The effectiveness of this drug has not been established for individuals who are taking alternatives to opioids, such as methadone.
Amitiza has not yet been cleared for use with children. However, clinical studies are underway to determine the safety of using it with that segment of the population. The manufacturers of Amitiza state that the safety of the drug for pregnant women has not been evaluated. Data obtained from animals suggests that a fetus could be harmed if its mother uses the drug while she is pregnant. In addition, Amitiza has been shown to cause diarrhea in infants who are nursed by women taking this medication.
Women should inform their physician that they are nursing, or that they plan to do so, prior to being prescribed Amitiza. A nursing mother should also closely monitor her baby for the presence for diarrhea and inform their doctor immediately of such an occurrence [ 3 ]. Amitiza is formulated to work by prompting the body to increase the amount of fluids that it secretes into the large intestine. This, in turn, may make stimulate a bowel movement and ease off the passing of stool.
If the ensuing bowel movement is complete, patients may find relief from symptoms like abdominal discomfort and bloating, reduce the urge to strain while having a bowel movement, and lessen the feeling of incomplete emptying [ 4 ].
The manufacturer of Amitiza, Sucampo Pharmaceuticals, has acknowledged that taking their drug could produce serious side effects. If a patient suffers from any of the following while taking Amitiza, their physician should be notified immediately [ 5 ]:.
The following side effects have been deemed as less common by Sucampo Pharmaceuticals. According to the literature that accompanies Amitiza, it is not necessary to seek medical attention if a person who is taking this drug experiences them.
It is possible that a healthcare professional could provide that patient with ways to help ease the symptoms though:. The experiences of users of Amitiza paint a less rosy picture of the drug's side effects than the manufacturer's literature. In many cases, it produced side effects that were so bad that patients stopped taking it. One of the most common side effects mentioned was nausea. This nausea tended to affect the patients within about 20 minutes of taking Amitiza.
Amitiza treats irritable bowel syndrome IBS in women and treats chronic constipation. Take with food and water. Don't chew or break capsules but swallow capsules whole. Amitiza Overview Updated: April 10, How was your experience with Amitiza? First, a little about yourself Male Female. What tips would you provide a friend before taking Amitiza? Choose one.
Back Next. How well did Amitiza work for you? Did you experience many side effects while taking this drug? How likely would you be to recommend Amitiza to a friend? Back Submit. Amitiza Cautionary Labels Back to Top. Uses of Amitiza Back to Top. Manufacturer Back to Top. Generic Back to Top. Lubiprostone For more information on this medication choose from the list of selections below.
Amitiza Drug Class Back to Top. Amitiza is part of the drug class: Other drugs for constipation. Side Effects of Amitiza Back to Top. Amitiza Interactions Back to Top.
Amitiza Precautions Back to Top. Serious side effects have been reported with Amitiza including: Shortness of breath: This side effect generally does not last beyond 3 hours, but may happen again with repeat dosing. Do not take Amitiza if you: have or suspect you have a bowel blockage. Do not take Amitiza if you are allergic to any ingredient in it. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary.
Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription over-the-counter [OTC] medicine. Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco. The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine.
Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:. Take this medicine exactly as directed by your doctor. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered.
To do so may increase the chance of side effects. Swallow the soft gelatin capsule whole. Do not crush, break, or chew it. It is best to take this medicine with food and water to lessen the chances of having nausea. Drink at least 6 to 8 glasses 8 ounces each of liquid each day. This will help make the stool softer. The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label.
The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so. The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine. If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible.
However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule.
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