How LINZESS Works
Calms pain-
sensing nerves*
Accelerates
bowel movements
*This was seen in animal studies and the relevance to humans is not known.
LINZESS is not a laxative. It is the first and only approved treatment in a new class of drugs that work differently from other available medications. It acts locally in the intestine and is thought to work in two ways: by helping to calm pain-sensing nerves*, and by accelerating bowel movements. LINZESS may help you proactively manage your symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) or chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC).
*This was seen in animal studies and the relevance to humans is not known.
IMPORTANT RISK INFORMATION- 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).
Please see additional risk information below.
How Can LINZESS Help IBS-C?
Individual results may vary.
LINZESS may help you feel less pain in your belly (abdomen). It may also help your constipation by causing you to have more complete and frequent bowel movements. Your constipation symptoms may improve in one week. However, it may take longer for your belly pain to improve. Symptom relief may continue while taking LINZESS, but symptoms could return in about one week if you stop taking LINZESS.
How Can LINZESS Help CIC?
Individual results may vary.
LINZESS may help you have softer stools and more frequent and complete bowel movements. Your constipation symptoms may improve within the first week. Symptom relief may continue while taking LINZESS, but symptoms could return in about one week if you stop taking LINZESS.
What is LINZESS?
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.
IMPORTANT RISK INFORMATION
- 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).
Before you take LINZESS, tell your doctor:
- 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.
Side Effects
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.
How to Take LINZESS
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.
Storing LINZESS
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 packet (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.
LINZESS® is a registered trademark of Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
© 2014 Forest Laboratories, LLC and Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
This site is intended for US residents only. LIN19764 10/14
WebMD does not endorse any specific product, service, or treatment.
What is LINZESS?
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.
IMPORTANT RISK INFORMATION
- 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).
Before you take LINZESS, tell your doctor:
- 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.
Side Effects
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.
How to Take LINZESS
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.
Storing LINZESS
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 packet (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.
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