Tips for helping patients stay on track

Effective treatment with LINZESS starts with adherence

Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation (IBS-C) and Chronic Idiopathic Constipation (CIC) are chronic conditions that require ongoing treatment. Taken once daily, LINZESS can help patients experience relief in as little as one week. However, if patients do not continue to take their medicine as prescribed, symptoms could return just as fast.1,4

Follow the tips below to help manage your patients’ expectations about treatment with LINZESS and help them continue to take the medicine as prescribed.

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Once a day, every day

Remind patients to take one capsule of LINZESS every day.1

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Stay on top of refills

Encourage your patients to fill their LINZESS prescription right away. You may also want to suggest that they sign up for refill reminders through their pharmacy.

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Store and more

Tell patients to keep LINZESS in a convenient place. However, it is important to store LINZESS, with the dessicant, in its original bottle. The bottle should be kept tightly closed in a dry location. Additionally, patients must keep LINZESS out of the reach of children.1

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Skip what was missed

Remind patients that if they miss a dose, they should skip the missed dose and take the next dose at their regular time. Patients should not take 2 doses at the same time1

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Same treatment, same time

Because patients are instructed to take one capsule a day on an empty stomach, suggest that they take it 30 minutes before breakfast every day1

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Set the clock

Suggest that patients set a daily alarm on their phone reminding them when to take their pill.

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Setting expectations

Let patients know that diarrhea often begins within the first 2 weeks of LINZESS treatment. Diarrhea is the most common side effect of LINZESS and can sometimes be severe. Advise patients to stop taking LINZESS and call you right away if they get severe diarrhea during treatment with LINZESS.1

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Gut check

Encourage patients to keep track of how they are feeling and talk to you about how LINZESS is working for them. The more they tell you, the better you will understand how to manage their IBS-C or CIC symptoms.

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Help patients start right

Give your patients a Starting Treatment Guide with their prescription.

Please click here to access My Sample Closet or contact your AbbVie sales representative at 1-800-678-1605 to request copies for your practice.

Download Full Prescribing Information

LINZESS is the #1 prescribed brand in new patient starts with primary care physicians19*

*IQVIA Patient Insights, New To Brand. July 2019. Data are subject to change.

HCP/Patient Resources
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IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

WARNING: RISK OF SERIOUS DEHYDRATION IN PEDIATRIC PATIENTS LESS THAN 2 YEARS OF AGE

LINZESS is contraindicated in patients less than 2 years of age; in nonclinical studies in neonatal mice, administration of a single, clinically relevant adult oral dose of linaclotide caused deaths due to dehydration.

Contraindications

  • LINZESS is contraindicated in patients less than 2 years of age due to the risk of serious dehydration.
  • LINZESS is contraindicated in patients with known or suspected mechanical gastrointestinal obstruction.

Warnings and Precautions

Risk of Serious Dehydration in Pediatric Patients Less Than 2 Years of Age

  • LINZESS is contraindicated in patients less than 2 years of age. In neonatal mice, linaclotide increased fluid secretion as a consequence of age-dependent elevated GC-C agonism which was associated with increased mortality within the first 24 hours due to dehydration. There was no age-dependent trend in GC-C intestinal expression in a clinical study of children 2 to less than 18 years of age; however, there are insufficient data available on GC-C intestinal expression in children less than 2 years of age to assess the risk of developing diarrhea and its potentially serious consequences in these patients. The safety and effectiveness of LINZESS in patients less than 18 years of age have not been established.

Diarrhea

  • Diarrhea was the most common adverse reaction in LINZESS-treated patients in the pooled IBS-C and CIC double-blind placebo-controlled trials. The incidence of diarrhea was similar in the IBS-C and CIC populations. Severe diarrhea was reported in 2% of 145 mcg and 290 mcg LINZESS-treated patients, and in <1% of 72 mcg LINZESS-treated CIC patients. If severe diarrhea occurs, dosing should be suspended and the patient rehydrated.

