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Condition

Constipation-Predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS-C)

IBS-C is a long-term gut disorder in which recurring abdominal pain comes with hard, infrequent stools, shaped by close signaling between gut and brain. Psyllium fiber and peppermint oil have strong evidence behind them, while in large trials linaclotide and plecanatide helped about 30 to 34 percent of people reach pain and bowel goals, versus 14 to 21 percent on placebo. Those results come from drugs, so they don't show what supplements do.

Sources: PMID 29380823; PMID 29545635

Supplements studied
0
Medicines and peptides
2
Graded outcomes
4
No supplement studies yetWe haven’t found supplement studies for Constipation-Predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS-C). The medicines and peptides studied for it are listed below.

Prescription medicines and peptides studied, for context

These are not supplements. Most need a prescription, and some are research compounds with no approved use.

2 medicines and peptides

Linaclotide (Linzess): outcomes studied for Constipation-Predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS-C)
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
FDA Responder Rate IBS-C

Phase 3: 33.6-33.7% FDA responders vs 13.9-21.0% placebo (P<0.0001). Dual endpoint: ≥30% pain improvement + ≥1 CSBM increase for ≥50% of weeks. Effect maintained over 26 weeks.

Improves (the measure goes up)Large effect20 studies
Abdominal Pain Relief

Significant improvement in worst abdominal pain scores vs placebo. Pain relief observed within first week. cGMP-mediated visceral analgesia independent of bowel effects. No rebound worsening on discontinuation.

Improves (the measure goes down)Large effect15 studies
Plecanatide (Trulance): outcomes studied for Constipation-Predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS-C)
GradeOutcomeEffectSizeStudiesPeopleStudies list
Overall Response IBS-C

Phase 3: 30.2% overall responders (3mg) vs 17.8% placebo (P<0.001). Dual endpoint: ≥30% pain reduction + ≥1 CSBM increase for ≥6 of 12 weeks. Consistent across two identical trials (n=2,189).

Improves (the measure goes up)Large effect8 studies
Abdominal Pain IBS-C

Significant reduction in worst abdominal pain vs placebo. ≥30% improvement in pain required for FDA responder endpoint. cGMP-mediated visceral analgesia mechanism.

Improves (the measure goes down)Large effect8 studies

Key findings

  • FDA Responder Rate IBS-CLinaclotide (Linzess)Improves (the measure goes up)
  • Abdominal Pain ReliefLinaclotide (Linzess)Improves (the measure goes down)
  • Overall Response IBS-CPlecanatide (Trulance)Improves (the measure goes up)

The Constipation-Predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS-C) Supportive Care protocol

2 primary supplements · 6 supporting supplements

  • Psyllium Fiber5–10 g daily in divided doses, gradually increased; with plenty of water
  • Probiotics10–50 billion CFU daily (Bifidobacterium infantis 35,624, B. lactis DN-173 010)

