HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Has anyone tried Amitiza yet?

Support Forums
>
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
✚ New Topic locked
1 2 3 4 5 67
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 7/10/2009 9:27 PM (GMT 0)
thistuesday:  Sorry to have taken this long to log back in on here - I have become the Queen of Poison Ivy lately and that has kept me very busy...scratching and eating Benadryl like M&Ms, then finally being put on Prednisone - I'm on my second round of that now. nono Darnit!!!

 

Picture this:  yard work, weedeater, lots of poison ivy...and ME!    My land has huge trees and lots of beautiful vines, etc...many being of the poison ivy persuasion. cry   Anyway, I'm back and am so glad to hear from you.  DO NOT give up!!!  Fight the good fight and do not throw in the towel.

 

I don't know why the Colon Cleanse is not doing it's job for you, but there are others who say it didn't work well for them, either.  One of the highest rated colon cleansers is PERFECT CLEANSE from Garden of Life.  You can find it on ebay usually - I plan to try it bc the reviews are very high for that product.  Last time I checked I saw it for $16/free shipping.  It's a 10 day program.  Besides Colon Cleanse I started eating Activia, but really thought THAT would be a waste of money (bc the simple things have never helped me anyway and I eat very little milk-based products).  It actually DOES help, tho! 

 

I am not a purist - Colon Cleanse sometimes needs a jumpstart for me, and when that has happened I have taken Colace (not day after day - but, one or 2 days, then the Colon Cleanse along w/Activia does the trick).  Also, I do not necessarily go every day - remember, there was a time in my not-too-distant past that going w/o a BM for 11 days was NOT unheard of, so if I miss a day I do not panic.  I have sometimes skipped 1-2 days, but things always get back on track.

 

The abdominal swelling has never completely left me, but it is so much better that I have to say, it's obvious and I'm grateful.  Whenever I eat one bite more than I should...or pasta (not a good thing for me), I swell up immediately and I am miserable.  I don't dwell on this, I am not a fanatic about what I eat - but, I am aware of what makes life miserable foodwise and I tend to avoid or severely limit those things. Common sense.

 

Finally, activity is a key component.  I don't now what your activity level IS, but I have fibromyalgia, so sitting still or laying around makes the pain escalate and then the bowels slow down...and the pain goes higher.  It's all so interrelated.  Try doing a little more than you normally do activity-wise, even if that means walking to the corner and back or walking up a flight of stairs.  You can always build on that.  I do know that everything slows down if I slow down and stop moving.

 

You WILL get through this.  I thought I never would and I cannot say I won't have problems in the future.  As a matter of fact, if I become complacent and stop w/the Colon Cleanse or other good product as needed, or if I stop moving...any number of things - I'll be back at square one.  I'm not 100%, by the way; but, I am a solid 75% A-OK.  THAT is huge for me.

 

Also, depression and/or anxiety is often a playmate to irritable bowel...for obvious reasons.  I take an anti-anxiety (Buspar)...w/e it takes!  If you are depressed or living under intense stress - all that impacts the bowels.  I'm sure you already know this.

 

Be gentle with yourself.  Keep me posted.  I promise to check back in more often now.

Post Edited (lupetta) : 8/26/2009 8:10:46 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 7/17/2009 3:36 PM (GMT 0)
 

 I just started  Amitiza this past week. I am on my third day 16 mcgs per day. So far no bloating, but no BM either.Bad headache, slight nauseau. I am keeping my fingers crossed and will share with you all. cry

Posted 7/18/2009 5:29 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks, HOnest Woman, Leslie

Posted 7/18/2009 5:41 AM (GMT 0)
LUPETTA
Hey, so glad to see you here. I am so sorry to hear about the poison ivy. Oh how awful. I had a horrible case once. I remember bathing my face in bowls of baking soda water. Bless you dear, what misery.

Thanks again for caring, and for your solid "common sense" advice. I know how mind/body/spirit are all related. I feel so at peace with my life otherwise. Not being able to move my bowels is debilitating.


