Linzess Forums (Page 3)

I am the same. I have lost 85 lbs over the last 1 year. I have gastroparesis. After 120 days on linzess I am up 15 lbs. I was holding my weight before this prescription. I'm gonna stop this for a week and see what happens. I actually fasted for 1 1/2 days taking weight in A.M. and P.M. only having water and fruit juice (Low Sugar) and didn't lose anything? ## Hi Chuck, I don't know if this is would accurately describe the type of weight gain you mentioned, but according to nih.gov, Linzess (Linaclotide) is known to cause swelling or a feeling of fullness/pressure in the stomach region that may appear as added weight. It can also cause excess gas to from, which may also contribute to feeling bloated. I'm thinking perhaps either of these side effects could be the culprit, ...

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I take Linzess 1/2 hr. before breakfast. When should I take my other meds. Levothyroxine I take alone. I also take Furosemide, Januvia, Ramopri, Atenanal, insulin, and Duloxetine . THANK YOU ! ## Hi Eileen, According the University of Maryland's drug interaction checker, there are interactions listed between the following drug combinations: Furosemide + Ramipril: Taking the two together can reportedly cause low blood pressure. It may also increase your risk of certain side effects. Umm.edu recommends contacting your doctor if you experience diversions from your usual blood pressure or unusual weight gain. Januvia (Sitagliptin) + Levothyroxine: Taking Levothyroxine with anti-diabetic agents such as Januvia / Insulin, may cause them to not work as well. Umm.edu recommends contacting y...

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Trying to simply find the best way to somehow get some serious price relief on this amazing but incredibly ridiculously priced pill. I understand a profit but the pricing I am finding is simply, for lack of a better way to put it, pure advantage taking of the public. Please help. ## Hello, Swanson8! How are you? These is a co-pay card available for eligible patients that helps you pay as little as $30 a month, if your eligible. You can check out the qualifications and print the card from their website at Linzess.com click here. The FDA lists the typical side effects of this medication as possibly including nausea, dizziness, bloating, gas and diarrhea. Is there anything else I can help with? ## You can get 90 tablets for $430 via the Linzess Savings Program at: linzess.pskw.net. ## I we...

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Yep. It was prescribed for me to take as needed. It works well for me taken on an empty stomach; within 2 hours my bowels start churning. ## Ditto, I also was told as needed by my Dr. It works within 2 hours very efficiently. ## I have constipation due to everyday meds for blood pressure. Nothing helped until I started taking Linzess. I like the idea of as needed. I think I'll try that. Otherwise. I become housebound.

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I have been on linzess for a week now and no results yet besides bad bloating! Will the bloating go away? How long does it normally take to start working? ## How are you feeling? Have your symptoms improved any? It can take several weeks for a medication to reach its full efficacy level in your body and for the side effects to peak and begin to taper off, usually 4 to 6 weeks. ## I started linzess a few days before a colonoscopy and it worked. Now five days after the colonoscopy it hasn't worked yet. I have ibs c. ## I just took a bisacodyl laxative 2 days ago, I had a BM the first day but nothing since. My doctor gave me 290 mcg Linzess to take. Is it safe to take it 2 days after the bisacodyl laxative or should I wait a few more days? ## If I'm unable to take Linzess before br...

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I've been on Linzess for constipation for two weeks. While it has only produced one bowel movement during this time, I was still hopeful. However, I woke up on a Wednesday with a swollen face and a bump in my eyebrow. I thought I had gotten bitten by something and didn't attribute it to the Linzess. Took Benadryl but didn't get any relief. I woke up with my eyes swollen almost shut on both Thursday and Friday morning and the bump in my eyebrow began to itch. By Saturday morning when I awoke to a swollen face and eyes again, I knew it was the Linzess. I am bummed since I was so hopeful that the Linzess would help me with my constipation. ## Oh wow! I am so very sorry about what happened. Did you consult your doctor? Has swelling gone away, yet? It is always possible to find o...

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Hi, we're going away and sadly our two flights have to be in the morning. I usually take linzess @ 8am and by 12pm I'm done for the day. My concern is that those two days I can't take it as too uncertain about available facilities, will that completely mess me up? Once I get there I can start my normal dose and routine until home. How messed up will this make me and has any one else had experience? Any help or advice welcomed.