Common Adverse Reactions (incidence ≥2% and greater than placebo)

  • In IBS-C clinical trials: diarrhea (20% vs 3% placebo), abdominal pain (7% vs 5%), flatulence (4% vs 2%), headache (4% vs 3%), viral gastroenteritis (3% vs 1%) and abdominal distension (2% vs 1%).
  • In CIC trials of a 145 mcg dose: diarrhea (16% vs 5% placebo), abdominal pain (7% vs 6%), flatulence (6% vs 5%), upper respiratory tract infection (5% vs 4%), sinusitis (3% vs 2%) and abdominal distension (3% vs 2%). In a CIC trial of a 72 mcg dose: diarrhea (19% vs 7% placebo) and abdominal distension (2% vs <1%).
LINZESS® (linaclotide) is indicated in adults for the treatment of both irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS‑C) and chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC).
If you are a patient, and have any questions, please discuss them with your doctor or healthcare professional. For additional information about LINZESS, call AbbVie Medical Information at 1-800-678-1605.
Please see additional Important Safety Information throughout, including Boxed Warning.
Please see full Prescribing Information, including Boxed Warning, or visit https://www.rxabbvie.com/pdf/linzess_pi.pdf.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

More
 

WARNING: RISK OF SERIOUS DEHYDRATION IN PEDIATRIC PATIENTS LESS THAN 2 YEARS OF AGE

LINZESS is contraindicated in patients less than 2 years of age; in nonclinical studies in neonatal mice, administration of a single, clinically relevant adult oral dose of linaclotide caused deaths due to dehydration.

Contraindications

  • LINZESS is contraindicated in patients less than 2 years of age due to the risk of serious dehydration.
  • LINZESS is contraindicated in patients with known or suspected mechanical gastrointestinal obstruction.

Warnings and Precautions

Risk of Serious Dehydration in Pediatric Patients Less Than 2 Years of Age

  • LINZESS is contraindicated in patients less than 2 years of age. In neonatal mice, linaclotide increased fluid secretion as a consequence of age-dependent elevated GC-C agonism which was associated with increased mortality within the first 24 hours due to dehydration. There was no age-dependent trend in GC-C intestinal expression in a clinical study of children 2 to less than 18 years of age; however, there are insufficient data available on GC-C intestinal expression in children less than 2 years of age to assess the risk of developing diarrhea and its potentially serious consequences in these patients. The safety and effectiveness of LINZESS in patients less than 18 years of age have not been established.

Diarrhea

  • Diarrhea was the most common adverse reaction in LINZESS-treated patients in the pooled IBS-C and CIC double-blind placebo-controlled trials. The incidence of diarrhea was similar in the IBS-C and CIC populations. Severe diarrhea was reported in 2% of 145 mcg and 290 mcg LINZESS-treated patients, and in <1% of 72 mcg LINZESS-treated CIC patients. If severe diarrhea occurs, dosing should be suspended and the patient rehydrated.

Common Adverse Reactions (incidence ≥2% and greater than placebo)

  • In IBS-C clinical trials: diarrhea (20% vs 3% placebo), abdominal pain (7% vs 5%), flatulence (4% vs 2%), headache (4% vs 3%), viral gastroenteritis (3% vs 1%) and abdominal distension (2% vs 1%).
  • In CIC trials of a 145 mcg dose: diarrhea (16% vs 5% placebo), abdominal pain (7% vs 6%), flatulence (6% vs 5%), upper respiratory tract infection (5% vs 4%), sinusitis (3% vs 2%) and abdominal distension (3% vs 2%). In a CIC trial of a 72 mcg dose: diarrhea (19% vs 7% placebo) and abdominal distension (2% vs <1%).
LINZESS® (linaclotide) is indicated in adults for the treatment of both irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS‑C) and chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC).
If you are a patient, and have any questions, please discuss them with your doctor or healthcare professional. For additional information about LINZESS, call AbbVie Medical Information at 1-800-678-1605.
Please see additional Important Safety Information throughout, including Boxed Warning.
Please see full Prescribing Information, including Boxed Warning, or visit https://www.rxabbvie.com/pdf/linzess_pi.pdf.