Anyone taken constella?

[Realisation14]

Hi, I've had ibs-C for about 3 years now so I've done the whole dietician, changed my diet completely, drink plenty, all that good stuff.

Too much fibre makes me worse so I have a balanced amount in my current diet and can't increase it. Stimulant laxatives do not agree with me I've tried senna and sodium Pico sulphate.

I've been on laxido/movicol for 2 years now but I need between 5-6 per day to keep things moving and it's a lot, my gastro doctor says most people only need between 1-3 per day, so he wants to now try me on constella so I can potentially take one tablet per day instead of all these powdered drinks.

I've never heard of it before, I know from Google that it's not a stimulant laxative but that's all I know. I get VERY anxious starting new medications because I have health anxiety. So I just wanted to see if many people with ibs-C have tried this med and whether they'd recommend it or not?

Hello, OP. Yes, I have tried Linaclotide (Constella) in the past, possibly about 6 years ago. Similar story to yours, and a GP prescribed it.

Long story short, it was a little too powerful for my gut. Took about 8 hours and oh boy, was I glad to be at home, close to the bathroom iykwim! So I only ever took the one dose and went back to hardcore low FODMAP again.

I’m fairly sure that other people must have better results with Linaclotide though, otherwise it wouldn’t be manufactured and produced presumably - so it could be right for you. Maybe just arrange to have a day or so off work when you first try it … Anyway, lots of luck. I really hope it works for you. IBS-C is not fun.

I had a doctor describe its effects as torrential diarrhoea. It’s a good tool for the arsenal and to be fair you could split the capsules if you needed however I’d give it a go seeing how much you need Movicol to be able to go - but do it when you have a couple of days free to be by the loo (depending on when it kicks in..)

Oh lord, apparently people are taking this every day? How can they live with constant diarrhea, it's going from the stove to frying pan. I need to not have diarrhea either lol.

Yes, that’s why I manage one dose, ever. It was the mother of all clear outs, though.

Can't win can we? I still haven't tried it. Too scared to lol

I'm going to take it tomorrow 🥹 I am legit scared because of my health anxiety. I'm home all day tomorrow and until around 2pm on Sunday so I'm hoping 26-28hrs is enough time for it all.

I was on it for prob 5+ years and never got the runs, but my innards are slow as hell. Bowel prep never works on me.

It was ok, but gave it up as was getting abdo pain and still constipated. I'd tried everything else.

Knowing my luck it won't have any effect on me either 🙄 what do you use now if you don't mind me asking?