Lubiprostone
About Lubiprostone
Lubiprostone is a prescription medication used to treat long-term chronic constipation with no known cause, as well as irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) in women. It is also prescribed to manage bowel issues caused by the regular use of opioid pain medicines. This medication helps restore regular bowel movements and makes stool easier to pass, relieving discomfort.
To get the best results, you should take Lubiprostone consistently at the times prescribed by your doctor, which is typically twice a day. It is highly recommended to take this capsule with food and a full glass of water to help reduce the chance of feeling nauseous. Alongside your medicine, drinking plenty of water, eating fibre-rich foods, and staying active can significantly support your digestive health.
While taking Lubiprostone, some people may experience mild side effects like nausea, loose stools, or mild stomach pain. However, if you develop severe diarrhoea, intense abdominal pain, or a sudden feeling of shortness of breath, you should stop taking the medicine and consult your doctor immediately.
Before starting this treatment, talk to your doctor if you have a history of liver damage, severe digestive problems, or active inflammatory bowel diseases. Do not take this if you have a known or suspected blockage in your stomach or intestines, as this can lead to serious medical emergencies.
Taking this medicine with other laxatives or certain stomach drugs may increase your risk of severe diarrhoea, so it is important to share your full medication list with your provider. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, planning a pregnancy, or are an older adult, consult your healthcare provider to ensure this treatment is safe and appropriate for you.
Uses of Lubiprostone
Medicinal Benefits
Lubiprostone helps relieve chronic constipation by increasing fluid secretion into the intestines. This softens stools and supports easier, more regular bowel movements.
- Relieves Constipation: Helps increase the frequency of bowel movements and reduce difficulty passing stools.
- Reduces Straining: By softening stools and improving their movement through the bowel, it may reduce the need to strain during bowel movements.
- Eases Abdominal Discomfort: Regular bowel movements may help reduce constipation-related bloating, abdominal discomfort, and a feeling of fullness.
- Supports Regular Bowel Function: Helps establish more consistent bowel movements in people with chronic constipation or other approved constipation-related conditions.
- Improves Daily Comfort: Better control of constipation symptoms may make daily activities more comfortable and reduce disruption caused by irregular or difficult bowel movements.
Directions for Use
- Take Lubiprostone with food to lower the chances of nausea.
- It is advised to take Lubiprostone as directed by your doctor, at the same time each day for best results.
- Swallow Lubiprostone as a whole with a glass of water.
- Do not crush, chew, or break it.
Storage
Side Effects of Lubiprostone
Common Side Effects (Usually mild)
- Nausea (feeling sick to your stomach)
- Mild diarrhoea or loose stools
- Stomach pain, bloating, or gas
- Mild headache or dizziness
- Dry mouth
Serious Side Effects (Consult your doctor right away)
- Severe, watery diarrhoea that does not stop, which can lead to dehydration
- Sudden shortness of breath or chest tightness, especially within the first hour after taking a dose
- Signs of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat, severe skin rash, itching, or difficulty swallowing
- Severe, worsening abdominal pain or cramping
Medicines Containing this Salt
View AllDrug Warnings
- Take with Food and Water: Take Lubiprostone with food and water as prescribed, as this may help reduce nausea.
- Swallow Capsules Whole: Do not break, chew, or open the capsules. Check that each capsule is intact before taking it.
- Report Severe Diarrhoea: Contact your doctor promptly if you develop severe or persistent diarrhoea, as this can lead to significant fluid loss and dehydration. Do not stop treatment on your own unless advised by your doctor.
- Watch for Breathing Difficulty: Some people may experience shortness of breath or chest tightness, sometimes shortly after a dose. Contact your doctor promptly if this occurs, and seek urgent medical help if breathing difficulty is severe or worsening.
- Do Not Share Your Medicine: Lubiprostone is prescribed according to individual medical needs. Do not share it with anyone else, even if they have similar symptoms.
Drug Interactions
The following medicines may interact with Lubiprostone and require caution or medical advice:
- Anticholinergic medications: Medicines used for bladder control, allergies, or spasms may slow down your digestive tract, making Lubiprostone less effective.
- Other laxatives: Taking other stool softeners or laxatives without your doctor's approval can greatly increase your risk of severe, dehydrating diarrhoea.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
cautionIt is not known if alcohol interacts with Lubiprostone. Please consult your doctor if you have any concerns regarding this.
Pregnancy
cautionLubiprostone is a pregnancy category C drug. If you are pregnant, please consult your doctor before taking Lubiprostone; your doctor will prescribe Lubiprostone if the benefits outweigh the risks.
Breast Feeding
cautionYour baby may develop diarrhea if you take Lubiprostone while breastfeeding. Please consult your doctor before taking Lubiprostone if you are breastfeeding, your doctor will prescribe Lubiprostone if the benefits outweigh the risks.
Driving
safe if prescribedLubiprostone has negligible influence on your ability to drive.
