Lubiprostone for IBS-mixed

Posted by letitbe1959 @letitbe1959, Aug 27, 2025

My Gastro Dr has prescribed Lubiprostone 8mcg 2x day for INS mixed. I only take it once a day. It upsets my guts and causes diarrhea. Does anybody have any experience with this med? Should I continue to take it?
Thank you!!!

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Profile picture for Lisa Lucier, Moderator @lisalucier

@bassplayer1218 - welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Sorry to hear your medication has not yet helped your IBS-C situation.

I do not have IBS, but I had an enema back in 7th grade when the doctor could not determine if I had appendicitis. It was not fun.

It seems worth a mention to your GI doctor that this medication has not worked in 5 days. Have you gotten to chat with him or her yet? If so, what did they say?

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Hi @bassplayer1218
I ditto comments and questions by @lisalucier about communicating with your GI doctor.

I take lubiprostone along with MiraLAX and Senna. Like you, I started taking 8mcg twice daily. I now take 24 and have adjusted some of the other as needed. Two things for sure: I could not have made progress without guidance, and the process has required patience.

I look forward to hearing what you find out if you talk to your doctor.

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I was wrong about lubiprostone 8mcg. It took 10 days to kick in but it is now working . My doctor says the higher dose is available when and if I need it.

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Profile picture for bassplayer1218 @bassplayer1218

I was wrong about lubiprostone 8mcg. It took 10 days to kick in but it is now working . My doctor says the higher dose is available when and if I need it.

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Oh yay, @bassplayer1218! I am so glad to hear you are noticing some relief by taking a starter dose of lubiprostone. Patience to give it time is difficult from the perspective of living with symptoms 24X7X365.

At one point in my health journey a doctor told me I was starting a marathon. I was thinking something like the Boston Marathon that lasted several hours, and I was familiar hearing runners talk about training for 6 months in preparation. Well, this was in 2021-22ish….nothing prepared me for comprehending the necessary needed endurance.

Lubiprostone alone hasn’t worked for me. Do you think this medication will take care of your problems or are there other things you’re doing (or will be doing) to maybe create some synergy?

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Now I am on 8mcg lubiprostone and Miralax every other day. I'm getting normal BMs and occasional diarrhea. But this is way better then hard constipation that I had for several months. I'm also trying to up my fiber intake. As usual, it's a matter of constant monitoring and adjustment.

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Profile picture for bassplayer1218 @bassplayer1218

Now I am on 8mcg lubiprostone and Miralax every other day. I'm getting normal BMs and occasional diarrhea. But this is way better then hard constipation that I had for several months. I'm also trying to up my fiber intake. As usual, it's a matter of constant monitoring and adjustment.

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@bassplayer1218 How awesome you have a regimen figured out at this point.

I am interested to hear how it goes. Do you have plans to follow up with your doctor? Will you come back and comment when things change?

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