See the full protocol

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Studies cited

77 studies from PubMed

  1. Linaclotide combined with polyethylene glycol for bowel preparation in colonoscopy: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Surgical endoscopy, 2026 · PMID 41168471
  2. Efficacy and tolerability of plecanatide for irritable bowel syndrome with constipation and chronic idiopathic constipation: a systematic review and meta-analysis.European journal of gastroenterology & hepatology, 2026 · PMID 41604554
  3. Efficacy and Safety of Linaclotide as an Adjunct to Polyethylene Glycol in Bowel Preparation: A Meta-Analysis.Journal of digestive diseases, 2025 · PMID 40955723
  4. Efficacy and safety of pharmacological therapies for functional constipation in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis.The Lancet. Child & adolescent health, 2025 · PMID 41101321
  5. Safety and efficacy of linaclotide as an adjuvant for bowel preparation: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Arab journal of gastroenterology : the official publication of the Pan-Arab Association of Gastroenterology, 2025 · PMID 41203453
  6. ESPGHAN/NASPGHAN guidelines for treatment of irritable bowel syndrome and functional abdominal pain-not otherwise specified in children aged 4-18 years.Journal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition, 2025 · PMID 40444524
  7. Management of Chronic Constipation: A Comprehensive Review.Internal medicine (Tokyo, Japan), 2025 · PMID 37952945
  8. Combined linaclotide and polyethylene glycol electrolyte for colonoscopy preparation: a network meta-analysis of 14 randomized controlled trials.International journal of colorectal disease, 2025 · PMID 40528061
  9. Post-marketing safety assessment of constipation drugs: a real-world pharmacovigilance study based on FAERS database.Expert opinion on drug safety, 2025 · PMID 39950440
  10. The Safety of Pharmacotherapy for Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.The American journal of gastroenterology, 2025 · PMID 40471839
  11. Constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome treatment options Linaclotide, Lubiprostone, Plecanatide, and Tenapanor: analysis of the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database.Expert opinion on drug safety, 2025 · PMID 40503810
  12. Efficacy and Safety of Plecanatide in Chinese Patients with Functional Constipation: A Phase III Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.Drugs, 2025 · PMID 40571893
  13. Plecanatide Is Efficacious in Women Aged 18 to 40 Years With IBS-C and Bloating: A Pooled Analysis of Two Phase 3, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trials.Gastroenterology & hepatology, 2025 · PMID 41625190
  14. Efficacy and safety of linaclotide in treating functional constipation in paediatric patients: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre, phase 3 trialLancet Gastroenterol Hepatol, 2024 · PMID 38211604
  15. Efficacy and safety of linaclotide in treatment-resistant chronic constipation: A multicenter, open-label studyJ Gastroenterol Hepatol, 2024 · PMID 39370607
  16. Safety and efficacy of linaclotide in children aged 7-17 years with irritable bowel syndrome with constipation.Journal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition, 2024 · PMID 38504394
  17. Safety and efficacy of linaclotide in children aged 2-5 years with functional constipation: Phase 2, randomized study.Journal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition, 2024 · PMID 38962910
  18. Comparative profiles of lubiprostone, linaclotide, and elobixibat for chronic constipation: a systematic literature review with meta-analysis and number needed to treat/harm.BMC gastroenterology, 2024 · PMID 38166671
  19. Plecanatide Improves Abdominal Bloating and Bowel Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome with ConstipationAm J Gastroenterol, 2024 · PMID 38691604
  20. Assessing real-world safety of plecanatide: a pharmacovigilance study based on the FDA adverse event reporting system.Frontiers in pharmacology, 2024 · PMID 39654622
  21. Efficacy and Safety of Plecanatide in Treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome With Constipation and Chronic Idiopathic Constipation.Gastroenterology & hepatology, 2024 · PMID 39896924
  22. Bowel preparation efficacy and safety of compound polyethylene glycol electrolyte powder combined with linaclotide for colonoscopy: A randomized controlled trial.JGH open : an open access journal of gastroenterology and hepatology, 2023 · PMID 37744708
  23. Intestinal neuropod cell GUCY2C regulates visceral pain.The Journal of clinical investigation, 2023 · PMID 36548082
