CONSTELLA (Linaclotide) for painful constipation - has anyone tried this new drug? If so were there any side effects? Did it help pain?

[purple-07]

I get very painful wind and especially bad when suffering from a cold aswell. I use hot wheat bags diet and relax tapes along with pain relief when really bad. The worst time can be 2- 3 am!

[bubbles75]

Hi, I have just started this treatment and am on day 3. I have a particularly bad flare up at the minute having just taken antibiotics for a water infection that have triggered a flare up (may be my diverticulitis or just the bowel itself being very sore on the lower left side).

There are 2 strengths available I think , 145 and 290. I am taking 290 and as yet, no impact, I will let you know.

Good luck and I hope you have better days to come.

[purple-07 in reply to bubbles75]

just seen your reply Bubbles - are you taking Probiotics after your treatment? I find ABX usually make me lose which sometimes is a relief. On day 6 of the Constella got severe gastritis so am having aday off today. I was only offred 290mg. How's it going with you?

[Tweety1979 in reply to purple-07]

Hi I know your post was a couple of years ago but I just wondered when you said you got gastritis, how bad was it and did you vomit or just diarrhea? Thanks

[zh27]

I'm on this tablet I've found that I get a heavy (sick) feeling in back my throat, they don't take the pains away, I've also lost the feeling of my bowels on this tablet aswell I have a day break in the week on these I feel better off them then what I do on them the doctor won't take me off till I see my consultant also they don't make me go toilet everyday either.

[Shanniz in reply to zh27]

What is the name of the tablet? Thanks!

[zh27 in reply to Shanniz]

It's called constella

[matusadona]

It is such a learning curve to alleviate constipation. I've been taking paracetamol at night for a heavy cold and become constipated. Then the wind builds up behind the constipation, I blow up like a balloon and can't sleep. So I took wheat bran with supper, in addition to breakfast and chewed a few prunes in the evening to mitigate the effect of the paracetamol. That helped and I hope it may help you. The other thing that can blow me up, is the food I have eaten. Just tried sprouts, after months not having any and was woken by wind at 2 p.m. same time as you mention. Eating the wrong food almost always starts blowing me up at that time. I have achieved a regular transit time with the wheat bran, prunes and all bran. The scrip from the GP did not help so I decided to go as natural as possible. Also have an orange for lunch as mentioned in a book on treating diverticulitis. We have to experiment on ourselves as we have all come to have IBS via different routes. Was going to write Good Luck but changed it to Good experimenting.

[zh27 in reply to matusadona]

My hospital consultant says stay away from high in fibre foods as it make the bowel work harder.

[Shanniz]

So very true, we all have to find our own way, which involves a LOT of experimenting. I still haven't found my "correct route,"

[lupuslady29]

I've been at it for a few years now trying to control my IBS but getting nowhere fast and I look pregnant most days due to wind and bloating its awful I hate having IBS also got systemic lupus with thyroid problems so unsure what's causing my problems out of all this just hate being so unhealthy