The FDA has issued a new warning about IBS medication Viberzi. Any patient who has undergone removal of the gallbladder, a surgery known as cholecystectomy, is advised not to take Viberzi because it may be among medications that cause pancreatitis.

The FDA said, “An FDA review found these patients have an increased risk of developing serious pancreatitis that could result in hospitalization or death.”

Other prescription medications or over-the-counter alternatives should be used to treat Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) symptoms in patients who no longer have a gallbladder. IBS often can cause either diarrhea or constipation, but the IBS medication Viberzi has been tied to dangerous outcomes for some patients.

IBS medication Viberzi was FDA-approved in May 2015 to treat patients suffering from IBS with diarrhea, sometimes referred to as IBS-D. In the three years that Viberzi has been on the market, the FDA said it has received 120 reports of pancreatitis or death.

Patients were admitted to a hospital in 76 of those cases. Fifty-six of those hospitalized had previously undergone gallbladder removal. Two of those hospitalized died.

Viberzi is generically known as eluxadoline and is made by pharmaceutical company Allergan.

IBS Medication Viberzi and Sphincter of Oddi

The sphincter of Oddi is a valve in the small intestine. This muscular mechanism controls the flow of bile and pancreatic enzymes into the duodenum. Medications that cause pancreatitis make the sphincter of Oddi spasm. These spasms activate the digestive juices from the pancreas prior to the juices entering the small intestine. As a result, the digestive enzymes attack the pancreas, essentially breaking down the organ.

Acute pancreatitis occurs when the pancreas becomes inflamed for a short amount of time. Pancreatitis can become severe if accompanied by bleeding, tissue damage, infection and possible cyst formation.

Webmd.com indicates that nearly 70 percent of all acute pancreatitis attacks are caused by either gallstones or heavy drinking. In addition to the IBS medication Viberzi causing acute pancreatitis, the condition can be caused by autoimmune diseases, infections, metabolism problems and trauma.

Abdominal pain, back pain, a fast heart rate, fever, loss of appetite, nausea, sweating, vomiting and weight loss are all symptoms of acute pancreatitis.

The FDA noted that pancreatitis can result with taking just one or two 75 mg doses of Viberzi, which is marketed as a medicine that reduces abdominal pain and diarrhea.

Not only should patients who have had their gallbladder removed stay away from Viberzi, but also patients with other certain conditions should refrain from it, including those with:

• Chronic constipation
• Digestive problems linked to sphincter of Oddi muscle valve irregularities
• Gallbladder obstruction
• Intestinal obstruction
• Liver disease
• Pancreatic problems
• Have more than 3 alcoholic drinks per day

If you have experienced pancreatitis from IBS medication Viberzi, you could be eligible for compensation due to past and future medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages, and possible punitive damages. Medications that cause pancreatitis can incur serious, life-threatening damage to patients who otherwise had a healthy pancreas.