Linzess Stopped Working

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I have been on the 145 dose of Linzess for several years now, and it was like a miracle drug. No side effects, and for the first time in 30 years, regular BMs. The past few months have not been so great, though. Constipation, bloating and cramps have returned. I saw my Gastro a few weeks ago, and she upped my dosage to the 290. No change. Has anyone else experienced anything similar? So frustrating!

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1

Unfortunately, many people have reported the same experience, though the amount of time have varied.

Are you making sure to take it with a full glass of water, at least half an hour, before eating or drinking anything else, as directed by the FDA?

The bloating and cramps can be side effects of this medication, but it usually causes diarrhea, rather than constipation.

Are you on any other medications?

Does anyone else have any advice that may help?

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2

I have had a similar issue! I don't think I have had a bowel movement on my own in 2.5 years. By this meaning I have been on elimination diets and could go but I can't only eat like 5 things my whole life and honestly a hard night of drinking lots of vodka works better than any laxitive I've ever tried so when on those diets was drinking (a LOT) 2x a week which probs explained why they worked ha (in college if that explains it). Mirolax I've taken double doses for 2 weeks without a single bowel movement, max strength ex lax will make me go like a normal person (except third day doesn't "clean me out" but I'd say go more than normal person and very urgent). I thought linzess had given me my life back. No serious diarrhea, yes brown watery stool but when I say clockwork, I mean clockwork. I knew when there were 3 or 4 bites left of my breakfast I would have to go to the bathroom. But would have to go 2 or 3 times, and would only have to be in the bathroom like less and an min each time so wasn't inconvenient. Then one day, stopped. Anyone solve this?

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3

Thanks!
It took a few weeks, but the 290 dose seems to be working. Not as well as I initially did on the 145, but it's definitely doing something.
Hoping it continues!

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4

Yes I have been on it for a week and I have been feeling like crap (pardon the pun) for the whole week I have been beyond tired and I have had to miss work I have been feeling so bad from it my intestines feel like they are on fire and I have been feeling week and like I am drunk and I haven't had anything to drink

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5

Your body can't handle it. Ask for amitiza if you haven't tried it already.

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6

I was normal until last summer. I had many tests. My diet is great. I exercice. And do all the right things. I am so sleepy and thirsty. It is my third day. Just watery bowels. I feel the urge to go but nothing happens. I am also more thirsty

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7

Got the cure for you! Phillips Milk of Magnesia. I take pain medicine from the doctor and had the same thing happen to me. I take the generic brand & its taste terrible but it works. First time might take 2 days to work but it works. After trying all the above medicine someone told about this

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8

To add to my post on Phillips Milk of Mag. U will need to drink more than the directions say to but please don't drink too much u will regret it. It'll give u the runs for days if u drink too much so you'll just have to experiment. U might be like me and say this doesn't work and drink too much lol hope this helps you

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9

Sorry I messed that last post up but I hope u understand what I was trying to say. I can't believe it works over all the prescribed medicine plus over the counter laxatives but it works. When I was told about it I thought it was for an upset stomach but I was wrong. I know what ur going through, been there and it feels like ur gonna blow up at any min. Don't hurt to try but get the generic brand it works best for me. Can't believe I writing about this but I feel ur pain. Good Luck!!!

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10

try taking benefiber per instructions in container as well as the linzess. Helped me A LOt

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11

My idiopathic constipation is a suddeny ocurranse. I stopped the Linzess. From what I am reading. It seams every med eventually stops working. My systems were horrible on Linzess. I used Magnesium as needed with Falxseed oil but that stoped working as well. So tempted to wait until I burst. Cannot swallow anymore food. Is anyone finding a solution?

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12

Bulking agents bloated me. Thanks for the suggestion

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13

Yes i have been taking 145 linzess for some time now and it was working but now it has stopped. My gas doctor seems to think it may be a bowel blockeg I will have further test and get back to you

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14

Yes for me too now i use mineral oil and it works good

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15

I had the same exact experience I have idiopathic constipation Right now my Gastro took me off Lynzess I am taking smooth smooth tea and two stool sofners The Dr suggested trying he tea again with a stool sofner I am improved Moving more reguarly Still a bit bloated The teas cannot be taken everyday Good luck

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16

I too have taken Linzess for several years and 6 weeks ago it abruptly stopped working.I am beside myself .I resorted to many OTC meds including an enema which FINALLY brought results. Now what?

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17

I started out with 145 and nothing for a week. Dr gave me 290 and worked every 5 or 6 days then stopped. Started taking a 290 and a 145 and would have a normal bowel movement once a week. Now that doesn't even work. Even tried adding a laxative before bed.

