ON SCREEN/SUPER: Regina is a real patient with IBS‑C, taking IBSRELA, who has been compensated for her participation in this video

Regina VO:

My name is Regina, I live in New York. I’ve been married for 12 years, together for 15. I have four children. I like to read, I like to garden. I like to socialize. I like to visit wineries. I like to cook. I like to bake.

ON SCREEN/SUPER: On IBS‑C symptoms and diagnosis

Regina VO: My first experience with IBS‑C was with bloating, was with the constipation and pain. I was diagnosed approximately 10 years ago, 8 to 10 years ago, was my official diagnosis, but I have had this for a very long time.

ON SCREEN/SUPER: On the impact of IBS‑C on daily life and relationships

Regina VO: My IBS‑C has impacted my relationships physically and mentally.

IBS‑C has impacted my relationships by basically putting a huge strain on my social life. It has affected me physically. I have been in so much pain that when my children were small, there were many things I had to miss out on...I have had to miss out on family functions, some friends when I tell them that I can’t go, that I’m not feeling well, and I have to say that a lot…after a while, they just get very frustrated and they just stop calling. You know, it’s very easy for someone to say, oh, you know what, just take a pill. Just, you know, take something over the counter. But it doesn’t work that way.

ON SCREEN/SUPER: On talking with her doctor about IBS‑C prescription medications

Regina VO: After my diagnosis with my first prescribed treatment, I left the doctor’s office very happy that I had a name to the symptoms that I had. She had given me a medication, and she did tell me that it did have side effects, that it would help me go to the bathroom, and I was actually very happy to know that there was something out there that could help me.

…my doctor…ended up taking me off of that medication because it did not work for me. It worked for a certain amount of time and then it stopped working and then my doctor prescribed me other medications, which did not work at all.

ON SCREEN/SUPER: On discussing IBSRELA with her doctor

Regina VO: When my doctor and I first started talking about IBSRELA, she told me it was different from the other medications I had already tried. That’s a big reason why I was so excited to take IBSRELA.

ON SCREEN/SUPER: On her experience taking IBSRELA^® (tenapanor)

Disclaimer: The most common side effects of IBSRELA include diarrhea, swelling or a feeling of fullness in the abdomen, gas, or dizziness.

Regina VO: Since starting IBSRELA, I now go to the bathroom more regularly. It has also helped with my abdominal pain and my bloating. Before starting IBSRELA, my doctor and I discussed the possible side effects, one of which was loose stool. This isn’t the only side effect, and some patients may experience others. It’s important that patients talk to their healthcare providers about all possible side effects.

I can only speak for myself. This is only my, how it affects and helps me…everybody is different.

ON SCREEN/SUPER: On her IBS‑C symptom relief

Disclaimer: Regina’s experiences are specific to her. Individual experiences and results may vary.

Regina VO: Now that I’m taking IBSRELA and it relieves my symptoms, I’m able to get up in the morning, I’m able to plan my day…I can now make plans and go out with my husband and my friends. I’m able to travel and I recently went to Italy with my daughter. I didn’t have to worry about not being able to go to the bathroom, not being able to enjoy myself, not being in so much pain, we had a ball...

Other people may have different experiences with IBSRELA, but I feel like I’ve gained some of my life back.

Title Screen with IBSRELA Indication and Boxed Warning

ON SCREEN/SUPER: Suzanne
Retired nurse, patient with IBS‑C

Suzanne VO:

Hi my name is Suzanne. I’m a retired nurse from Michigan. I’m here today to tell you a little bit about my experience living with Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation, or IBS‑C. I’m joined by Susan, my nurse practitioner who works with me to manage my IBS‑C, and whom I can’t say enough wonderful things about. Susan has been my savior, and I feel very fortunate to have her. She understands me and my condition—and has been committed to working with me to find the IBS‑C treatment that works for me.

IBS‑C very much impacted my ability to live my life. I used to go 14-15 days without a bowel movement—and I had terrible cramping and bloating. I remember my clothes were so tight. I love to go camping with my husband—and now that we are retired, we have plenty of time to do so. But I never wanted to leave the house just in case I got the urge to go to the bathroom. And the abdominal pain and bloating were so bad—I really didn’t feel like doing much of anything.

I took an over-the-counter medication for a while but it didn’t work for me. I would still go a week or more without a bowel movement—and still had terrible abdominal pain and bloating. I tried a prescription medication for IBS-C—but it didn’t work for me either. Before I saw Susan, I was feeling discouraged.

