Anyone Try Amitiza ?

I take Mirilax because it doesnt cause cramping and sems not to have any side effect that I can detect. However I was reading about Amitiza. I believe it is not a stumilant so it probably could be used longer term, but read also that onse it is stopped the bowel would go back to sluggish again..

I am going to a therapist who is telling me that if I try to increase the usage of my bowel, or entire GI system and think positive, that it can actually improve..

The theory on that is; the nerves that operate the GI have deminished, however the muscles will look for a new pathway to the brain or control centers. Unfortunately they may connect to the wrong thing. It's called denervation and reinnervation.. So the gut starts making movements but they are not coordinated as they should be. We know that biofeedback does have some efficacy, and therefor it may be possible for the GI to adapt on it's own.. It's encouraging, but how do you do that.. ?

If Amitiza and Mirilax arre not stimulants, but do help the signals in the bowel I am willing to be on a regimen of higher intake with them.. Any thoughts on that or comments on Amitiza

By busyteacher
Posted March 24, 2009 at 4:41 pm
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My GI and my daughter's GI have said only Miralax. You can take it up to twice a day, and it does not cause dependency or damage. I use it about two weeks out of every month.
My daughter also had to have a schedule of "sitting" to train her body to find a regular time to have a bowel movement. That seemed to help, too.
I think she got a lot of reading done, anyway.
Feel better!

By lauraz
Posted March 25, 2009 at 7:09 am
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HI. I do not have a large intestine, and since Amitiza WORKS in the large intestine, it doesn't help me...I DID try it before my large intestine was removed and I did not find it helpful.
I know that many of us nearly cried when they took zelnorm off the market as it was VERY successful for many people I know.
I think all in all Miralax works better than Amitiza if you take it on a regular basis, but I know it's not cheap.
have you tried senokot? It's an all vegetable laxative and I have never had one cramp or problem witht it.
It IS very difficult to know what will work and what won't, but if your doc has some samples of Amitiza, why not try it? I found it did little to nothing to help things move, but you might have a good experience with it!
Good Luck!
Laura

By LL1
Posted March 25, 2009 at 7:25 am
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Did you find any nausea while taking the Glycolax (Miralax). I had nausea with it. When I stopped, the nausea stopped. I don't know if it is related, or just due to the gastro issues alone.

By Trixie617
Posted March 25, 2009 at 7:42 am
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I took amitiza for a short time. I could not tolerate the side effects. It caused headaches, some dizziness, & difficulty getting deep breaths. Just generally made me not feel well & made my chest feel tight...

Hope this helps

By NancyL
Posted March 25, 2009 at 9:42 am
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I was put on Amitiza for a brief period in the very beginning. It caused me terrible headaches and severe stomach pain and did not help at all. I think it is one of those drugs that may work in some cases, but just not with my particular problems. Miralax (2-3 heaping caps per day) and dulcolax (2 at dinner time) and flax seed oil capsules(3 at dinner time) seem to be the magic potion in my case and I have no side effects at all.
Good luck to you and everyone here.
Nancy

By Annie15
Posted March 25, 2009 at 11:09 am
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Amitiza is my miracle drug. I take it once to twice per day. I've had no problems with dizziness or pain but it can cause very water stools so use it sparingly until you get into a routine with it. I try to be very attuned to how my digestive track is moving food and waste through so some days I lay off of the Amitiza if the stomach and intestines are moving slowly. Miralax did absolutely nothing for me. I would take it and nothing would happen and in the meantime I was miserable. Amitiza allows me to go to the bathroom nearly every day.

By jacy1
Posted March 25, 2009 at 11:26 am
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I also took Amitiza, made me very nauseated, worked for about two days , then did'nt work anymore. But for me things moved through the intestines but got blocked at the end, because of the anorectal dysfuncton, which took a year to figure out was the problem. I ended with a colostomy - and am grateful for it since my life is so much better now.

By twin
Posted March 25, 2009 at 12:59 pm
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I have been on Amitiza for over a year now . It works pretty well for me, I also take glycol/ miralaxx daily. I'm dizzy most days because of my anemia, so I don't think the Amitiza adds much to it. Take care, Karry

By EmeraldLady
Posted March 25, 2009 at 2:39 pm
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Amitiza made my constipation worse, not better. I think it is just my body's reaction however; the barium follow-through gave me diarrhea!

