LINZESS® (linaclotide) is a prescription medication used in adults to treat irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) and chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC). “Idiopathic” means the cause of the constipation is unknown.
It is not known if LINZESS is safe and effective in children.
- Do not give LINZESS to children who are under 6 years of age. It may harm them.
- You should not give LINZESS to children 6 to 17 years of age. It may harm them.
- Do not take LINZESS if a doctor has told you that you have a bowel blockage (intestinal obstruction).
- If you have any other medical conditions.
- If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if LINZESS will harm your unborn baby.
- If you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if LINZESS passes into your breast milk.
- About all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and
herbal supplements.
LINZESS can cause serious side effects, including diarrhea, the most common side effect, which can sometimes
be severe. Diarrhea often begins within the first 2 weeks of LINZESS treatment.
Stop taking LINZESS and call your doctor right away if you get severe diarrhea during treatment with LINZESS.
Other common side effects of LINZESS include gas, stomach-area (abdominal) pain, swelling, or a feeling of
fullness or pressure in your abdomen (distension). Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you
or that does not go away. These are not all the possible side effects of LINZESS. For more information, ask your
doctor or pharmacist.
In addition, call your doctor or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away if you develop unusual or
severe stomach-area (abdominal) pain, especially if you also have bright red, bloody stools or black stools that
look like tar.
Take LINZESS exactly as your doctor tells you to take it. Take LINZESS one time each day on an empty stomach, at
least 30 minutes before your first meal of the day. Swallow LINZESS capsules whole. Do not break or chew the capsules.
If you miss a dose, skip the missed dose. Just take the next dose at your regular time. Do not take 2 doses at the
same time.
Store LINZESS at room temperature (68°F to 77°F). It is important to keep LINZESS in the bottle it comes in.
Keep the LINZESS bottle tightly closed, in a dry place, and keep the desiccant (the drying agent) in the bottle.
Keep LINZESS out of the reach of children.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA.
Visit www.FDA.gov/medwatch or
call 1‑800‑FDA‑1088.
Please also see Medication Guide within
full Prescribing Information.
Ask your doctor about LINZESS. For more information, call 1‑800‑LINZESS.