  24. Enteroendocrine cell regulation of the gut-brain axis.Frontiers in neuroscience, 2023 · PMID 38027512
  25. Editorial: repurposed linaclotide and the quest for abdominal pain management in irritable bowel syndrome.Alimentary pharmacology & therapeutics, 2023 · PMID 36565004
  26. Plecanatide Improves Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation: Results of an Integrated Efficacy and Safety Analysis of Two Phase 3 TrialsDig Dis Sci, 2023 · PMID 37507497
  27. Plecanatide Improves Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation: Results of an Integrated Efficacy and Safety Analysis of Two Phase 3 Trials.International journal of general medicine, 2023 · PMID 37649852
  28. Efficacy and safety of linaclotide in patients with irritable bowel syndrome with constipation: Chinese sub-cohort analysis of a phase III, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trialJ Gastroenterol Hepatol, 2022 · PMID 35019221
  29. Chronic Constipation: Gastroenterohepatologist's Approach.Digestive diseases (Basel, Switzerland), 2022 · PMID 33946065
  30. Effects of linaclotide in the treatment of chronic constipation and irritable bowel syndrome with constipation: a meta-analysis.Zeitschrift fur Gastroenterologie, 2022 · PMID 34215016
  31. The Effect of Acid Suppression Therapy on the Safety and Efficacy of Plecanatide: Analysis of Randomized Phase III TrialsJ Clin Gastroenterol, 2022 · PMID 35086735
  32. Guanylyl cyclase C as a diagnostic and therapeutic target in colorectal cancer.Personalized medicine, 2022 · PMID 35920071
  33. Efficacy of Linaclotide in Reducing Abdominal Symptoms of Bloating, Discomfort, and Pain: A Phase 3B Trial Using a Novel Abdominal Scoring SystemAm J Gastroenterol, 2021 · PMID 34465695
  34. [Efficacy and Safety of Linaclotide in Elderly Patients].Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan, 2021 · PMID 33518646
  35. Improving the Gastrointestinal Stability of Linaclotide.Journal of medicinal chemistry, 2021 · PMID 33979161
  36. Bisacodyl: A review of pharmacology and clinical evidence to guide use in clinical practice in patients with constipation.Neurogastroenterology and motility, 2021 · PMID 33751780
  37. Systematic review and network meta-analysis: efficacy of licensed drugs for abdominal bloating in irritable bowel syndrome with constipation.Alimentary pharmacology & therapeutics, 2021 · PMID 34114657
  38. Guanylyl cyclase 2C (GUCY2C) in gastrointestinal cancers: recent innovations and therapeutic potential.Expert opinion on therapeutic targets, 2021 · PMID 34056991
  39. Randomised clinical trial: linaclotide vs placebo-a study of bi-directional gut and brain axis.Alimentary pharmacology & therapeutics, 2020 · PMID 32406112
  40. Tadalafil versus linaclotide in gastrointestinal dysfunction and depressive behavior in constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome.Life sciences, 2020 · PMID 32534033
  41. Evaluation of Plecanatide for the Treatment of Chronic Idiopathic Constipation and Irritable Bowel Syndrome With Constipation in Patients 65 Years or OlderClin Transl Gastroenterol, 2020 · PMID 32660770
  42. Safety and tolerability of linaclotide for the treatment of chronic idiopathic constipation and irritable bowel syndrome with constipation: pooled Phase 3 analysisExpert Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol, 2019 · PMID 30791771
  43. Efficacy of drugs in chronic idiopathic constipation: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.The lancet. Gastroenterology & hepatology, 2019 · PMID 31474542
  44. Efficacy and Tolerability of Guanylate Cyclase-C Agonists for Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation and Chronic Idiopathic Constipation: A Systematic Review and Meta-AnalysisAm J Gastroenterol, 2018 · PMID 29380823
  45. Linaclotide improves gastrointestinal transit in cystic fibrosis mice by inhibiting sodium/hydrogen exchanger 3.American journal of physiology. Gastrointestinal and liver physiology, 2018 · PMID 30118317
  46. Efficacy, safety, and tolerability of plecanatide in patients with irritable bowel syndrome with constipation: results of two phase 3 randomized clinical trialsAm J Gastroenterol, 2018 · PMID 29545635
  47. Plecanatide: a new guanylate cyclase agonist for the treatment of chronic idiopathic constipationTherap Adv Gastroenterol, 2018 · PMID 29782529
  48. Plecanatide (Trulance) for Chronic Idiopathic Constipation and Irritable Bowel Syndrome With ConstipationMed Lett Drugs Ther, 2018 · PMID 29521975
  49. Guanylate cyclase-C as a therapeutic target in gastrointestinal disorders.Gut, 2018 · PMID 29563144
  50. Safety and tolerability of plecanatide in patients with chronic idiopathic constipation: long-term evidence from an open-label study.Current medical research and opinion, 2018 · PMID 29343131
