Overview
Linzess (linaclotide) is a brand-name prescription medication. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved it to treat constipation in certain adults. Specifically, Linzess can be used to treat:
- irritable bowel syndrome with constipation
- chronic idiopathic constipation
Here are some fast facts about Linzess:
- Active ingredient: linaclotide
- Drug class: guanylate cyclase-C agonist
- Drug form: oral capsule
If Linzess works for you, your doctor will likely recommend that you take it long term.
As with other drugs, Linzess side effects can cause side effects. Read on to learn about potential common, mild, and serious side effects. For a general overview of Linzess, including details about its uses, see this article.
More common side effects of Linzess
Linzess can cause certain side effects, some of which are more common than others. These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. However, if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
These are just a few of the more common side effects reported by people who took Linzess in clinical trials:
- abdominal pain
- bloating
- gas*
- diarrhea*
- headache*
- Linzess side effects
Mild side effects of Linzess
Mild side effects can occur with Linzess use. This list doesn’t include all possible mild side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to the prescribing information for Linzess.
Mild side effects that have been reported with Linzess include:
- abdominal pain
- bloating
- infections, such as intestinal infection or respiratory infection
- gas*
- mild diarrhea*
- headache*
- mild allergic reaction*
These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. However, if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, Linzess side effectsbe sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. If you develop a side effect while taking Linzess and want to tell the FDA about it, visit Serious side effects of Linzess
Linzess may cause serious side effects. Though serious side effects aren’t common, they can occur. The list below may not include all possible serious side effects of the drug. For further details, you can refer to the prescribing information for Linzess.
If you develop serious side effects while taking Linzess, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.
Serious side effects that have been reported and their symptoms include:
- Risk of serious dehydration in children younger than age 2 years.*
- Severe diarrhea.
- Severe allergic reaction.
Side effects in children
At this time, Linzess is only approved to treat irritable bowel syndrome with constipation or chronic idiopathic constipation in adults. This is because of the risk of serious dehydration occurring in children taking the drug.
In fact, Linzess has a boxed warning about risk of serious dehydration in children younger than age 2 years. Linzess side effects This is a serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). A boxed warning alerts doctors and patients about drug effects that may be dangerous. For more information, see the section below called “Side effect specifics.”
FAQs about the side effects of Linzess
Linzess may cause several side effects. Here are some frequently asked questions about the drug’s side effects and their answers.
Can Linzess cause weight gain or weight loss as a side effect?
You shouldn’t experience weight gain or weight loss from taking Linzess. Weight changes weren’t reported in clinical trials of people taking the drug.
However, Linzess works to treat certain people with constipation. And constipation may cause bloating, which can lead to weight gain. So, in some cases, treating constipation may cause weight loss.
In addition, Linzess can cause diarrhea as a side effect. If diarrhea is severe, it’s possible for weight loss to occur.
Linzess side effects
If you notice weight changes during your treatment with Linzess, talk with your doctor. They can help determine what may be causing your weight change to occur and the best ways to manage your weight.
What are the long-term side effects of Linzess?
Linzess hasn’t been reported to cause long-term side effects at this time. Side effects that people taking Linzess reported in clinical trials only occurred during treatment with Linzess.
Your body may adjust to the side effects of Linzess over time so you experience fewer side effects during your treatment. In addition, when people stop treatment with Linzess, side effects should stop as well.
If you have questions or concerns about long-term side effects of Linzess, talk with your doctor.
Is fatigue a side effect of Linzess?
No, you shouldn’t experience fatigue from taking Linzess. This wasn’t a side effect reported in clinical trials of Linzess.
However, it’s possible to develop fatigue from severe diarrhea, especially if you become dehydrated. If you’re feeling more tired than usual during your treatment with Linzess, talk with your doctor. They can help determine what may be causing your fatigue and the best ways to manage it.
Is Linzess prescribed for digestive conditions, such as constipation?
Linzess is currently approved to treat certain types of constipation in adults, including irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) and chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC).
At this time, Linzess isn’t approved to treat other causes of constipation. If you’re experiencing long-term constipation, talk with your doctor to see
whether you may have IBS-C or CIC. They can help recommend the best treatment options for you.
