Vibrant: A Magical Vibrating Pill to Treat Constipation

If you have been looking for ways to treat constipation and are falling short, here are the kings of remedies. After being approved by the FDA in August 2022, a medication known as Vibrant became available this week for doctors to prescribe. According to reports, the capsules do not release medicine but instead vibrate in the stomach to stimulate the colon.

Nearly four million people in the US suffer from constipation, affecting people of all ages. Constipation is a major pain point for many people, but this recent advancement offers hope for relief. If this sounds too good to be true, read on to learn more about the vibrating pill that can treat constipation, its effectiveness, availability, and potential side effects.

The pill developed by Vibrant Gastro will stimulate the mechano-sensory cells in your gut to trigger bowel movement (Image via Pexels @Artem Podrez)

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How Does Vibrant Treat Constipation?

The recommended dosage for Vibrant to treat constipation is a single capsule daily. According to the official website, the Vibrant capsule must be activated by placing it in a pod before it can be taken. Like a common capsule pill, the pill is swallowed with a full glass of water.

It should be taken in the evening before bed. After being swallowed, the capsule vibrates softly to stimulate the colon before reaching the small intestine. Once there, the vibrations are supposed to "stimulate specialized nerve cells in the gut called mechanosensory cells. This will then trigger peristalsis, the undulating muscle contractions that help squeeze food through the gut".

The capsule will be eliminated during your bowel movement. Experts assure us that the vibrations will not last long and will be very faint. In an interview, Cathy Collis, chief commercial officer for Vibrant Gastro, stated that there are on and off vibrations for three seconds each.

The pill needs a doctor's prescription (Image via Pexels @Anna Shvets)

Keep in mind that Vibrant is not a cure that will treat constipation. However, according to clinical studies patients saw results, including more frequent and spontaneous bowel movements, within one to eight weeks of treatment.

However, "you should evaluate the treatment's progress with your physician," Vibrant advises because the treatment was not studied for longer than eight weeks.

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Side Effects of Vibrant Pill to Treat Constipation

Upon receiving FDA approval, the product was subjected to rigorous testing to ensure "that there were no toxic materials in the pills and that they could withstand, for example, the force of a bite in case someone accidentally bit them."

The manufacturer claims there have been no major adverse events. However, it does warn of potential side effects like nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain, abdominal distension (swelling of the abdomen), discomfort, vomiting, blood in the stool, flatulence (passing gas), and proctalgia (which is pain due to a spasm of the pelvic floor muscles). Vibrant explains that obstruction can happen very rarely.

Vibrant is only available with a doctor's prescription and will be solely based on each patient's unique medical condition and health history.

Eating a diet that is high in fruit and vegetable fiber can help with constipation (Image via Pexels @Mali Maeder)

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Natural Remedies for Constipation

If you are looking for natural cures for constipation, you can always try inexpensive home remedies to treat constipation. Below we list some of them,

1) Drink warm milk with ghee at night or first thing in the morning to immediately relieve constipation (only if you are not lactose intolerant).

2) Do a little exercise and regularly walk to keep your bowel movements regular.

Warm milk is a great beverage to treat constipation (Image via Pexels @Charlotte May)

3) Drink enough water throughout the day. If you feel you are already drinking enough, try to drink warm water after every meal. That will help keep your digestive system functioning better.

4) Among foods that help with constipation, fibrous vegetables are your best option. The best way to treat constipation is by including enough dietary fiber in your diet in the form of beans, legumes, and vegetables.

You should consult a doctor if you have been suffering from chronic constipation. If it happens sometimes, then you can try out these home remedies.