  51. Efficacy and safety of plecanatide in treating constipation predominant irritable bowel syndrome.Expert opinion on pharmacotherapy, 2018 · PMID 29376436
  52. Efficacy of Secretagogues in Patients With Irritable Bowel Syndrome With Constipation: Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis.Gastroenterology, 2018 · PMID 30144426
  53. Gastrointestinal Pharmacology.Handbook of experimental pharmacology, 2017 · PMID 28236087
  54. Linaclotide activates guanylate cyclase-C/cGMP/protein kinase-II-dependent trafficking of CFTR in the intestine.Physiological reports, 2017 · PMID 28592587
  55. A Randomized Phase III Clinical Trial of Plecanatide, a Uroguanylin Analog, in Patients With Chronic Idiopathic ConstipationAm J Gastroenterol, 2017 · PMID 28169285
  56. Randomized clinical trial: efficacy and safety of plecanatide in the treatment of chronic idiopathic constipationTherap Adv Gastroenterol, 2017 · PMID 29147135
  57. Plecanatide-mediated activation of guanylate cyclase-C suppresses inflammation-induced colorectal carcinogenesis in Apc(+/Min-FCCC) mice.World journal of gastrointestinal pharmacology and therapeutics, 2017 · PMID 28217374
  58. Formulary Drug Reviews: Plecanatide.Hospital pharmacy, 2017 · PMID 29276262
  59. GUCY2C ligand replacement to prevent colorectal cancer.Cancer biology & therapy, 2016 · PMID 27104761
  60. Guanylyl cyclase C signaling axis and colon cancer prevention.World journal of gastroenterology, 2016 · PMID 27688649
  61. Linaclotide in Chronic Idiopathic Constipation Patients with Moderate to Severe Abdominal Bloating: A Randomized, Controlled TrialPLoS One, 2015 · PMID 26222318
  62. Plecanatide and dolcanatide, novel guanylate cyclase-C agonists, ameliorate gastrointestinal inflammation in experimental models of murine colitis.World journal of gastrointestinal pharmacology and therapeutics, 2015 · PMID 26558155
  63. Linaclotide: a novel therapy for chronic constipation and constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndromeUnited European Gastroenterol J, 2014 · PMID 24683372
  64. Linaclotide: a review of its use in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome with constipation.Drugs, 2014 · PMID 24293117
  65. Effect of linaclotide in irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C): a systematic review and meta-analysis.Neurogastroenterology and motility, 2014 · PMID 24351035
  66. Review article: Linaclotide for the management of irritable bowel syndrome with constipation.Alimentary pharmacology & therapeutics, 2014 · PMID 24433216
  67. Randomised clinical trials: linaclotide phase 3 studies in IBS-C - a prespecified further analysis based on European Medicines Agency-specified endpointsAliment Pharmacol Ther, 2013 · PMID 23116208
  68. Linaclotide, novel therapy for the treatment of chronic idiopathic constipation and constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndromeAdv Ther, 2013 · PMID 23436110
  69. Translating colorectal cancer prevention through the guanylyl cyclase C signaling axis.Expert review of clinical pharmacology, 2013 · PMID 23971873
  70. A review of the clinical efficacy of linaclotide in irritable bowel syndrome with constipation.Current medical research and opinion, 2013 · PMID 23198977
  71. Effects of linaclotide in patients with irritable bowel syndrome with constipation or chronic constipation: a meta-analysis.Clinical gastroenterology and hepatology : the official clinical practice journal of the American Gastroenterological Association, 2013 · PMID 23644388
  72. Plecanatide, an oral guanylate cyclase C agonist acting locally in the gastrointestinal tract, is safe and well-tolerated in single doses.Digestive diseases and sciences, 2013 · PMID 23625291
  73. Linaclotide for irritable bowel syndrome with constipation: a 26-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to evaluate efficacy and safetyAm J Gastroenterol, 2012 · PMID 22986437
  74. A 12-week, randomized, controlled trial with a 4-week randomized withdrawal period to evaluate the efficacy and safety of linaclotide in irritable bowel syndrome with constipationAm J Gastroenterol, 2012 · PMID 22986440
  75. Linaclotide in the management of gastrointestinal tract disorders.Drugs of today (Barcelona, Spain : 1998), 2012 · PMID 22462039
  76. The pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, clinical efficacy, safety and tolerability of linaclotide.Expert opinion on drug metabolism & toxicology, 2011 · PMID 21446888
  77. Linaclotide, a synthetic guanylate cyclase C agonist, for the treatment of functional gastrointestinal disorders associated with constipation.Expert review of gastroenterology & hepatology, 2011 · PMID 21651347