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18

My Dr switched me to Amatiz low dose once a day at night with food. Not much help. I gave myself a mini clense with magnesium citrate. Went regular for one week. Again back to being backed up. I have another appointment. My colonoscopy showed that everything was good

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19

I have been on Linzess 145 for about 7 months now but it does not not work by itself , I still have to take one capfull of Miralax every night and that helps me a lot. I was already taking Miralax before and the reason my dr. added Linzess was so I could empty my bowels more quickly, like going to the bathroom at most one or twice. I still have several bowel movements a day but is is better than when I was only taking Miralax where I had bowel movements 5 times in the day. For some reason I don´t empty my bowels with one time. I don´t have bloating or cramps so I am relatively happy. I suffer from IBS with constipation and I have a small rectocele. If anybody can suggest something better, it would be great.

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20

I am still taking the higher dose of the Linzess, along with one OTC laxative. I wait the full thirty minutes before eating; fifteen minutes after I take the kinases, I take the laxative. Lots of water drinking going on!!

I do this every two or three days, depending on my schedule. I carve out the days I take them so that I can stay home. Being retired helps. My gastro-doc knows what I take, as does my doctor. My last colonoscopy showed discolor of the colon, which I have researched and found it to be nothing to worry about. Laxatives cause it. No matter...I can't change my regimen. I've adapted my life to this and, after all this time, I'm doing fine with it. Good luck.

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32

YES! I bumped up to the 290 dosage and it’s no longer working.

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31

I have been on the 290 mg for 18 months and it was great to clean me out ; unfortunately , it would take 6 hours or more to work . And also I had to make 3 - 5 trips to the bathroom to finish and I always have watery bowels with the 290 . But , it fells GREAT when It's over !!

Now ,being a 81 year old retired mechanical engineer , the 290 just STOPPED DEAD working 6 days ago . Today my bowels finely worked nd was loose ,; but , not diarrea

I have an appointment with my doctor in 2 days to get checked out because the 290 stopes and to tell him that I believe that I need another Colonoscope because of some sharp pain in my colon sometimes and all of the bubbling in my colon plus I had Colitis 11 years ago and lost almost 50 pounds because of the colon infection !

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30

YES! I've been taking linzess with 5 sennakot and stool softeners,it would work with diareah of course,but after 5 weeks it just quit.Left me with incredible gas,cramps and bloat. This drug is a nightmare.I don't know how I'll make it through the day.I've been diagnosed with redundant sigmoid and CIC. I'm in big trouble because I must wiork in misery

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29

Same here have been taking it for 3 months the way i am suppose to take it and it just stop working call my Doctor told me to continue taking it nothing change He told me he has nothing else to give me that's crazy

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28

Re: Andrea (# 20) Expand Referenced Message

Andrea,

I have also started taking my linzess 290 with a laxative in the am. As many have stated, my prescription on linzess started off great (Id rather be wed to the toilet going, then constipated and in pain) but after a year, its efficacy has stopped working. I feel hopelessly devoted to laxatives again. Sometimes the otc laxative works in combo with the linzess but this is unpredictable. Does anyone find that switching to dosing in the evening much better or increasing the dose to twice daily better than adding an otc laxative? Any suggestions would be appreciated. I have been slowely becoming more crippled by the chronic pain of ibs more than ever recently. i work in surgery- i am 33 - and extremely health conscious, but there are days that i am in so much pain now that i cannot stand and operate all day anymore. I fear that the disease has become a true threat to my career and livelihood

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27

I have been on 290 and now it's not working, I've been on it for 8 months. Sometimes it would take 3-4 days before it worked. But it's been a week and not doing what it use too.Has anyone else had that happen. Now I feel so bloated I don't know what to take.sue

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26

I was on linzess the highest dose it worked for about a month My doctor told me to take 2 Ducolax every two days if no BM yes that worked until I was down to 89 pds from ducolax cleaning me out ! I stopped linzess and I am going back to my Gastro and asking for a better way Linzess is garbage and I was getting bad sinus infections from it when I stopped my sinuses got better !! There has to be a better way then these docs pushing laxatives on Us ruining our gut in fact if you read on here people who say it works there taking something else with it . From anyone I talk to they say it just stops working after awhile To everyone good luck Zelnorm was the only thing that worked and they pulled it off !!

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25

I've had chronic idiopathic constipation for 10 years. I just started the 290mg. Linzess 2 days ago and so far nothing but bloating. Is it fair to say this med will not work for me at this point? I did follow the directions appropriately.

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24

I have also been taking Linzess for 5 months now because I was diagnosed with IBS-C. For the first week of taking a Linzess i felt relief 2 hours after. Since then I've been bloated and constipated. I feel terrible. I took Linzess 290mg. NO RELIEF.

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23

I was on Linzess 290 for years and it worked well. Had to take it at 1 AM so I could wake up and go. Had to stop 6 months ago because it got too costly. Took laxatives and stool softeners and teas. They stopped. I just started some other meds that cause more constipation-great. So I'm going back on Linzess despite the cost. I hope it still works.

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