Hepatic Encephalopathy (HE)

HE is a brain dysfunction caused by liver insufficiency and/or portal systemic shunting.¹

Because a damaged liver cannot function normally (as in cirrhosis), toxins from the gut can enter the bloodstream and travel to the brain, where they affect neurotransmission. This can cause episodes of HE, which may present as alterations in consciousness, cognition, and behavior that range from minimal to severe.^1-3

Overt HE occurs in 30% to 40% of patients with cirrhosis at some point during the clinical course of their disease.¹ As the burden of chronic liver disease and cirrhosis is increasing, the frequency of HE is also increasing.^4,5

Learn more about a treatment for the reduction in risk of overt HE recurrence in adults.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome With Diarrhea (IBS-D)

IBS-D is a common disorder of the large intestine (colon).⁶ It affects more than 25 million Americans, about twice as many women as men.⁷ The symptoms of IBS-D can happen on a regular basis and vary widely, but often include abdominal pain and diarrhea.⁷

The cause of IBS-D is unknown, but may result from a disturbance in the way the gut, brain, and nervous system interact.⁷

Learn more about treatments for IBS-D.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome With Constipation (IBS-C), Chronic Idiopathic Constipation (CIC)

Constipation is something that everyone has likely experienced at one time or another. But for some people, constipation can be more than just an occasional event. These people may experience Chronic Idiopathic Constipation (CIC) or Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation (IBS-C).⁸

Prolonged periods of constipation without a known cause could be a condition called Chronic Idiopathic Constipation, or CIC. People with CIC can experience less than 3 bowel movements (BMs) a week, hard-to-pass BMs, bloating, straining, discomfort and not feeling empty after a BM.⁸

Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation, or IBS-C, is a condition where one experiences long periods of constipation accompanied by abdominal pain.⁸

Learn more about a treatments for CIC and IBS-C

Opioid-induced Constipation (OIC)

Constipation may be defined as having one or more symptoms: hard stools, infrequent stools, the need for excessive straining, the sense of incomplete bowel evacuation, and excessive time spent on the toilet or in unsuccessful defecation.⁹

Constipation can also be classified by etiology:

• Primary constipation¹⁰
  • Results from intrinsic defects of colonic or anorectal function
  • Considered typically after secondary causes have been ruled out
• Secondary constipation¹⁰
  • Caused by pathologic changes, such as disease or intestinal obstruction
  • Caused by medications (iatrogenic), such as opioids

Constipation is a frequent side effect of opioids^11-14

• Opioids are a major class of analgesics often used to relieve pain¹²
• One of the most common side effects of opioids is constipation, with incidence ranging from 40% to 80%^11,13,14

Learn more about treatments for OIC.

Bowel Preparation

A colonoscopy is one of the most important preventative care measures you can have done to reduce the risk of getting colon cancer. This procedure can help find and allow for the removal of growths (called polyps) before they become cancerous.¹⁵

To get ready for a colonoscopy, a full bowel prep is required. Your doctor will give you specific directions on how to prepare, but generally, all solids must be emptied from the stomach and bowel by following a clear liquid diet for 1-3 days before the procedure and a bowel prep taken.¹⁶

Learn more about a bowel preparation for colonoscopies.

Ulcerative Colitis (UC)¹⁵

UC is a disease that causes inflammation in the colon, which can lead to bleeding, production of pus, diarrhea, and abdominal or stomach discomfort. Over 900,000 Americans have UC, and it equally affects men and women.

UC is chronic, with no known cure. It is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), not to be confused with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which does not cause inflammation in the colon.

Learn more about treatments for UC.