Have you tried Amitzia as a treatment for your IBS-C?
Many people who suffer from IBS-C notice that over time, laxatives that once worked begin to lose their steam.
They ultimately become ineffective and the patient is back to square one with their constipation.
Amitzia (generic name lubiprostone) has been FDA approved for treating chronic constipation of unknown origin.
Irritable bowel syndrome is a condition of exclusion — a diagnosis given when all other possible causes of the constipation (through extensive testing including colonoscopy) have been ruled out.
“Amitzia is a medication to improve bowel movements in constipated people,” says Lawrence Hoberman, MD, a board certified gastroenterologist and creator of EndoMune probiotic products.
“Side effects include nausea, bloating, cramps and diarrhea.”
Though for some people, diarrhea may be preferable to constipation, it’s also possible that Amitzia can result in stool formation that doesn’t quite qualify for diarrhea, and is a lot easier to void than the previous constipated bowel movements.
But then there are also the possible other side effects, as mentioned.
Dr. Hoberman says, “Because of the side effects, it is not the drug of choice for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D).”
Nevertheless, all the patient can do is try it and see what happens.
This should be discussed with the patient’s gastroenterologist.
A study in Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics (Jan. 2008, Johanson et al) notes that though Amitzia can be effective even at low doses, it’s associated with more GI side effects at higher doses (especially 48 mg/day).
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