{"id":631303,"date":"2025-02-25T09:30:25","date_gmt":"2025-02-25T14:30:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=631303"},"modified":"2025-02-10T14:50:07","modified_gmt":"2025-02-10T19:50:07","slug":"how-long-does-it-take-linzess-to-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/how-long-does-it-take-linzess-to-work\/","title":{"rendered":"How long does it take Linzess to work?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Linzess<\/span><\/a> (linaclotide) is a brand-name medication that has long been FDA approved to <\/span>treat chronic constipation<\/span><\/a> from irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) and chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC). In 2023, the FDA also approved <\/span>Linzess<\/span><\/a> as the first treatment for pediatric functional constipation, a condition in children and adolescents that causes infrequent bowel movements and hard stools that are difficult to pass.<\/span>
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Linzess typically starts working within about one week of starting treatment. \u201cThis prescription medication works by attaching to specific receptors on the lining of the intestines, stimulating the release of substances that help maintain fluid balance in the gut, making stools easier to pass, speeding up digestion, and reducing bloating,\u201d says Tamera D. Hughes, Pharm.D., Ph.D., an assistant professor of clinical sciences at High Point University’s Fred Wilson School of Pharmacy. She adds that Linzess can help ease stomach pain by reducing the activity of pain-sensing nerves in the intestines.<\/span><\/p>\n

How long does it take for Linzess to work?<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u201cLinzess is prescribed to be taken daily. Users who follow the manufacturer\u2019s directions for dosage typically see relief within a couple of days,\u201d says Supriya Rao, MD, a board-certified gastroenterologist and managing partner of Integrated Gastroenterology Consultants\u200b.<\/span>
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Many people on this medication experience relief from constipation in about <\/span>one week<\/span><\/a>. Aside from treating constipation, Linzess may also relieve accompanying gastrointestinal symptoms like <\/span>bloating<\/span><\/a>, abdominal pain, and discomfort in people with conditions like <\/span>IBS<\/span><\/a>-C. Evidence suggests that these abdominal symptoms may not improve until <\/span>about four weeks<\/span><\/a> of treatment. Also, these symptoms \u201cshould improve steadily after taking as directed for 12 weeks,\u201d says <\/span>Dr Rao<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

A lack of improvement in one abdominal symptom does <\/span>not mean the medication is not working<\/span><\/a> or negates the possibility of it working for other symptoms. Still, not everyone will respond to treatment within this period. If, <\/span>after 12 weeks<\/span><\/a>, there is no therapeutic response to the medication, your healthcare provider may need to re-assess you or suggest you discontinue the drug.<\/span><\/p>\n

How long this medication will take to work is still individualized and will vary from person to person, depending on factors like symptom severity and psychological health.<\/span><\/p>\n

What can affect how long Linzess takes to work?<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u201cLinzess works at different speeds for different people, and several factors can affect how quickly it works,\u201d says <\/span>Dr Hughes<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>
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