By busyteacher
Posted March 25, 2009 at 7:45 pm
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No nausea with Miralax, but the occasional urgent need to GO (which is hard to manage with 23 munchkins). It saves a lot of money to buy it in bulk at Costco. Sometimes you can buy in bulk through Amazon.com.
Perhaps we need to start a new discussion with a reading list while we are all sitting and waiting....

By sickofbeingsick2
Posted December 13, 2009 at 4:44 am
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I take Amitiza 24 mcg morning and night. This drug has helped me significantly with bowel movements. The problem I have with this drug is the extreme side effects. I have a history of severe headaches and Amitiza causes the headaches to be both more severe and more often. It also causes me to have extreme nausea and feel sick all over as if I have the flu. Since taking this medicine I have had to be put on a blood pressure medication in addition because it has raised my heart rate to much. I don't have high blood pressure.

I have continued to use the Amitiza because everything else I have tried has not worked but the side effects are awful!

LauraZ Since you had your colon removed has your constipation been resolved? I have a doctor's appointment on December 28th and he believes that I should have my colon removed in order for my overall health to improve.

Thank you to all of you for your postings. It helps me to know that I can come here and ask questions or just talk about these issues because most people that don't have these problems have a hard time understanding.

By Annie15
Posted December 13, 2009 at 3:57 pm
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I initially responded to this discussion before going to Mayo this past Oct. I had been diagnosed with gastroparesis by my GI doc here in Colorado. Come to find out, I don't have GP and I likely never did. I have pelvic floor dysfunction which can be treated with a biofeedback bowel retraining program at Mayo. After 2 yrs of misery, I'm off of the meds except for Milk of mag and Dulcolax. I still eat small meals and try not to overload my colon. Amitiza really worked for me when I needed it. It is not a stimulant so no cramping. I've thought about going back on it while I'm waiting for approve from the insurance on the bowel retraining program.

Annie

By genesis1
Posted February 3, 2010 at 2:48 pm
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Hi.

I tried Amatiza and it worked well for a while. It was expensive and I constantly had a headache. The Miralax will work well, and you can increase your dosage with out any side effects. My son has to take 4 capfulls a day to produce a BM. However, I went through Bio feed back and it total made a difference. So positive thinking was a part of the therapy. I learned how to concentrate on specific muscle groups in my rectum and it made a huge difference. I no longer have pelvic floor dysfunction due to few BM. I use to go to the bathroom maybe on a good month 2 a month. This went on for 11 years. Where your focus goes the power flows so think about complete and total healing.

By genesis1
Posted February 3, 2010 at 2:56 pm
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No, I think it may have been what you took it in. My son is being treated now because he can hold stool for 12-15 days. We are trying to rule out heirshsprungs. When he is backed up, 8 days or more I give him 14 capfulls (Dr's orders) in 64 ounces of apple juice and I allow him to drink this all day. I limit his junk food and try to keep each meal light and healthy for the next 2 day (sometimes that's how long it takes him to drink it)
Breakfast: oatmeal
Snack: apple slices
Lunch: whole wheat turkey sandwhich, and grapes
Dinner: grilled chicken salad
I know it saounds crazy, but your food choices have to change. I have learned to pay attention to when he goes a little more frequent and the food he has been eating. Even though he does not go often with meds, I can atleast keep him from going to long. Give it another try and brake your doses it to 3 capfuls 3 x a day and drink plenty of fluids! That is how this stuff works is by drawing water into the intestine. If you don't have enough water you will not produce what you need.

By genesis1
Posted February 3, 2010 at 3:06 pm
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I just had my large intestine removed 7 days ago. It is wonderful! No bag. I have my small intestine connected to my rectum. God answered my prayers, after 11 years of pooping 2times a month and a 76 pond weight increase, due to it. I have lost 15 pounds. Before surgery, I had to take 8 laxatives and 5 cupfuls of miralax everyday for the last 4 years. Only to still not poop but 3 or 4 times a month. I have no staples only liquid glue over my sites. They did it laparoscopic and I stayed in the hospital 4 days. I am taking little to no pain meds and I have woke up everyday, to poop. I can not thank the physicians enough who finally heard me. Everyone else treated me like I was fat and lazy. When I excersised as much as possible considering I lived a life of constant pain.

By NancyL
Posted February 4, 2010 at 12:07 pm
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Hi Genesis,
Congrats on getting that behind you. I hope that you continue to heal quickly. I think that surgery could possibly help me if I had the energy to persue it.

By punkle
Posted February 4, 2010 at 5:39 pm
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I had colon sugery where they removed most of the colon and I dont have to wear a bag at all.. But I got GP from having my colon removed now I wish I wouldn't have had it done..

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