I have Hyperparathyroid Disease and have suffered with severe constipation for several years, caused by high Calcium levels. I recently became severely impacted and had a procedure in my Dr's office that was excruciatingly painful to de-impact me. He put me on Lizness 145 mg and it has helped me to have regular, pain free bowel movements every day. I was so relieved! Can I stay on Lizness for a long period of time safely? I feel like it is a miracle drug for me. ## You can stay on it for as long as your doctor feels it is safe for you to do so. The FDA does warn that it may cause side effects, such as nausea, dizziness, stomach cramping, flatulence, and diarrhea. You can find more details on Linzess by clicking this NDC code: 0456-1201 Is it still working well for you?

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Hello everyone. I've always had issued with construction growing up. Recently went to my gastroenterologist and he performed a colonoscopy with he didn't finish due to my colon having a curve. Now I need to get a CT scan colonoscopy. In the meantime he prescribed Kindness 145mg. I took it on Tuesday for the 1st time immediately after eating. My pharmacist didn't label the directions on it so I had no idea it was to be taken 30 minutes prior to eating. Wow! I had diarrhea about an hour later and lasted for 12 hours. I couldn't even drink water without running to the bathroom. Now I'm confused because I also drink Synthesis for my hypothyroidism disease. This also has to be taken on an empty stomach. I called the pharmacy and they recommended to take synthroid 30 minut...

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Hi guys! I have been suffering from constipation for at least 10 years. I am 26 years old. Few years ago my symptoms got really bad, to the point where a stool movement left me weak and in pain all day. I fortunaltely found Linzess and it has significantly improved the quality of my life. Today, I have been taking it for 1 and a half years. I have to support Linzess with taking Macrogol (2 packs a day). My stools are very loose, but I am happy this way. Because of all damage the constipation has done, whenever I get an occasional normal-size stool, it breaks my butt! Other than that, I feel good and healthy, and I am able to eat everything (which is a dream come true). However, I am still young and want to have kids at some point. I know Linzess is not safe during pregnancy. What worrie...

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I have been on linzess for 2 months. I have lost 8 pounds (last time I checked). I'm a heavy female. Suffered with constipation my whole life. Is this a normal thing to happen while taking linzess? Now I'm getting a squishy flabby belly. ## Yes, that can be normal, on top of the fact that the FDA lists it as possibly causing diarrhea and dehydration, as side effects, it is also know to cause a decrease in appetite, in some people that take it. Are you making sure to get lots of exercise? That can help with the belly issues. Are you on any other medications? ## If you keep losing weight the belly fat with also keep coming off. I did not lose belly fat until after I lost 10 pounds. I only need to lose five more pounds to get down to 139 for my particular height and weight.

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First time I tried it as prescribed once in the morning ...no luck. ## Hello, Vanessa! How are you? I'm sorry it didn't work for you. Did you make sure to take it on an empty stomach, with just water, at least a half hour before eating? Sometimes, people haven't been receiving the proper instructions with their prescriptions, so they don't know they have to take it that way. The FDA lists its typical side effects as possibly including nausea, dizziness, bloating and diarrhea. ## Reading some of the comments may be my answer. I take Linzess 30 minutes before breakfast and can go nowhere for 3 or 4 hours because of sudden diarrhea - so embarrassing! My hope is taking it at bedtime like a few said may be my answer. Pharmacists and doctors know little but trial & error. ...

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Great medicine, although I have only started. Can I skip two days before taking the next dosage? Also I am shocked at the cost. $400+ for a three month supply. Any ideas? ## How is it working for you? You should follow your doctor's prescribing instructions, skipping days may prevent it from working as well as it should. The FDA lists its typical side effects as possibly including nausea, dizziness, headache, bloating and diarrhea. There is a savings program available from the manufacturer. You can find information on it via the Linzess website at Linzess.com click here. Is there anything else I can help with? ## Call your insurance. Tell them doctor said you have to have it... be the squeaky wheel.