MAXIE
I am so eager to hear about your experience with Amitiza. I still have my samples, but I'm not touching them because of the warnings. "NO bm" does not sound very promising for you so far!!
Good luck, though. It fills me with hope when someone finds relief.
Posted 7/18/2009 6:46 PM (GMT 0)

Maxie:  Welcome!  Misery truly loves company here! sad   My experience with Amitiza was short-lived.  It never worked for me at all and, like you, I had headaches (I so rarely have headaches, so that was immediately concerning).  It took 2-3 wks before I noticed any tightening in my chest or shortness of breath - but when it happened, that was enough for me to drop it.  All I had were side-effects, nothing good came of taking it.  I think most of us are discovering how difficult IBS-C truly is to treat.  I wish you good luck. 

 

Dual Action Colon Cleanse is the only thing that has actually helped me - available at Walgreen's for about $40.  Since it's OTC I assumed up front it would NOT work.   I was wrong.  babykatiebug on this site told us about the Colon Cleanse (thankfully).  I had to play with the dosage of the Colon Clear tablets (which is fine, btw) initially, from the highest allowed, eventually down to the lowest dose.  It's says you can use it every other month, but my gastroenterologist says I can use it every month if need be.  I, so far, am using it every other month bc it helped me to get on track well enough.  If things slow back down and 2 days have passed w/o a BM I take Miralax and/or Colace for a day, maybe 2.  After that, I'm balanced back out.  Anyway, that's my suggestion to you if the Amitiza never works.

 

thistuesday: Hey!  Has anything improved w/your situation at all?  I hope so.  This is so exasperating. 

 

I'm starting on round 3 of Prednisone after a wk off...thought I was beyond the poison ivy, but the rashes never all disappeared.  Then, w/o missing a beat it started spreading and...I'm a mess.  Scares me to be taking Prednisone again, but...no choice.  Going on a search and kill mission against posion ivy...me and Roundup!  I'm fairly certain my 3 Greyhounds walk through it and bring it back in on their coats...I pet them and it starts all over again.  So...poison ivy has to go. skull

Posted 7/22/2009 1:53 AM (GMT 0)
A lot of the bad things said about Amitiza is because people don't know how to take the medication and the Gastroendrocrinologist is not really advising their patients on how to take the med.  My doctor told me I might be nauseasted for 2 weeks before I get before.  He also said DO NOT take the medication until you have eaten at least 1/2 of your meal.  This means a meal not just a cracker but an actual dinner or a full breakfast.  No drug is without side effects and Amitiza has given me and others our life back.   It has made my bowel movements normal and through time the nausea went away.  I am so frustrated this drug gets a bad rap when its not for everyone just like every medication is not for everyone but I think works well for most people who were advised properly by their doctor and gave it a shot and did not up before it really worked.  Lets see pure constipation is much worse than any side effect this drug gave me.  I am side effect and have been for along time.  Instead I live a fairly normal healthy live because of this medication and other things I do to help myself.
Posted 7/22/2009 1:57 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Maxi,

Do you take Amitiza on a full stomach after consuming most of your meal?  If not, do so.  That will help with the nausea.  It took a couple of weeks for it to go away.  Amitiza alone did not solve my problem.  I take a lot of citrucel and probiotics which help a lot.  Drink LOTS of water...It helps lickify your bowels.  I take my Amitiza on a full glass of water after consuming most of my dinner/breakfast.  It really is amazing. Email me if you have any questions.  I have taken it for a while.

Posted 7/22/2009 1:59 AM (GMT 0)
Maxi,

Also take Magnesium about 800-1000 mgs daily separated by 2-4 hours from Amitiza it works as a laxative but not in the way you think.  It just helps me have a normal bowel movement.  Lots of water.  Both Amitiza and magnesium like water to work.

Posted 7/22/2009 8:42 PM (GMT 0)

jimmyppage98:

 

I think it's wonderful that Amitiza works so well for you.  Do not assume the rest of us must have doctors who fail to inform or are otherwise derelict in their duties when prescribing this medication.  Many have followed the directions to a 't', yet had side-effects so alarming and so uncomfortable as to look elsewhere for relief.  This is just the nature of each individual person:  some respond well and some do not.  That's why there are warnings and a list of possible side-effects...sometimes it just isn't the appropriate drug for that person.  Every drug does not work the same for every patient.  You are fortunate, yet others on this same drug have NOT been so blessed as you.