Liver
cautionTake Lubiprostone with caution, especially if you have a pre-existing or a history of liver disease. The dose may be adjusted by your doctor as required. However, Lubiprostone is not recommended in patients with severe liver disease.
Kidney
cautionDose adjustment may be needed in patients with severe kidney impairment. Please consult your doctor if you have kidney problems or any concerns.
Children
cautionLubiprostone should not be given to children as safety and effectiveness have not been established.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Stay hydrated: Drink at least 8 to 10 glasses of water daily. The medicine works by drawing water into your bowels, so maintaining high fluid intake is crucial.
- Eat dietary fibre: Gradually increase your intake of high-fibre foods like vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and beans to help bulk up your stool naturally.
- Keep moving: Engage in regular, gentle physical activity, such as a 30-minute daily walk, which naturally stimulates your bowel muscles to contract.
- Listen to your body: Do not ignore the urge to have a bowel movement. Delaying it can make stools harder and more difficult to pass.
Special Advise
- Include more fiber in your diet to avoid constipation, and most importantly never ignore the urge to have a bowel movement.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Constipation: It refers to infrequent bowel movements in which stools are often dry, painful and hard to pass. Constipation is a condition in which the person has fewer than three bowel movements in a week. However, bowel patterns may vary from person to person. Symptoms include bloating, abdominal pain and feeling as if the bowel movement is incomplete. Constipation occurs when the large intestine's normal muscle contractions slow down, which causes the incomplete elimination of the bowel from the body. Constipation could be associated with a sudden change of diet, a diet with less fibre, not drinking enough liquids and lack of exercise.
FAQs
Lubiprostone is used to treat chronic constipation and constipation associated with medicines like opioids (painkillers). Besides this, it is also used to treat irritable bowel syndrome-associated constipation in women.
Lubiprostone consists of 'Lubiprostone' that works by increasing the secretion of fluids in the intestine, which in turn increases the motility of the intestine, thereby making the stool soft and easier to pass.
Consult your doctor before taking Lubiprostone with other medicines as Lubiprostone may increase the rate of gastrointestinal transit, and this may affect the absorption of other orally administered medicines given simultaneously.
Diarrhea might be a side-effect of Lubiprostone. Drink lots of fluids and eat fibre-rich food if you experience diarrhea. If you find blood in your stools (tarry stools) or if you experience excess diarrhea, consult your doctor. Do not take anti-diarrheal medicine on your own.
Constipation happens when the normal actions of muscle in the large intestine get slowed down, which means the waste products (stools) do not easily eliminated from the body.
Overuse or prolonged use of Lubiprostone may cause dehydration. Severe dehydration may cause weakness, tremors, fainting and blurry vision. Consult your doctor immediately if you experience these symptoms. Drink enough fluids to avoid dehydration.
Take Lubiprostone with food to reduce nausea or take it as advised by your doctor. Swallow it as whole with a glass of water. Do not chew or break it. Do not exceed the recommended dose.
Lubiprostone may cause side effects such as abdominal pain, diarrhoea, headache, nausea, vomiting, dry mouth, and trouble sleeping. If these side effects persist or worsen, consult your doctor.
Lubiprostone should be avoided by people with severe dehydration, appendicitis, intestinal blockage, bowel obstruction, or liver disease unless prescribed by a doctor. If you are a pregnant or breastfeeding women, consult a doctor before taking Lubiprostone. Always use Lubiprostone under a doctor's guidance.
Pregnant women should consult their doctor before taking Lubiprostone, as its safety in pregnancy is not fully established. If you become pregnant while taking it, inform your doctor immediately. Do not self-medicate.
Lubiprostone may interact with certain medications, such as idelalisib (anti-cancer drug) and methadone (painkiller). Therefore, please consult your doctor before taking Lubiprostone with other medicines.
No, you should not take Lubiprostone on an empty stomach. Taking it with a meal and a full glass of water is highly recommended to help prevent the severe nausea that can sometimes occur with this medicine. Talk to your doctor if you continue to feel sick.
If you experience severe, watery, or persistent diarrhoea, stop taking Lubiprostone right away and contact your healthcare provider. Severe diarrhoea can quickly lead to dehydration, so your doctor may need to adjust your treatment plan. Talk to your doctor for advice.
While there is no direct chemical interaction, alcohol can cause dehydration and worsen digestive side effects like nausea or dizziness. It is best to limit alcohol intake while taking this medicine. Talk to your doctor about your alcohol use.
Some people experience a temporary sensation of shortness of breath or chest tightness, usually within an hour of taking their first dose. This feeling typically resolves on its own within a few hours, but you should still report it to your healthcare provider immediately. Talk to your doctor if this happens.
While Lubiprostone is prescribed to both men and women for chronic constipation, its use for Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation (IBS-C) is only officially approved for women. Talk to your doctor to see if this medication is appropriate for your specific diagnosis.
You should avoid taking other laxatives or stool softeners unless your doctor specifically instructs you to do so. Combining bowel medicines can cause severe, uncontrolled diarrhoea and fluid loss. Talk to your doctor before mixing treatments.
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