If you have temporary constipation, your doctor may be able to recommend an over-the-counter treatment option for you, such as MiraLAX (polyethylene glycol). Linzess side effects However, if your condition is long term, they may recommend a prescription for constipation.
If you’d like to learn more about Linzess, talk with your doctor. You can also visit the manufacturer’s website to find Linzess reviews for constipation. However, the best way to determine whether Linzess may be a good treatment option for you is by talking with your doctor.
Does Linzess cause hair loss as a side effect?
No, you shouldn’t experience hair loss from taking Linzess. Hair loss wasn’t a side effect that people taking the drug reported in clinical trials.
In some cases, antidepressant drugs such as Zoloft (sertraline) or Lexapro (escitalopram) may be used off-label to treat IBS-C. Off-label use of a drug is when your doctor prescribes it for a different use than what the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved it for. So, though these drugs are most often used toLinzess side effects treat depression, your doctor may also recommend them for other uses, such as IBS-C. And it’s possible for these drugs to increase your risk of hair loss occurring.
If you experience hair loss during treatment with Linzess, talk with your doctor. They can help you determine what may be causing your hair loss and the best ways to manage it.
Do side effects of 72-mcg, 145-mcg, and 290-mcg Linzess capsules differ?
It’s possible for side effects to differ based on the dose of Linzess you take. So, people taking a higher dose of the drug may be at an increased risk of side effects occurring from Linzess.
For example, if you take a dose of 290 micrograms (mcg) of Linzess, you may be at a higher risk of side effects occurring than someone taking a dose of 72 mcg. This is because when your body is exposed to more drug, your risk of side effects is higherLinzess side effects.
If you have concerns about side effects occurring from Linzess, talk with your doctor about the best dose for you.
Side effect specifics
Learn more about some of the side effects of Linzess in adults. To find out how often side effects occurred in clinical trials, see the prescribing information for Linzess.
Risk of serious dehydration in children younger than age 2 years
Linzess has a boxed warning about risk of serious dehydration in children younger than age 2 years. This is a serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). A boxed warning alerts doctors and patients about the risks of taking a medication.
So, at this time, Linzess is only approved to treat irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) or chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC) in adults. This is because of the risk of serious dehydration occurring in children taking the drug.
In animal studies, Linzess side effects young animals had severe diarrhea that led to dehydration. In some cases, this was even life threatening. Because of this possible risk, doctors typically won’t prescribe Linzess to children younger than age 2 years.
It’s important to note that Linzess wasn’t studied in children under age 2 years. And since animal studies don’t always indicate what may happen in humans, it’s not known exactly how the drug may work in children of any age. However, Linzess is currently only approved for use in adults.
What you can do
If your child is experiencing symptoms of IBS-C or CIC, talk with their doctor. Your child’s doctor can help determine the best treatment plan for their condition.
Headache
It’s possible to experience headache from taking Linzess. Though this wasn’t one of the most common side effects of the drug, it was reported in clinical trials of Linzess for IBS-C. This side effect wasn’t reported in clinical trials of people taking Linzess for CIC.
What you can do
If you experience headache from taking Linzess, talk with your doctor. They can help recommend the best ways to manage your headaches. In some cases, they may recommend taking an over-the-counter drug such as Tylenol (acetaminophen).
It’s important to note that headache may also Linzess side effects be a symptom of dehydration, which can occur if you develop severe diarrhea with Linzess. Your doctor can help determine what may be causing your headaches and the best treatment option for you.
Diarrhea
You may develop diarrhea during treatment with Linzess. In fact, diarrhea was the most common side effect that people taking Linzess reported in clinical trials. People taking the drug for either IBS-C or CIC reported diarrhea as the most common side effect.
Diarrhea most often began within the first 2 weeks of starting Linzess. This was also the most common reason that people stopped treatment with Linzess.
In most cases, diarrhea was mild in clinical trials. However, it’s possible to develop severe diarrhea from this drug, as well. Symptoms of severe diarrhea may include:
- Abdominal pain.
- Linzess side effects
- Fever.
- Blood or mucus in stool.
- Dehydration, which may cause headache or dizziness in mild cases. In severe cases, dehydration can cause kidney or liver damage.