 

Congrats on your success!  I can't imagine anyone on here who would wish you otherwise as we search for our own best med.  BTW, I think the reason you are feeling so overwhelmed by the number of complaints is -  most people who are having success are not on here.  They're just happy. turn

Posted 8/22/2009 2:35 AM (GMT 0)
turn  Hi Everyone, I am new to this website and boy do I have IBS. After trying soft diets, high fiber diets, laxatives you name it AND had surgery in March for an anal fissure caused by the constipation I was recently given Amitiza. I took one 8mcg tab a day without any BM's and felt a little tired, and the bloating cramping subsided. Then the doctor suggested taking it twice a day. I do eat something and drink plenty of water. Well the last few days I have felt tired,   weak, dizzy and irritiable -almost depressed.  Just BLAH. I actually need to lay down. Very strange. I am so grateful that the cramping and bloating is not as bad as it was but very little movement with the bowels and unpleasant side effects from Amitiza. I dont know if I should stick with it?  You all know how good it feels when the IBS symptoms subside but this other stuff is really bothering me. Any suggestions? I am grateful to have a place to go and talk to people who know EXACTLY what I am talking about.  Thanks for any advice.
Posted 8/23/2009 8:01 PM (GMT 0)

Hi all,

Some of you may have read my post, I asked if anyone knew if Amitiza was available in Canada, but didn't really get a reply.  Any chance any of you folks on this thread who are on this med from Canada?

I have IBS-C in a bad way, like the rest of you, and am desparate.....willing to go for nausea, headaches, whatever......just give me some relief!  I am heading to my GP in a couple of weeks, and am hoping to know if I can get this Amitiza when I do see him.

Thanks for any replies, and hope this is not hijacking this thread!!

Hope everyone is having a somewhat painfree day today.

Posted 8/26/2009 2:08 PM (GMT 0)
Poppal:  Not a dr., so can't tell you what you should do about the Amitiza.  If you are not having bowel movements, but having less bloating/cramping...well, I guess that's something.  With no movements happening, though, I would question how effective it really is for you?  I think you should tell your dr. what's happening.  There are people, apparently, who have success with Amitiza.  I wasn't one of them.  You can read my earlier posts, along with others, to see that there are those of us who have had terrible side-effects and no relief whatsoever.  In your case it could be you simply need your dosage of Amitiza increased...your doctor might want to try that since it is helping you on some level already.  jimmyppage98  on this thread has had great success with Amitiza, so he could address this from a perspective very different from my own.

 

I use Dual Action Colon Cleanse for relief and, for me, it has helped more than any RX has thus far.  It's something I have to stay on top of bc I'll go rt back where I was prior if I'm not diligent.  IBS-C, as you know, is a nightmare to live with sometimes.  I'm better, but not off the Colon Cleanse.  I can stay off 2 wks, but have to get back on it.  My gastroenterologist tells me I can take it every month (the directions say 'every other month', but my doc says it's safe to use monthly).  If you discover anything other than Amitiza that works for you (w/o major side-effects, esp.) let us all know!! turn We'd all be grateful!   

Brenda K:  I've just Googled 'Amitiza in Canada?' and, according to what's online, it IS available (and even produced) in Canada! turn

Post Edited (lupetta) : 8/26/2009 8:24:32 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 9/2/2009 12:10 AM (GMT 0)
Well 10 years ago i had my gallbladder removed. Ever since then i have bad constipation to the point where i wont go for about a month and then its barely anything and like pebbles. for the past 4 months i have been very sick with constant daily stomach aches, nausea, lower ab pain etc. and not to mention the series of tests. finally a colonoscopy says that i have IBS-C (spastic colon). The Gastro dr put me on Amitiza and that was 7 days ago to which i was introduced to major nausea fatigue and just not having a bowel movement. i started Benefiber 3 days ago to see if it will help... i wonder why its taking so long for it to help me out.
Posted 9/2/2009 8:45 PM (GMT 0)
VIEW IMAGE
cmwilson35757:  Amitiza didn't work for me, either.  Benefiber probably is a little lightweight.  You have spastic colon, also?  I have ibs-c, but rarely have spasms.  Your situation sounds very serious to me.  Have you considered another dr?  I use Dual Action Colon Cleanse and, luckily for me, it works.  It didn't work immediately, but once it got going my life was transformed.  It started working on day 3 - I took the max amt of the fiber tabs included in the beginning, then lowered it.

 

The instructions say to use it every other month, but my dr. advised it was safe to use monthly.  It is a 30 day program. There are other products available, also, but this one seems to work best for me.

 

When I've needed to seriously jump-start things I've taken Colace for 2 days, along w/prune juice, water, white tea...I also take stool softeners (3-6 daily).  Also, being active as opposed to sedentary matters. 

