IBS-C, CIC & CHRONIC CONSTIPATION
Sudden or short periods of difficult, infrequent, or incomplete bowel movements may be occasional constipation. Constipation symptoms that keep coming back or seem to last for a long time—more than 3 months—could indicate a medical condition known as chronic constipation.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation (IBS-C) and Chronic Idiopathic Constipation (CIC) are types of chronic constipation.
There is no known cure for IBS-C or CIC, but LINZESS can help you proactively manage your symptoms. Healthy diet and lifestyle habits may also help you manage your symptoms.
WHAT LINZESS DOES & HOW IT CAN HELP
LINZESS can help you proactively manage symptoms of IBS-C or CIC. It was the first approved treatment in a class of drugs that work differently than other medications. The once-daily prescription acts locally in the intestine and is thought to work in 2 ways: by helping to calm pain-sensing nerves* and by accelerating bowel movements.
*This was seen in animal studies, and the relevance to humans is not known.
LINZESS helps relieve belly pain as well as overall abdominal symptoms, and lets you have more frequent and complete bowel movements that are easier to pass.
Constipation relief is typically felt in about 1 week. IBS-C patients may begin to experience belly pain and overall abdominal symptom relief in about 1 week, with symptoms typically improving over 12 weeks.
GETTING TREATMENT & MORE RESOURCES
In order to help you find the right treatment, your doctor needs to know all of your symptoms and how they’re affecting you. The quick 5-question Gut Check helps summarize your symptoms. You can then use your summary as a conversation guide when speaking to the doctor.
The following resources can help you learn more or stay informed about your condition.
Helpful Links for IBS-C
- American College of Gastroenterology
- Healthline
- IBS Patient
- My GI Health
- National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse
- WebMD
Helpful Links for CIC
YOUR LINZESS PRESCRIPTION
Check the LINZESS Pricing page to learn more about the cost of LINZESS and the LINZESS savings card.
LINZESS was studied and shown to be effective when taken once daily. When taken daily as prescribed by your doctor, LINZESS may help you proactively manage your symptoms of IBS-C or CIC. If you stop taking LINZESS, your symptoms may return in about 1 week.
Take LINZESS on an empty stomach, at least 30 minutes before your first meal of the day. Remember to take LINZESS daily, as prescribed by your doctor, to proactively manage your symptoms.
When LINZESS is taken daily, your constipation, belly pain, and overall abdominal symptoms may improve over time. Constipation relief is typically felt in about 1 week. IBS-C patients may begin to experience belly pain and overall abdominal symptom relief in about 1 week, with symptoms typically improving over 12 weeks.
Diarrhea is the most common side effect of LINZESS and can sometimes be severe. Diarrhea often begins within the first 2 weeks of treatment. Stop taking LINZESS and call your doctor right away if you experience severe diarrhea while taking LINZESS.
Call your doctor or go to the nearest 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.
LINZESS should be stored at room temperature (68°F-77°F). It is important to keep LINZESS in the bottle it comes in. Keep your LINZESS bottle tightly closed in a dry place. Do not remove the desiccant (drying agent) from the bottle.