Solystat Administration with Food
Solystat (lubiprostone) should be taken with food and water to reduce the risk of nausea. This is the FDA-recommended administration method for this medication. 1
Key Administration Guidelines
Taking lubiprostone with food significantly reduces gastrointestinal side effects, particularly nausea, which is the most common adverse event. 1
- Nausea occurs in up to 35% of patients taking lubiprostone, but is typically mild to moderate in severity 1
- The risk of nausea is dose-dependent and can be substantially reduced when the medication is taken with food and water 1
- Only approximately 5% of patients discontinue therapy due to nausea when proper administration guidelines are followed 1
Dosing Specifics
The standard dose for chronic idiopathic constipation is 24 mcg twice daily, taken with meals. 2
- For patients with moderate to severe hepatic impairment, the dose should be reduced to 8 mcg twice daily 1
- For IBS-C (a different indication), the approved dose is 8 mcg twice daily 2
- No dose adjustment is needed for elderly patients, as efficacy is comparable across age groups 1
Clinical Rationale
Food administration improves tolerability without compromising efficacy. 2, 1
- Lubiprostone has minimal systemic absorption and acts locally in the intestinal tract, so food does not interfere with its mechanism of action 1
- The medication works by increasing intestinal chloride secretion and fluid, with effects typically manifesting within 2 days in responders 1
- Clinical trials demonstrated significant improvements in spontaneous bowel movements per week (MD 1.98,95% CI 1.17–2.79) and responder rates (RR 1.67,95% CI 1.36–2.06) 1
Common Pitfall to Avoid
Do not advise patients to take lubiprostone on an empty stomach in an attempt to enhance absorption—this is unnecessary and will increase gastrointestinal side effects, particularly nausea, leading to poor adherence and potential treatment discontinuation. 1