What Is Lubiprostone Used For?

Lubiprostone is a medication used for the treatment of chronic idiopathic constipation in men and women, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) with constipation in women. This prescription medication is not used for treating these conditions in children under the age of 18. Possible "off-label" lubiprostone uses include treating IBS in men and chronic constipation due to a known cause.

Lubiprostone for IBS

What Is Lubiprostone Used For? -- An Overview

Lubiprostone (Amitiza^®) is a prescription medication approved for treating:

Chronic constipation with no known cause
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) with constipation.

Chronic Constipation

Lubiprostone is approved to treat chronic idiopathic constipation. Chronic constipation is usually defined as constipation that lasts at least six months. Idiopathic means that it is not due to an identifiable cause. Before you are diagnosed with chronic idiopathic constipation, your healthcare provider will make sure your problems are not due to one of the causes of constipation, such as other diseases or medications.

Symptoms of constipation include hard bowel movements that are less frequent. People with constipation sometimes need to strain to produce a bowel movement, and they sometimes feel that the bowel movement was incomplete. Constipation often causes feelings of abdominal pain (stomach pain) and bloating.

When lubiprostone is used for chronic idiopathic constipation, it helps provide relief for constipation and the pain and bloating associated with it.

(What Is Lubiprostone Used For? Continued: Page 2)