ON SCREEN/SUPER: Susan Wolgamott, DNP

Susan is a compensated advisor to Ardelyx.

Susan VO: Hi, my name is Susan. I am a nurse practitioner in Michigan. I have so many patients like Suzanne, who are suffering because of their IBS‑C. I think as healthcare providers, we sometimes forget the impact that conditions like IBS‑C have on our patients. This is not just a nuisance disorder—it is a condition that can have a very negative impact on patients’ quality of life.

Because there are many potential underlying causes of IBS‑C, there is no one-size-fits-all treatment approach. It’s a lot of trial and error to find the right medication for each individual patient. It’s important that patients understand that. That’s why I let my patients know that we have different medications to treat IBS‑C.

I also talk to my patients about the importance of good two-way communication, because this is a collaborative, joint decision-making process. I make sure my patients know that we will work together to find the treatment that is right for each of them.

And there’s nothing more satisfying than finding the right treatment for a patient. For Suzanne, it was IBSRELA, which works differently than other IBS‑C prescription medications. And I think that if a patient is on a medication that isn’t working for them or giving them symptom relief they are looking for, it makes sense to try something different. While IBSRELA was right for Suzanne, some patients experience side effects with IBSRELA, like diarrhea, swelling or a feeling of fullness in the abdomen, gas, or dizziness.

ON SCREEN/SUPER: The most common side effects of IBSRELA include diarrhea, swelling or a feeling of fullness in the abdomen, gas, or dizziness.

Suzanne VO: Since starting IBSRELA about a year ago, my symptoms have improved. I no longer feel the bloating or pain like I did before. I go to the bathroom more regularly, which I haven’t been able to do in many years. This has been my experience with IBSRELA and other people may have different experiences. Because my symptoms are better managed, I am able to go camping with my husband and spend time with my grandkids. My husband and I both lost our first spouses early—we know that life is short. We want to be able to do the things that bring us joy. I am so grateful that Susan was committed to helping me find a treatment that was right for me.

ON SCREEN/SUPER: Individual results and experiences may vary.

Susan VO: It gives me joy to help patients like Suzanne. I think the key is good communication between patients and healthcare providers. I feel it is my responsibility to let my patients know that there are different options available, and to offer them different treatment options.

When I suggested trying IBSRELA to Suzanne, I didn’t know if it was going to work for her, but she and I agreed that it would be worth trying. And I am so glad we did!

ON SCREEN/SUPER: Jaime Ackerman, PA-C
Jaime is a compensated advisor to Ardelyx.

Jaime VO:

Hi, I’m Jaime Ackerman and I’m a PA in Atlanta and have been working in GI for 20 years.

I see many adult patients with IBS‑C in my practice: approximately 5 per day. My patients often tell me that the symptoms of IBS‑C, constipation and pain and bloating, make them miserable and that they have to plan their life around their IBS‑C. I want to do everything I can to help them find relief. The introduction of IBSRELA for the treatment of adults with IBS‑C has been exciting for me. Having a medication with a different mechanism of action and the first in its class, has given me more options to offer my patients, and importantly, different classes of medications for my patients.

ON SCREEN/SUPER: The most common side effects of IBSRELA include diarrhea, which can sometimes be severe, swelling or a feeling of fullness in the abdomen, gas, or dizziness.

Jaime VO: I let patients know that I will do everything I can to get them better. I want my patients to feel confident that I can help them, which is why it’s important to let patients know there are different medications available and that we will keep trying different things until we find what’s right for them. But I don’t want them to think we are just throwing medications at them; I want them to know that we have a strategy, a plan. So, explaining that there are different classes of medications and that if a medication in one class doesn’t work, we will go to another class, helps give patients confidence and hope.

The first step in treating IBS‑C is asking the right questions. You don’t know the answer if you don’t ask the question. And the way we ask questions is important. If we just ask a patient if their symptoms have improved, we don’t get at how much their symptoms have improved; the question doesn’t differentiate between a little improvement and a lot of improvement. So, instead of asking has your bloating improved, I ask are you still having any bloating? If the answer is yes, I dig in to find out more; how often are they having bloating, how much of an impact it is having on their quality of life. So, instead of asking if their symptoms have improved, I ask if they are still having symptoms. That is my starting point and helps me make sure I don’t miss patients who may be a little better, but still suffering from symptoms. And it’s important to know this, because with more treatment options available, if a patient is still having symptoms, I want us to consider trying a medication that works differently, that is part of a different class, because my goal is to help my patients get as much symptom relief as possible.

