dose, even though I've been diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Even on the low dose, there were days where I would go 10 times, or I would have diarrhea. My doctor didn't want to take me off it though, because this is the only thing that really has worked. I have noticed that the amount of water I drink while taking it/before my meal can affect it. My doctor also thought adding a probiotic might help settle it down a bit. I've started taking the probiotic with Linzess, and since then, I've had more normal bowel movements. Some days I do have more than one now, but 2-3 is not bad. I highly suggest trying the probiotics (colon health) before discontinuing due to having too many bowel movements or diarrhea."

• Liz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 22, 2021

"I have been dealing with severe constipation from IBS-C, which is exacerbated by a medication I have to take for over a decade. I have tried literally every lifestyle, diet, supplement, and OTC laxative you can think of. Linzess has been absolutely life-changing for me. I take it 30 mins before breakfast. Most days I have a completely normal BM within 2 hours of eating. If I don’t, I always have one that day, just after lunch or dinner instead. I have not experienced any diarrhea. I have experienced mild bloating and occasionally cramping, but it pales in comparison to the symptoms associated with my severe constipation. Honestly, I have cried multiple times from sheer relief and joy to find something that worked. I should have listened to my GI doctor and tried it sooner. If you’re nervous about trying it because of side effects, I highly recommend you at least try it. I’m on the 145 mg dose, but I also only weigh 115 lbs."

• Mel...
• August 5, 2016

"I've been on Linzess for 2 weeks and feel amazing! Yes, I go to the bathroom a lot in the morning, about 4 times, mostly watery. BUT it beats feeling cramped and gross all day like I did before. My stomach is flatter because I am finally not bloated. I am not sure how people gain weight on this because it makes you go to the bathroom a lot. Maybe fluid retention. I do drink a lot of water with this medicine and followed the recommendation of increased fiber in my diet. I've lost 5 lbs. It's only been 2 weeks, but I am having amazing results and am finally pain-free!"

• Liz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 21, 2014

"I am 55. In my 30s, I had mostly diarrhea and some constipation for five years. At 49, I started having diarrhea for 4 1/2 years. I started using a CPAP (night breathing device) and it turned into mostly constipation. After 1 1/2 years of constipation, or less often diarrhea, on the second day of taking 145 Linzess, I was regular for four whole days in a row. Then, my samples ran out. It took ten days of working with my gastroenterologist and insurance company to get more. It was a miserable ten days, but this time the next day it worked. I had no diarrhea so far, mostly firm stools, and finally getting some color to my stools. A miracle, I must say. I will continue to take it daily until I feel comfortable using it randomly."

• Stu...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 1, 2013

"I tried the 145 mcg sample my Dr. gave me. Took it two days in a row at 8 a.m. and had a bowel movement at 10 a.m. both days. I skipped a day to experiment, and no bowel movement. Tried it again at 8 a.m. and sure enough, a 10 a.m. clean-out. I have no side effects, no diarrhea or pain, just a normal bowel movement, which feels GREAT for a change! Since there's a 2-hour 'wait', I'll have to make adjustments if I need to leave the house. But so far it's the most dependable product I've used."

• Kat...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 29, 2015

"I've taken Linzess (145 mg) for about 7 months now. I think what people need to know is that you can experiment with the dosing of it. My doctor prescribed it for me because I've suffered from IBS-C since my early 20s-17 years. Like others, it caused a lot of loose stool at first, but it does get better. I also found that if I took it every day after the initial adjustment period, it stopped working as well, so I backed off and started taking it every 3 days. My body doesn't get too used to it, so it is still routinely effective without having to go to a higher dose. Also, sometimes I have bowel movements normally between doses, and sometimes I don't. The magic of this is that I don't have to freak out about it now, and I don't get bloated."

• Bec...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 16, 2023

"I have been taking Linzess for about two years now. Before starting it, I would have to take all the over-the-counter laxatives every day or at least once a week. I literally cannot go to the bathroom no matter what I do. I have IBS-C. Since starting Linzess, I have my quality of life back. I used to go to the ER all the time because of being so backed up and in serious pain. Now, I empty every morning and I have it down to a science. I drink a protein shake 30 minutes after taking it and it works great! I'm shocked at all the bad reviews, but I am guessing it is not the medicine for those people. All bodies are different. I love it and I am so grateful to be using it!"

