Is it occasional constipation or
Chronic Constipation?

At one time or another, almost everyone gets constipated. In most cases, it’s temporary. Known as occasional constipation, it is usually not serious.

But there is another kind of constipation. The medical profession calls it “Chronic Constipation.” Chronic Constipation means that for 3 months or more you have had fewer than 3 bowel movements a week, or you have had difficulty passing stools. And it’s a common problem, with up to 28% of adults in the United States having Chronic Constipation.

There is also a type of Chronic Constipation known as Chronic Idiopathic Constipation. This is a type of Chronic Constipation whose cause is unknown, and is not due to an underlying illness or medication you’re taking. If your doctor determines that you have Chronic Idiopathic Constipation, AMITIZA may bring the relief you want. That’s because AMITIZA is approved to treat this type of Chronic Constipation.

AMITIZA is approved to treat Chronic Idiopathic Constipation in adults including those over 65. "Idiopathic" means the cause of the constipation is unknown and not due to an underlying illness or medication.

Key symptoms of Chronic Constipation.

To tell if you might have Chronic Constipation, review the checklist below, which is adapted from the American College of Gastroenterology Guidelines. If you suffered from any 2 of these symptoms for 3 months over the last year, you may have Chronic Constipation:

Infrequent stools
Difficulty passing stools
Straining
Hard or lumpy stools

Who gets Chronic Constipation?

Chronic Constipation touches the lives of up to 28% of adults in America. Both men and women suffer from it, but the condition is two to three times more common in women. More people tend to experience it as they get older.

So what are your treatment options if you have constipation? For occasional constipation, lifestyle changes may help. For example, eating a high-fiber diet, exercising, and drinking lots of water may bring you some relief. If you have Chronic Constipation, you may need to do more. You might have taken over-the-counter medicines. But for some people, that may not be enough. Talk to your doctor about your Chronic Constipation because prescription treatment options are available as well.

Occasional constipation vs Chronic Constipation.

This chart shows the differences between occasional constipation and Chronic Constipation:

OCCASIONAL CONSTIPATION	CHRONIC CONSTIPATION
Infrequent	Lasts at least 3 months; may persist for years
Occasional physical condition	May need medical attention
May be brought on by patient’s behavior or circumstances: change in diet, lack of exercise, illness, or medication	Not only affected by patient’s behavior or circumstances; there may be many causes but often the cause is not known and not due to illness or medication
May be relieved by diet and exercise changes	Not always relieved by diet or exercise changes

** You must meet Eligibility Requirements.

Indication

AMITIZA (24 mcg) twice daily is approved to treat Chronic Idiopathic Constipation in adults. “Idiopathic” means the cause of the constipation is unknown and not due to an underlying illness or medication. AMITIZA (8 mcg) twice daily is approved to treat Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation (IBS-C) in women 18 years of age and older.

Important Safety Information

AMITIZA is not for everyone. If you know or suspect you have a bowel blockage, do not take AMITIZA. If you are unsure, your healthcare provider should evaluate your condition before starting AMITIZA. You should not take AMITIZA if you have severe diarrhea.

AMITIZA has not been studied in pregnant women and should only be used during a pregnancy if the potential benefits justify the potential risk to the fetus. Women should have a negative pregnancy test before beginning treatment with AMITIZA and need to practice effective birth control measures. If you are pregnant or become pregnant while being treated with AMITIZA, talk to your healthcare provider to evaluate the risks to the fetus.

Some patients taking AMITIZA may experience nausea or diarrhea. If nausea occurs, take AMITIZA with food. If your nausea or diarrhea becomes severe, tell your healthcare provider.

Within an hour of taking AMITIZA, a sensation of chest tightness and shortness of breath may occur. These symptoms usually go away within three hours, but may recur with repeated use. Tell your healthcare provider if you experience these symptoms.

The most common side effects of taking AMITIZA (24 mcg) twice daily, orange capsules for Chronic Idiopathic Constipation are nausea, diarrhea, and headache. The most common side effects of taking AMITIZA (8 mcg) twice daily, pink capsules for IBS-C are nausea, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. These are not all the side effects associated with AMITIZA.

Please see complete Prescribing Information.