I have swollen to the pt I look 6 months pregnant - a very uncomfortable state to be in physically.  I was going 11 days to 2 wks w/o a bowel movement prior to the Dual Action Colon Cleanse.  I felt tired, nauseated, generally  unwell - as I am sure you do rt now.

 

A month w/o a bowel movement is very disturbing.

 

 

Honestly, I think you need another opinion - soon.  I wish you all the best - do not lose hope!!!! wink
Posted 9/2/2009 11:38 PM (GMT 0)
you guys have scared me out of taking the amitiza...dr gave me a bunch of samples and told me it "might" help. since i'm nauseated some days anyway, i'm afraid of the side effects. anyone taking it without bad effects?
Posted 9/3/2009 2:55 AM (GMT 0)
berkley:  Yes, someone is having success on here with Amitiza!  Look for posts from this man: jimmyppage98  ~  Best of luck to you!  It didn't do anything good for me, but it did for someone else.

 

 

 

  

 

 

Posted 9/11/2009 6:36 PM (GMT 0)
i have been taking amitiza for several months. it has changed my life! i have had absolutely no side effects, not even diarrhea. i have had ibs almost all my life. ive had severe constipation for over 20 yrs. i only take 1 at bedtime but am considering upping my dosage to 2 a day at least for a while because ive had a fairly recent period in which it hasnt been working as well. i guess it doesnt work for everyone one but good luck to you if you decide to try it!
Posted 9/12/2009 4:24 AM (GMT 0)
cbear:  Just read your post.  Congratulations that Amitiza works so well for you!!  Yay!!!  I wish it had worked for me and others of us who were not successful while on it.  I do know of one other person on-list here who is successful, like you are.  You're giving us hope!

 

cmwilson35757:  Did the Amitiza ever start to work for you?  If not, what have you been doing?  What's going on?  I hope this finds you feeling a lot better and that you have your ibs-c under control.

 

My own success is hit and miss - depending on whether I'm out of Dual Action Colon Cleanse or not...I'm still looking for a more naturopathic solution.  Dual Action is close to that, but some months that $40-$45 is hard to squeeze out of the budget. shakehead Darn it.  That cleanse does work for me, but it isn't a one month situation...it must be ongoing in order for me to become and remain successful.

 

CONTINUED GOOD LUCK EVERYBODY! turn

Posted 9/26/2009 6:30 PM (GMT 0)
Well I am new to all of this, but I have had IBS for quite some time and am now just starting to realize it is a problem I need to deal with. My doctor just put me on amitiza, not sure how well i works it is my second day and don't really notice anything different. She did tell me that she is not sure about the research of being on it long term and only wants me to be on it for 3 to 4 months and then try something more natural. Does anyone have a plan that works other than amitiza, and has anyone else been told to only be on this short term?
Thanks I will take any advice I can get!
I hate IBS-C
Posted 10/8/2009 5:02 PM (GMT 0)
I started using Amitiza in Sept '09 so I have only been using it for a month. I also have the nausea problem. I have tried taking it after dinner and just at bedtime to attempt to fall asleep before it sets in. If I take it after dinner I sometimes get really nauseous and sometimes I don't--you can get an antinausea medication from your doctor to help. If I take the antinausea medication to seems to inhibit the effectiveness so I tried taking it at bedtime. At bedtime I tend to get acid burn in my lower esophagus--is that heart burn? My Dr. said with dinner is the best because I don't want to take another pill to lessen the acid. The way I look at it...the hour or two of nausea is worth feeling well the rest of the time. If I have something to do after I take it then I use the antinausea medication.

Another thing I have noticed is major intestine movement at night. It doesn't hurt, but I can certainly feel it and it makes noise. It has never woken me up that I know of, but if I get up at night I notice it.

Hope this helps someone.
Posted 10/10/2009 7:14 PM (GMT 0)
I just started Amitiza yesterday and so far the only side effect I have is bloating and loss of appetite.  I'm not sure what I have yet as no tests have been ran.  Doc said my constipation is common in women my age (age 30).  He said we would try a concoction of miralax, amitiza and senna (every 3 days if no bm) for two months.  IF that doesn't work then we will do the tests (scans, colonoscopy, etc).  I'm interested to see if amitiza works for me.  I only have bm's about once every two weeks and they are pebble like and take all my energy to pass them. 