Title Screen with IBSRELA Indication and Boxed Warning

ON SCREEN/SUPER: Talking to Patients About IBS‑C
Susan Lucak, MD
Gastroenterologist
Susan Lucak is a compensated advisor to Ardelyx.

Susan VO:

So, when those symptoms are not taken seriously, then patients doubt themselves. They said, “Is this in my head? What is this?” And then they try to see, “okay, maybe I’m not eating well and I’m not eating the right things, and maybe it’s kind of my fault a little bit.” And then finally when they arrive at my door, I tell them it’s not in their heads, that it’s a true medical condition, these symptoms are common among people who have this subtype of IBS‑C, and that we have now, again, treatment options to offer them and to try. And that is very, in a way, kind of liberating to patients. They feel all right, they have hope and, “maybe some of these treatments will work for me.” Sometimes patients sort of have suffered in silence for many years, and then finally they just can’t take it. Because they had given up, they had given up. And so, when they come, it’s a big step for them because for many years, they just thought, “oh, nothing can be done about this.” And so when they come, it’s something important to just give them and offer them these options for the treatment of their IBS‑C.

ON SCREEN/SUPER: IBS‑C Treatment Options

Susan VO: Now and over the last couple of years, we have had more options. And so, the more options we have for patients with IBS‑C, that is really great because we can then offer those options to them and if they don’t respond to one type of treatment, then we can offer another type of treatment.

ON SCREEN/SUPER: Finding the Right Treatment Option for Each Patient

Susan VO: Sometimes, when I use one treatment, it may help partly but not fully, and then we explore another treatment, and then sometimes we go back to treatment number one. So, it is good to have patients have the idea that there is more than one treatment there because if it doesn’t work, then they can go and explore another treatment. When I describe this to my patients, they oftentimes walk out of the office feeling, “Look, I have hope now that there is something there for me.” And I think that is really important to know about treatment of IBS‑C at this time.

Title Screen with IBSRELA Indication and Boxed Warning

ON SCREEN/SUPER: Treating Adult Patients With IBS‑C
Lucinda Harris, MS, MD, FACG
Gastroenterologist
Lucinda Harris is a compensated advisor to Ardelyx

Lucinda VO:

What I like about treating IBS‑C patients, and maybe just IBS patients in general, is that every patient’s a bit of a mystery. They have a story to tell. I kind of look at it, “What are the clues and the ways in which I can help them?” I always look also to, “How can I help? What can I focus on that’s going to help them feel better?” Because that’s what I want to do when I see patients, is help them to feel better.

ON SCREEN/SUPER: Importance of Understanding How Symptoms Affect Patients’ Lives

Lucinda VO: When you understand about the severity of a patient’s symptoms, you understand more about how they live with a disease, and you understand how it impacts them. Do they not date? Or do they not go to work?

ON SCREEN/SUPER: Assessing Patients With IBS‑C

Lucinda VO: So, when I see a patient back who has IBS, I try not to just focus on the number of bowel movements. I think it’s important to ask them about their abdominal pain, but I also think it’s important to ask them about their lives. “How are things going? Has this really made an impact on your life, this treatment?”

For IBS patients now, there are a lot more treatment options, so that’s really good. I think that patients just think, “Well, they’re just going to tell me, ‘Go have more fiber,’ or ‘Go drink more fluid.’” I think it is really important to remind patients that there are different options for treatment.

ON SCREEN/SUPER: Treatment Expectations in IBS‑C

Lucinda VO: My expectations for treating patients with medications for IBS‑C is certainly that I want to see an improvement in the number of bowel movements they’re having, but also, I want to have an impact on their pain, and I want to see their pain decrease as well. I think that one of the most challenging aspects about treating IBS‑C is addressing that abdominal pain.

So, if you see a patient and you’re using one mechanism of action for a medication, I think if that medication is not working for them. You can both make a point to the patient that, “Maybe we need to try something else.”

ON SCREEN/SUPER: Finding the Right Treatment for Each IBS‑C Patient

Lucinda VO: It makes my day when a patient comes back and tells me that a medication has worked. It’s really a great feeling that you found something that works for them.