Viberzi side effects may include acute pancreatitis for those patients that have had their gallbladders removed, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Viberzi medication is used to treat irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) characterized by chronic diarrhea.

In March 2017, the FDA released a safety communication alerting the medical professional community and the public that the drug had been known to produce serious Viberzi side effects, including an oft-deadly inflammation of the pancreas.

The Viberzi side effects alert was initiated because of 120 reports made to the drug oversight agency concerning Viberzi medication patients developing severe pancreatitis. Sixty-eight of these reported patients had indicated what the status of their gallbladder was—whether they still had it or whether it had been removed in a procedure known as a cholecystectomy.

Of the 68, 56 patients were taking Viberzi medication at the recommended dose and had no functioning gallbladder. The safety communication further elaborated, regarding these reports of Viberzi side effects, that 76 patients developed pancreatitis so severe that they wound up in the hospital; two of these patients succumbed to the dangerous inflammation of this vital organ.

The problems with Viberzi side effects occurred within a short period of time between the drug’s approval in May 2015 and February 2017—one year and nine months.

The Offending Mechanism

Upon further analysis, it is believed that the pancreatic Viberzi side effects are brought on by the IBS medication by initiating spasms of the sphincter of Oddi, a valve that allows or inhibits the flow of bile between the trifecta of digestion—the pancreas, gallbladder, and small intestine.

These spasms cause damage to the pancreas by allowing digestive enzymes to be released and activated before getting to the small intestine. They actually start to break down the pancreas itself.

Symptoms of pancreatitis should not be ignored. If you notice these symptoms while taking Viberzi medication—especially if you have had a cholecystectomy—the FDA recommends that you seek immediate medical attention. The symptoms include:

• Stomach or abdominal pain in the upper right side that may radiate to your back or shoulder area
• Nausea and vomiting
• Fever and unusual sweating
• Loss of appetite and accompanying weight loss
• Increased or quickened heart rate

Additionally, a Viberzi medication patient is recommended to, in consultation with their physician, evaluate whether they should continue to take the drug amid other viable alternatives when the following physical or lifestyle conditions exist:

• Previous or current pancreatic issues
• Liver disease
• Gallbladder obstruction
• Gallbladder removal
• Problems from sphincter of Oddi muscle valve
• Chronic constipation
• Bowel obstruction
• Intakes a larger number of alcoholic beverages daily (3 or more)

According to the FDA safety communication, there are several alternatives to treat symptoms of IBS other than Viberzi, such as over-the-counter Kaopectate, Pepto-Bismol, and Imodium. Over-the-counter gas relief choices such as Gas-X and Mylicon might assist with some symptoms as well. In terms of prescription medications, Lomotil, Lotronex, and Xifaxan are alternative methods of treatment.