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I see you didn't get any answers I was just wondering how long you taking linzess and did you get ahead of the parasite issues? I'm having a lot of gastrointestinal issues in the doctors don't seem to care that I didn't have proof that I have parasites. Let me know if you can how things worked out with taking linzess and getting ahead of parasites. ## Hello, Tova! How are you? Since you didn't post this in response to a specific post, I am afraid I have to ask you for clarity. What parasite issues were you referring to? Linzess is most commonly used to chronic constipation and the FDA lists its typical side effects as possibly including nausea, dizziness, stomach cramps, and diarrhea. ## Sorry I thought I had posted this specifically to someone who would talked about...

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How much time is needed between dosages of levothyroxine and linzess? I also take metformin. ## Hi Lynn, According to the University of Maryland Medical Center (umm.edu / drug interaction tool), there are no interactions or contraindications listed between Levothyroxine, Linzess or Metformin. While this doesn't necessarily mean that no interactions exist, it is my own personal opinion that a time gap between dosing isn't required. Nevertheless, I still feel that you should contact your prescribing doctor if you have any concerns about what he/she has recommended for you. Hope this helps!

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I've been taking linzess for a week and am having a lot of pain down low in my stomach. I had to take two aspirins to at least get some sleep one night. It also hurts when I urinate. I have to take it in the afternoon because I work during the day. It has been relieving me quite well. I'm just worried about having so much pain to where I moan and groan when I walk and I can't continue any kind of work out. Does anyone have a lot of gas with linzess? Sometimes it won't stop. If so, what helps you with this problem? ## Hi Jo, sorry to hear about your discomfort with Linzess. What mg are you taking? If on the 190 you may need to go to 145. I took Linzess for years and it was great. Took at bedtime and went 1st thing in morning. I will say you need to eat healthy diet. I wou...

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I take 145mcg capsule of linzess with 8ounces of water 30 minutes before I eat and also take 45 ml of lactulose 3 times a day 30 minutes before I eat anything and still not having any bowel movement. stomach getting bigger and bloated,feeling miserable ## Hi Clyde, Sorry to hear about your experience with Linzess. According to MedlinePlus.gov, one of the side effects of Linzess is "swelling or a feeling of fullness or pressure in the stomach area". They recommend contacting your doctor if it becomes severe or doesn't go away. There's also another discussion thread here that associates Linzess with weight gain (I'm assuming as a result of this bloating effect): [1] Linzess Weight Gain From what I can gather, it seems like Linzess is the culprit and not Lactulose; howe...

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Hi, I take mirilax 1-3 times a day along w a 145 capsule of Linzess first thing in the morning before I eat. It gets the job done. Without the mirilax though the Linzess doesn’t work. These were the instructions from my GI doc. I found, and everyone is different but if I take mirilax 1-3 times a day and add one dose of metumicil then the Linzess is not necessary. I cannot miss a day of mirilax or I will be backed up for at least 1.5 days. Hope it helps. ## Hello, Coll! How are you? Thank you for sharing this helpful advice. While it is best for everyone to make sure their combining such medications is safe for them, I am sure this will help many who are suffering from chronic constipation. The FDA does warn that these medications may cause side effects, such as nausea, stomach pai...

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I have been taking Linzess for over a month now, highest dose. Have had IBS my whole life. I drink water all day long. I am peeing about every hour! I still have 4-5 days without a bowel movement then constipation followed by diarrhea. When I am able to have a bowel movement for a few days in a row, I feel so much pressure in my abdomen, like I have gas or have to go to the bathroom but can not go. I am so much more uncomfortable than before I started taking linzess. Has anyone else experienced this. ## Hello, Cindy! How are you doing? I am sorry about what you've been going through, but no you are not the first person to experience these issues. The gas, and abdominal pressure, can be normal side effects of this medication, according to FDA reports. You may also continue to experie...

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Hi, I have been taking Vitamin D 50,000 IU because my doctor found that I was having a pretty bad Vitamin D deficiency, but now my gastroenterologist gave me a prescription for Linzess. I'm not sure if I can take Linzess and my Vitamin D together? ## I didn't find any problems or interactions listed, but it is always best to double check to be sure. The worst issue I can find is that the vitamin D can sometimes cause constipation, according to FDA reports, so they can be kind of contradictory. How is the Linzess working for you?

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