Any one have tips on the bloating- other then another pill? I'm a 'weight concious' person and not a fan of the bloating. I feel like like the marshmallow puff man. 

My symptoms started about 3-4 years ago.  I once had normal and regular bms, then they virtually stopped one day.  I've done everything from the high-fiber diet to laxitives to colon cleanses to eating all bran every day.  Everything worked great at first then quit working.  I can't eat big meals as they sit in my stomach forever and then I end up looking 8 months pregnant.  I've not had any pain related to this, I just simply don't have bm's. 

Thanks to everyone for posting your thoughts and symptons.  I appreciate it.  Hope to stay in touch with everyone regarding our tummy issues.

Snflwr

Posted 10/20/2009 10:23 PM (GMT 0)
I was diagnosed with IBS C when I was 16 years old. I took zelnorm for about six months and then decided I didn't need it anymore. I dealt with occasion constipation after that, usually around this time of year. I just recently started Amitiza 8mcg twice a day since Zelnorm was taken off the market. It doesn't seem to be helping much after about five days. Has anyone used to 24 mcg of Amitiza and has it helped? I also have Magnesium tablets that I haven't started taking yet in hoping that the Amitiza would help enough. Anyones input would be greatly appreciated!
Posted 11/16/2009 3:30 AM (GMT 0)
Hello, I was wondering if you ever got relief from chronic constipation using Amitiza? Were you ever able to control the nausea. I am about at the end of my rope. Haven't been right sincde 1988 and hurt so very badly that I also take narcotics which slow my colon even more but have to have something for the pain I have that no one can figure out what causes the pain. All they know is that I have Chronic Constipation. I've been all over Atlanta, Jackson, Mississippi, my current home and the Mayo Clinic. The line I get tired of hearing the most is well, since this has been going on since 1988 you don't have cancer. Of course, I'm thankful for this but I'm in severe pain. I took Amitiza once and thought I'd die with nausea. I had to take phenegran for the nausea but I can't take it everytime I take an AMitiza. Any help or thoughts appreciated.

Jmi1949
Posted 11/22/2009 7:45 AM (GMT 0)
Hello all, I read this forum months ago when I was researching Amitiza.
I read about the success stories and decided to give it a try. I practically begged my doctor to prescribe it for me. I have been taking it for about a month and a half. I have Blue Cross blue shield as health insurance and it was an ordeal to get them to authorize this prescription. Amitiza cost about 227 dlls. I paid only 20% of it. I'm taking 24 mg twice a day. I only had little nausea and it went away in a week. I am just beginning to have a BM every other day, instead of every week. The only side effect is it gives me a lot of gas, but that's OK. I have had chronic constipation all my life, I'm 42. My BMs made me strain, and were pebble-like, took all my energy to have them and sometimes caused hemorroids. Today I went twice, no straining. It's like a miracle. I use to take metamucil,miralax, mineral oils, colonic cleanser, etc, with poor results. What helped me most was the fiber one tablets, they taste good and give me no nausea like the yucky metamucil and others. I was desperate, taking 4 tablets of Dulcolax every Friday to get relief over the weekend, but I heard the intestines get dependant on it and slow down even more. Amitiza took time to work, but I am glad I was patience. I don't have IBS, only chronic constipation. For all of you posting for a while, I thank you for sharing your stories. Yes, amitiza does not work the same for all, but at least, give it a try. And also drink plenty of water, that will help the drug hydrate your bowels so you can have them.
I feel like a new woman, like a normal person, so happy.

Thank you all for sharing, you are so brave, you are an inspiration for a lot of us.
Posted 11/23/2009 12:22 AM (GMT 0)

Lupetta (& everyone else!)

I have been meaning to come on here for months now to thank for your reply to me, letting me know that Amitiza is available in Canada.  It took me months to get into my GP and asked for a script for Amitiza, only to be told, "sorry, not available to Canadians."  I was so upset.......I came home, called Amitiza myself and was told that it is NOT available in Canada, nor do they have any plans to make it available to us any time soon.  Oh poop.

I guess we should never believe everything we read.....especially on the net!  I do thank you for your time though, that was really sweet of you to Google it for me, but wanted to clear that up for any other CDNs out there who may read this thread.

Hope everyone is feeling less bloated, less crampy, and not so crappy! tongue

✚ New Topic locked
1234567