• Pau...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 27, 2023

"After 3 years of taking Linzess, it stopped working. The FDA will not approve a higher dosage than the 290 once daily, so now I have to do enemas every day, which do not produce much, and so it looks like I will have to visit the hospital a couple of times a week. During this in-between period, I have been constantly impacted. The Linzess website does not mention the fact that it will end up not working. I have tried all types of diets, stool softeners, laxatives. I always take my capsule on an empty stomach and drink lots of water. Nothing is working, and I hate the direction this is going."

• Mel...
• March 16, 2014

"Well, I started taking a low dose, and it took about 4 hours for it to kick in. I literally went about 7 times throughout the night and most of the morning. I had some cramps, my stools weren't watery, just lots of stool. I'm really worn out from going so much. But the upside is I feel pretty empty, and when I go, I feel complete. This was just the first day! I'm afraid to take it again since I don't want it to interrupt my day. I literally have to run to the restroom!"

• KV_...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 22, 2013

"After reading reviews, I was skeptical about taking Linzess when my doctor prescribed it. However, I am now so grateful that I am on this medication! I have not had any side effects, and it is working perfectly for me. I take it at the same time every morning, drink lots of water, have breakfast, and within a half hour or so, I have a bowel movement. Some days one, some days another shortly after, then I feel great the rest of the day. I used to have terrible stomach aches and headaches before Linzess, it seems to have all gone away now for the most part. Obviously, it depends on the severity of your problem, but Linzess is a miracle pill for me!"

• Anonymous
• July 10, 2014

"I have had irritable bowel syndrome all my life, and I'm 26 years old. I'm very healthy and work out daily. I've been to many doctors, and I was told to add more fiber to my diet but was never prescribed Linzess until now. Before now, I would have a bowel movement maybe once every two weeks with bloating and pain. Now I have a bowel movement once a day. You do need to plan accordingly, but if you do, it works perfectly! Love it!"

• Cj ...
• June 19, 2014

"I had bad IBS-C for almost 10 years. I'm a 23-year-old male who has tried everything and had enough of it. I tried Linzess 290 mg, and it was too much. I was very excited. I went down to 145 mg, and now I have my life back. I was so worried about leaving my house, but now it's the total opposite, this drug is a miracle drug for me. What I normally do is take the 145 mg at 9 AM, drink water until 9:30, then at 9:35 I will eat and relax. In an hour or a little more, I will have a BM. The rest of the day I will hardly go, but I will feel good-no bloating, no tummy ache, no worries!!! I hope this helped!"

• Mar...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 19, 2019

"I have been taking Linzess for at least 5 years. I started on 145 mg, and it worked fine for a short period. I was then moved to 290 mg and had the same outcome. My case is not a typical one. I have lots of motility issues, many foods I can’t eat, and extreme IBS-C. I now have pelvic floor dysfunction as well. I started taking 290 mg of Linzess along with 10 mL of Lactulose in the morning. The 2 together work very well! I now have to take 30 mL of Lactulose, but I can count on everything working out just fine within an hour and a half after taking them 95% of the time."

• Kel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 26, 2019

"One dose made me sick enough that I would never take another. It started working within 30 minutes, had over 20 trips to the bathroom, which is what it's intended to do. Five hours into it, I was still going nonstop, and it was clear. I couldn't retain fluid, became dehydrated, and then came the projectile vomit. My legs were heavy, I was shivering and had to go to the ER."

• Jun...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 7, 2013

"I was given this pill after asking for yet another GI consultation. I've been suffering from IBS-C for almost 9 years now, and it's the worst kind of hopelessness when you keep getting told, 'try this' and it doesn't work or it makes it worse. It took Linzess, and about 2 hours later, I had a small meal and within 30 minutes I was having watery stools, but NO PAIN! It's true that about 2 hours after it causes diarrhea, but OMG I'll take painless watery stools over that agonizing, gut-wrenching pain of my IBS attacks. I was having them daily and had lost hope. I am excited to see if this medicine continues to work so well!"

• Moy...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 13, 2018

"It serves its purpose. The only negative thing about it is that it works too well. Luckily, I had the day off the first time I took it, and I’m beyond thankful for that because I would not have made it through a day of work without going in my pants. If it feels like gas, it’s not. I did get the super bloat and the gargles in my stomach (louder than I’ve ever heard my stomach), but both have subsided. The best part about this medication is the lack of cramping. I have had no pain at all, just several trips (over 15) to the bathroom."