What you can do
Tell your doctor if you experience diarrhea while taking Linzess. They can determine whether it’s mild or severe and the best treatment option for you.
If you do develop severe diarrhea, your doctor will likely recommend that you pause treatment with Linzess to treat your diarrhea. They will also recommend hydrating so you don’t become dehydrated from the severe diarrhea.
Gas
It’s possible to experience gas while taking Linzess. Gas was one of the most common side effects that people taking Linzess reported in clinical trials. Symptoms of gas may include abdominal cramping or bloating.
What you can do
If you notice gas that’s Linzess side effects bothersome to you while taking Linzess, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. In some cases, they may be able to recommend an over-the-counter treatment such as Gas-X (simethicone).
Allergic reaction
As with most drugs, Linzess can cause an allergic reaction in some people.
Symptoms can be mild or serious and can include:
- skin rash
- itching
- flushing
- swelling under your skin, typically in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
- swelling of your mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe
What you can do
For mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a rash, call your doctor right away. They may recommend ways to ease your symptoms and determine whether you should keep taking Linzess. However, if your symptoms are serious and you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.
Precautions for Linzess
BeforeLinzess side effects starting treatment with Linzess, tell your doctor about any medical conditions that you have. They can help determine whether Linzess is a safe treatment option for you.
Boxed warning: Risk of serious dehydration in children younger than age 2 years
This drug has a boxed warning for risk of serious dehydration in children younger than age 2 years. This is a serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). For details, see the “Side effect specifics” section above.
Other precautions
Be sure to talk with your doctor about your health history before you take Linzess. This drug may not be the right treatment for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. These are considered drug-condition or drug-factor interactions. The conditions and factors to consider include:
Intestinal blockage. If you have an intestinal blockage, your doctor will likely recommend a different treatment option for you. Linzess works by moving your food through your intestines quicker than usual. And if you have an intestinal obstruction, taking Linzess may make your condition worse. In this case, your doctor can Linzess side effects help determine the best treatment plan for you.
Allergic reaction. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Linzess or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Linzess. Ask your doctor what other medications may be better options for you.
Alcohol with Linzess
Linzess isn’t known to interact with alcohol. However, drinking alcohol can make side effects of Linzess worse. For example, both Linzess and alcohol can cause headaches. So, you may be at an increased risk of headaches occurring if you take Linzess and drink alcohol.
In addition, Linzess can cause severe diarrhea, which may lead to dehydration. Alcohol can also increase your risk of dehydration occurring.
If you’d like to drink alcohol during your treatment with Linzess, talk with your doctor.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding while taking Linzess
It’s not known whether it’s safe to take Linzess during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
Linzess works in your intestines, and only a small amount is likely absorbed into your body. So, a developing fetus would likely only be exposed to a small amount of medication. However, there haven’t been enough clinical trials done in pregnant people to determine whether the drug may increase the risk of congenital anomalies (also known as birth defects).
Most studies in pregnant Linzess side effects animals did not show an increased risk of congenital anomalies. Some studies where animals were exposed to large amounts of Linzess did show an increased risk of birth defects. However, it’s important to note that animal studies don’t always indicate what may happen in humans.
In addition, Linzess isn’t believed to pass into breast milk. So, a breastfeeding child may not be exposed to the drug. However, it’s not known if Linzess may affect the production of breast milk.
If you’re pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding, talk with your doctor before taking Linzess. They can help determine if Linzess is right for you.
When to talk with your doctor
In most cases, side effects of Linzess are mild. But it’s possible to develop severe side effects from this drug, as well.
If you’d like to learn more about Linzess, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can help answer any questions you have about side effects from taking the drug.
Besides talking with your doctor, you can do some research on your own. These articles might help:
- More information about Linzess. For details about other aspects of Linzess, refer to this article.
- Drug comparison. To learn how Linzess compares with Trulance, read this article.
- Dosage. For information about the dosage of Linzess, view this article.
- Interactions. To find out about the interactions of Linzess, see this article.
- Linzess side effects
- A look at your condition. For details about irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), visit our IBS hub. And to learn more about constipation, see our list of constipation articles.