Consider LINZESS for appropriate adult patients

According to a survey, patients with symptoms associated with Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation (IBS-C) or Chronic Idiopathic Constipation (CIC) tend to self-manage their condition with over-the-counter (OTC) medications, cycling through 4 to 5 products on average. Patients were triggered to leave the “self-care cycle” and seek medical care when OTC and diet/lifestyle changes did not improve symptoms.²

self-care-cycle
  • Patients frustrated by persistent symptoms²
  • Patients dissatisfied with OTC remedies²
  • Patients who have failed multiple OTC options²
  • Patients seeking effective FDA-approved treatment¹
Talking to patients about their symptoms

Getting sufferers to talk about their condition can be a challenge. Many patients with IBS-C or CIC find their condition embarrassing to talk about and may not think to bring up multiple symptoms. Because IBS‑C and CIC are multi‑symptom conditions, additional prompting may be required for patient assessment.3,4

Keep your ears open

Patients may describe their symptoms in many different ways. Here are a few terms that are important to listen for¹:

IBS-C symptoms
  • blue_checkboxBelly pain
  • blue_checkboxConstipation
  • blue_checkboxInfrequent and incomplete bowel movements
CIC symptoms
  • yellow_checkboxConstipation
  • yellow_checkboxHard stools
  • yellow_checkboxInfrequent and incomplete bowel movements
Listen for clues

IBS-C and CIC are chronic conditions, which can cause your patients to suffer on a recurrent basis. While there is no cure for IBS‑C or CIC, patients often try to manage their symptoms by4-10:

  • Making dietary changes
  • Drinking more water
  • Increasing exercise
  • Taking OTC laxatives and stool softeners chronically, many of which are only intended for up to 7 days of use
  • Reducing stress
Recurring symptoms leave many patients with IBS-C or CIC frustrated2,4

Patients who are suffering from IBS-C or CIC would likely welcome an option that can help them proactively manage their symptoms.1

Effective treatment is important for your IBS-C and CIC patients

Based on a survey commissioned by Ironwood and AbbVie, over half of IBS-C sufferers, and more than 40% of CIC sufferers, sought medical care but often did not receive a prescription.2

effective_treat_mobile

LINZESS is a once-daily treatment that allows patients with IBS-C and CIC to proactively manage their symptoms1

Know what to look for

One of the best ways to identify appropriate patients who can benefit from proactive treatment with LINZESS is to review examples of common patient profiles.1

Select a patient profile below to learn about their journey with IBS-C or CIC.

IBS-C

CIC

*Not actual patients. For illustrative purposes only.

Disease Information
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IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

WARNING: RISK OF SERIOUS DEHYDRATION IN PEDIATRIC PATIENTS

LINZESS is contraindicated in patients less than 6 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. Use of LINZESS should be avoided in patients 6 years to less than 18 years of age. The safety and effectiveness of LINZESS have not been established in patients less than 18 years of age.

Contraindications

  • LINZESS is contraindicated in patients less than 6 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

Pediatric Risk

  • LINZESS is contraindicated in patients less than 6 years of age. The safety and effectiveness of LINZESS in patients less than 18 years of age have not been established. In neonatal mice, linaclotide increased fluid secretion as a consequence of GC-C agonism resulting in mortality within the first 24 hours due to dehydration. Due to increased intestinal expression of GC-C, patients less than 6 years of age may be more likely than patients 6 years of age and older to develop severe diarrhea and its potentially serious consequences.
  • Use of LINZESS should be avoided in pediatric patients 6 years to less than 18 years of age. Although there were no deaths in older juvenile mice, given the deaths in young juvenile mice and the lack of clinical safety and efficacy data in pediatric patients, use of LINZESS should be avoided in pediatric patients 6 years to less than 18 years of age.

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 below and full Prescribing Information for LINZESS.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

More
 

WARNING: RISK OF SERIOUS DEHYDRATION IN PEDIATRIC PATIENTS

LINZESS is contraindicated in patients less than 6 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. Use of LINZESS should be avoided in patients 6 years to less than 18 years of age. The safety and effectiveness of LINZESS have not been established in patients less than 18 years of age.

Contraindications

  • LINZESS is contraindicated in patients less than 6 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

Pediatric Risk

  • LINZESS is contraindicated in patients less than 6 years of age. The safety and effectiveness of LINZESS in patients less than 18 years of age have not been established. In neonatal mice, linaclotide increased fluid secretion as a consequence of GC-C agonism resulting in mortality within the first 24 hours due to dehydration. Due to increased intestinal expression of GC-C, patients less than 6 years of age may be more likely than patients 6 years of age and older to develop severe diarrhea and its potentially serious consequences.
  • Use of LINZESS should be avoided in pediatric patients 6 years to less than 18 years of age. Although there were no deaths in older juvenile mice, given the deaths in young juvenile mice and the lack of clinical safety and efficacy data in pediatric patients, use of LINZESS should be avoided in pediatric patients 6 years to less than 18 years of age.

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 below and full Prescribing Information for LINZESS.