• Kan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 30, 2014

"The first time I took it, it cleaned me out like a colon cleanse. It was sudden and uncomfortable. I waited a few days and tried again. The second time, it worked beautifully and no side effects. The third day, I have been in complete agony all day. No bowel movement and constant pain. I will not take a fourth."

• Art...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 15, 2018

"Fantastic… I can finally have bowel movements daily after suffering constipation no matter what diet I was on or how much clear water I drank. Linzess has given me my life back. Side effects can be diarrhea, and if you feel like you need to pass gas, don't until you are in the bathroom. But compared to what my life was like, this is heaven… 10 stars!"

• Tan...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 15, 2019

"Made life worth living again. Expect diarrhea, of course. They should give this for colonoscopies! Works so much better than the gallons of medicine you must drink. Diagnosed with IBS-C, I go 6 or more days without any movement. Linzess takes pain away almost immediately, and within 1/2 hour, I can use the bathroom. On the highest dose."

• DH1...
• February 1, 2015

"I have suffered my entire life with IBS-C. Like many other people, I have been to several specialists, increased fiber, water, and taken several types of laxatives. My best experience with prescription medication has been with Zelnorm. Linzess is comparable in that it helps me have a bowel motion without cramping, and I do feel evacuation is complete. HOWEVER, I will add that the bloating is horrible, which is a problem initially. Zelnorm did not make me feel that way. My stomach was flat, I felt amazing. The upside to Linzess is that it works, and I'll take diarrhea over miserable constipation any day. I only take the minimum dose once a week, and I make sure it's on a day I'm not going to leave the house. I won't take this every day."

• taz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 25, 2013

"I've been on Linzess, the low dose, for about a month now. I had diarrhea the first day every couple of hours, but I had no bloating, gas, or that horrible stabbing pain. Over the first week hurdle, I noticed that the more water I drank at the time I took my medicine, the more the likelihood of diarrhea was. So I wake early in the morning, take it, and go back to sleep, and this way, I've been able to tell when I will go, which is usually 30 minutes after I eat. This medicine has been life-changing, I feel almost normal, have energy again, and most of all, I don't have that dooming hopelessness. I go about three times a day and feel like I am really going. Although some days I experience a little pain at night, it's nothing compared to my restless nights."

• ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 17, 2024

"I take 145 mcg of Linzess and it's helped a lot! I take it at night because I found that taking it in the morning was causing some discomfort after eating breakfast. I started off with a small dose, and it wasn't helping much, but this was very good! If you are a woman with IBS-C, you should talk to your doctor about this medicine. A downside, however, the 145 mcg dose will make you go pretty soon after taking it, so be sure to be near a toilet when taking. That's the reason I started taking it at night so it didn’t disrupt busy mornings. TMI: I must say it did change the scent of my poop, so if you’re sensitive to smell, maybe consider that before taking!"

• Tez...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 5, 2015

"I have been taking Linzess for irritable bowel syndrome with constipation for about 9 months. It has been very helpful. I take one 290 mg tablet every day a half hour before dinner and have a comfortable bowel movement first thing the following morning. I have never been this regular before. It is such a relief to know that I will not spend the day with cramps, bloating, and gas. The only issue is that my stomach is very noisy and bubbly during the night, but I find that oddly comforting because it means the Linzess is working!"

• Tri...
• February 26, 2016

"I have been taking this medication for 8 months now, and I have to say that even though it gives me diarrhea and I'm stuck to the bathroom for a little bit of time in the morning, it's much better than dealing with the absolute intense pain and constipation I have had for 20 years. I think Linzess has this interesting side effect that is difficult to deal with sometimes, but for me, it is well worth it. Thank God for Linzess."

• Ama...
• June 30, 2015

"After recently being diagnosed with IBS-Constipation, my doctor gave me samples of this medication and had me stop taking Miralax, which I had been taking twice a day. They stressed that one pill is to be taken first thing in the morning and to wait at least an hour before consuming any food. I have followed these directions, and I have not had any discomfort or diarrhea. I have been having at least one bowel movement a day, sometimes two, and I have lost 5 lbs since I started, about two weeks ago. Side effects I have felt are some gurgling in my stomach between bowel movements and some clogging in my ears. No bloating and no uncontrolled movements."